The Happy
Badger

Arthur ‘Boofy’ Gore, Lord Arran, was one of the most unconventional figures connected to Clan Colquhoun, balancing deep conviction with an adventurous and restless spirit throughout his remarkable life.

Through his marriage to Fiona, daughter of Sir Iain Colquhoun, he became closely connected to Loch Lomond and the Luss Estate. Entering the House of Lords in 1958, he became known for his integrity, most notably supporting the Sexual Offences Act 1967, helping pave the way towards the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Britain.

It was a cause rooted in personal experience, inspired by his brother, and pursued with quiet determination despite fierce opposition. Away from Westminster he embraced adventure as a sailor, trekker and speed enthusiast, once famously driving his Mercedes along Oxford Street at 100 miles per hour.

His affection for wildlife revealed another side of his character. A passionate supporter of badger conservation, he shared with Fiona a lifelong love of animals and the natural world, bringing warmth and individuality to public life.

His friendship with James Bond creator Ian Fleming almost secured him a place in literary history when an early draft of Diamonds Are Forever featured an assassin named "Boofy Gore". Progressive yet traditional, adventurous yet principled, Arthur Gore's legacy remains one of the most distinctive modern chapters in the Clan Colquhoun story.

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