Scottish Banner

A brand-new drama series based on the Lockerbie disaster of 1988 is soon to be released. This global event series is based on the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 and the search for justice by Dr Jim Swire and his wife Jane, who tragically lost their beloved daughter, Flora, in the devastating event. On 21^st  December 1988, 259 passengers and crew were killed when Pan Am Flight 103 exploded over Lockerbie 38 minutes after take-off, with a further 11 residents losing their life as the plane came down over the quiet, Scottish town. Neil Drysdale looks back on this tragic event and how the tragedy has shaped so many and created bonds across the world.

The words were all the more horrific for being spoken softly. As one Lockerbie resident recalled: “There was this enormous crump. And then there was a whoosh and, suddenly the whole sky turned orange, and there were flames hundreds of feet up into the air.”

It was at just after 7pm on Wednesday, December 21 1988, when life changed irrevocably for the people of the little Scottish community and the passengers and crew of Pan Am flight 103 whose fates collided with devastating consequences. The following day, a combination of shock, horror and incomprehension permeated the townspeople, 11 of whom were among the 270 who died in the conflagration.

In these circumstances, one might imagine there would be controversy over Sky’s decision to create a TV drama about the disaster. Yet, the five-part series, which is being screened in the from January 2, 2025, has the backing of most local people because it portrays the anguish of Dr Jim Swire and his wife Jane, who lost their daughter, Flora, and have been seeking answers for more than 35 years. In the programme, he’s played by Colin Firth, who won an Oscar for his role in The King’s Speech, and the script is based on a book co-written by Dr Swire. It is moving, it is poignant – and angry about claims of repeated cover-ups by authorities on both sides of the Atlantic.

At the time, the overriding impression for any journalist arriving at the scene was of a community numb with grief and loss. One of the residents said simply after surveying the wreckage in Sherwood Crescent: “They were here one minute. Then they were gone.” A decade later, I returned to Lockerbie and discovered that, although a veneer of normality had returned, allied to an impressive house rebuilding programme and the creation of new leisure facilities, the atrocity was still taking its toll. This is one thing which those unfamiliar with tragedy may struggle to fathom, but the ripples extended in every direction. Some people simply never recovered. And their names deserve to be remembered more than any bomb-maker.

Dreadful human toll

In the decades since the atrocity occurred, just one man – Abdelbaset al-Megrahi – was convicted at Kamp Zeist, a Scottish court which convened in the Netherlands in 2000. Al-Megrahi died from prostate cancer in 2012 after controversially being allowed to return home on compassionate grounds to Libya, but many people, including the relatives of some of the families who lost loved ones, were never wholly convinced he was a major figure in the conspiracy. The bereaved have different opinions and the majority are not experts in international diplomacy. What do they do recognise is the dreadful human toll of the outrage and how, while Pan Am went out of business, even as other air companies boasted of their exemplary safety record, the impact of those on the flight and in Lockerbie brought sustained agony.

Kathleen Flannigan, 41, her husband, Thomas, 44, and their 10-year-old daughter, Joanne, were all killed instantly when an explosion ripped through their house at 16 Sherwood Crescent. Their bodies were never found; they had been atomised in the blast. Their 14-year-old son, Steven, witnessed a fireball engulfing his home from a neighbour’s garage. Their other son, David, 19, was in Blackpool at the time and was forced to confront a scene straight from a Dore vision of hell. He later turned to alcohol and drugs and died from heart failure in Thailand in 1993, aged just 24.

Steven, meanwhile, despite seeking a fresh start in England, couldn’t avoid being a prisoner of the past. He died in August, 2000, struck by a train in Wiltshire. A whole family had been devastated by what happened on that December night.

It is therefore hardly surprising that Lockerbie remains inextricably linked with something terrible, as do the likes of Dunblane, Sandy Hook, Aberfan, Virginia Tech… other places which were thrust into the spotlight because of disaster and catastrophe. But what has impressed many is the determination of most members of the community not to be frozen in time, not to remain vengefully obsessed towards those who perpetrated the attack. As one resident told me: “We had to start again and find things to do to take our minds off it. But there were so many young people killed (including 35 students from Syracuse University in New York) that we recognised others were a lot worse off than us. We knew their families would want to come here and try to make sense of what had happened. So, we made up our minds to be there for them in whatever way we could.”

Shared solace

This month, on the 36^th anniversary, wreaths will be laid at a memorial garden in Lockerbie and ceremonies will also be held at Syracuse University and Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. The residents, including retired priest Patrick Keegans, who was in Lockerbie when it happened, will never forget, but he wants to look forward as well as back. As he said: “It doesn’t go away, it stays with people, especially those who have lost family. But it’s part of our life now. We don’t live sad, miserable lives, but there’s a constant undercurrent. The memories stay with me, they are part and parcel of who I am now.”

