The Happy
Badger

Long before his name almost appeared in a James Bond novel, there was a man called Boofy who never seemed to do things quite like everyone else.

Arthur Gore — known to family and friends simply as Boofy — became part of the Clan Colquhoun story when he married Fiona Colquhoun. Together they shared a love of adventure, spending time among the hills, waters, and wildlife of Loch Lomond.

Boofy was not a man to stand still. He adored sailing, walking, and exploring new places. On one memorable occasion, he and Fiona travelled down London’s Oxford Street in a Mercedes at 100mph — an adventure that perfectly suited their spirited approach to life.

Yet Boofy was just as passionate about people as he was about adventure. In the House of Lords, he supported the legislation that began the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Britain, standing up for a cause that was deeply personal to him.

A devoted protector of badgers, he spoke for them whenever he could. When his campaign met resistance, he joked that there were “not many badgers in the House of Lords.” His friendship with the author Ian Fleming was so well known that an early draft of Diamonds Are Forever even included a character named Boofy Gore.

And so Boofy’s story became one of kindness, courage, and individuality. Even today, it is easy to picture him on the shores of Loch Lomond: Fiona beside him, a boat waiting on the water and a new adventure waiting to happen.