At least, he was spared. So, too, was Kara Weipz, from New Jersey, who lost her 20-year-old brother, Rick Monetti, one of the Syracuse students. The mother-of-three, who is president of the Victims of Pan Am Flight 103 group, shares Mr Keegans’ feelings of tristesse, but she is also proud of the links which have been created and nurtured between the United States and Scotland. She said: “We can’t change things, we can’t bring them back, but we can look at the fact that we have always honoured them in the way we live our lives and the things we do. Yes, the sadness takes many forms, but myself and others are also looking at what we have done in the last 30 years and how we have come together, enacted change, created our own family, and been there for one another.”

William Paul, former chief reporter of Scotland on Sunday, was involved in the Lockerbie case from that first dreadful evening when the sky rained fire over town and countryside through to the drama of the guilty verdict in the special court in the Netherlands. He told me: “I followed the Lockerbie investigation with all its twists and turns from first confirmation that a bomb had brought down the plane to the unlikely courtroom at the old Cold War base at Camp Zeist. Armoured glass separated the three robed judges and huddles of legal teams from families of the victims and of the accused in rows of cinema-style seating. A tale was told of international power politics and intrigue, of casual criminality and high statesmanship. But when the guilty verdict was pronounced, there was a strong feeling among observers that we had not uncovered the whole truth. It was almost a sense of disappointment, an acknowledgement that matters did not end there, that there was more to come.”

The pain will never be extinguished. But relatives from both countries have spoken of how the bonds of love are stronger than hate and described how, even in their suffering, they have found a shared solace. They will not let terrorism win. And if the new drama offers them any breakthrough, it will have served its purpose.

Lockerbie: A Search for Truth premieres Thursday 2 January 2025 on Sky Atlantic and Now in the United Kingdom and Ireland, on Peacock in the United States and on Binge & Hubbl in Australia.

Pictures of inmates in Glasgow’s Barlinnie Prison in Victorian times can now be found on family history website Scotland’s People. Two thousand rare images have been added to the site along with 180,000 records containing details of people entering the prison between 1882 and 1899.

 

 

There are 180,000 register entries in total, with some people jailed more than once. Researchers can see digitised copies of the original registration books.  Only some prisoners were captured on camera. The photographs show imprisoned people on the day of their release. Most served sentences of only a few days for petty offences. The harsh social conditions of the time are evident in the photographs.

John Porter features three times as an inmate all by age 18. Porter was charged with “being a rogue and a vagabond” at a time when homeless people were imprisoned for minor offences. HMP Barlinnie was built to replace eight small prisons across Glasgow city and the west of Scotland. Glasgow’s rapid population growth in the 19^th century meant these existing custodial facilities were increasingly rundown and overcrowded.

Big hoose

Barlinnie opened in Glasgow in 1882 and had a reputation as a tough prison. Inmates carried out hard labour, breaking rocks from a local quarry. Punishments for misbehaviour were harsh.   It soon developed a reputation as a tough prison, and across the years prisoners have nicknamed it ‘BarHell’ and the ‘Big hoose’.

Archivist Jessica Evershed of National Records of Scotland, which runs the Scotland’s People website, said:  “Prison records are an excellent resource for social history research. You may even track down your own relatives in these records, and – in some cases – find a photograph of your ancestor. These photographs are a fantastic resource for researchers. The Scotland’s People website now allows you to put faces to names in a way that isn’t possible for other records. While Barlinnie prison did hold some people convicted of serious crimes, most prisoners were serving short sentences. The most common entries are for petty offences such as minor thefts and drunkenness.”

From 1946 onwards, Barlinnie General Prison served as a place of execution and the prison’s purpose-built hanging shed was used on 10 occasions between 1946 and 1960. New thinking around punishment and rehabilitation in the 1970s saw the introduction of an experimental therapeutic facility designed to reform the most violent and disruptive inmates.

The Barlinnie Special Unit (BSU), was in operation between 1973 to 1994 and sparked worldwide interest. Those committed to the BSU did not wear prison uniforms and had some input on how the unit should be managed. Despite some high-profile success stories, such as the sculptor and writer Jimmy Boyle, the unit was closed due to the loss of confidence from government ministers and prison officials. The prison was progressively modernised between 1997-2004, with flush toilets being added to cells, and finally ending the practice of ‘slopping out’. 

Glasgow’s main prison

After 142 years as Glasgow’s main prison, the story of HMP Barlinnie is close to ending. The prison now holds 500 more prisoners than it was designed for, and is becoming increasingly difficult and expensive to maintain. In 2020, HMP Barlinnie was deemed unfit for purpose and a new purpose-built prison – HMP Glasgow – is scheduled to open in 2027.

The release on Scotland’s People of the admission registers of HMP Barlinnie, and its associated photograph album of prisoners, will give researchers a fascinating insight into the people behind the prison’s imposing walls.

Few things bring a little warmth and comfort in the dark depths of a Scottish winter like a dram of whisky sipped by a crackling fire. When Hogmanay comes round, whisky shared in a quaich has brought people together for centuries. Some poor souls, however, nearly had to go without after a little incident which went down in the ballads as the ‘Battle of Corrymuckloch’.

The early 19^th century saw the mainstreaming of whisky as never before. Even King George IV learned to enjoy a dram following his visit to Edinburgh in 1822, allegedly even preferring the illicitly-produced whisky, commonly known as ‘mountain dew’ or ‘moonlight’, over the officially-certified ‘Parliamentary’ variety. This booming demand in the south led many in the Highlands to produce their own whisky in illegal stills, often engaging in cat-and-mouse games with the excisemen and dragoons who were dispatched into the countryside to track and charge them.

Sma’ Glen

Smugglers would make the journey to Lowland towns along the old drove roads and hill passes little-known or monitored by government officials. One of the main arteries for the movement of cattle and whisky was the Sma’ Glen, a narrow pass in Glen Almond used by travellers for centuries to reach the trysts, markets, and inns of Crieff, Falkirk, and beyond. On approach to the Sma’ Glen is a broad expanse of bog, heather, hillocks, and hollows known as Corrymuckloch, which once hosted an inn notorious for its popularity among smugglers. It was here, a few days before Christmas in 1831, that a group of smugglers was intercepted. Laden with barrels containing potent and untaxed whisky, a group of around 20 men with carts were headed for the mouth of the Sma’ Glen. Unbeknown to them, a troop of Royal Scots Greys, no less, had decided to seize the initiative by riding out from Perth to destroy any illicit stills they could find among the hidden places of Breadalbane. The two groups must have been astonished by their luck, or lack thereof, of running directly into each other along the road!

In a series of interviews in the 1950s, Donald Dow of Tomantianda, a native Gaelic-speaker, described the scene: “A kinsman of mine, Thomas Calmanach, of the Balnabodach family, was – how would you say – in charge of the convoy. He was ahead of them. He recognised the smell of cigar smoke, a thing not usual in the country at all, except for rich people. He suspected trouble and went back. There were fifteen carts laden with whisky. He made them unhitch the horses and tie them to the carts. He, himself, and his men went forward to meet the Scots Greys. Thomas Alasdair, was a tremendously big and powerful man. He was six feet and five inches tall, with bones in him like a horse’s. He had a stick, an oak cudgel, and in the first attack he struck the officer, half killing him. He fell out of his saddle and Thomas grabbed his sword, then killed the Captain. He also killed another two or three, and the rest of them fled. They had horses and they escaped, and they got through with the whisky.”

An anecdote from The Beauties of Upper Strathearn, published in 1870, tells of the fate of one of the participants. Years after the ‘battle’, an old drover on his way back north from Falkirk stopped at the scene of the scrap. When his companions asked what gave him pause, he revealed that he was one of the Scots Greys who had “so ingloriously fallen” that day. After recovering from his wounds, he was nonetheless unable to continue serving as a soldier and decided instead to “turn his sabre into a shepherd’s crook”. A little illicit hustling was nothing new for the inhabitants of the Breadalbane glens.

The 19^th century saw a population boom across much of the Highlands which was not matched by agricultural outputs, leaving many desperate for any scrap of food or income that they could get. Dougall McMillan of Amulree, Ontario (named after the settlement just north of Corrymuckloch) was descended from people who left or were cleared from Glen Quaich in the early 19^th century. Interviewed in the 1930s, Dougall told how his grandfather decided to leave after a gamekeeper employed by the Earl of Breadalbane entered his home unannounced at the very moment that a poached deer was cooking over the fire!

Fleeing from the excisemen

Fleeing from the excisemen was a fairly common motivation for emigrants to places like Canada. William Crerar, also of Ontario, told how his grandfather, John Crerar, was “a whisky smuggler all his life in the old country from the time he grew to manhood” who emigrated because “the excisemen were after him.” To avoid apprehension, Crerar changed his surname – he was, in fact, a McIntosh. This was easily done in a period when there were very few ways to verify anyone’s surname, and indeed when few enough people even had one.

Many emigrants borrowed or invented surnames during the process of emigration, or had their names recorded incorrectly by customs officials who were either indifferent to their duties or unable to speak or understand Gaelic. This makes the genealogist’s work much more complicated than it already is. The Battle of Corrymuckloch may have faded into obscurity among the countless grander clashes of the past, but it is very much remembered in folk traditions. Contemporary Scottish folk band Findlay Napier and the Bar Room Mountaineers immortalised it in a ballad, singing:

And ere the action it was ower
There fell a horseman on the plain
Quo Sandy unto Donald syne
“Ye’ve killed ane o the bearded men,”
But he gat up an left his horse
And aff tae Amulree he flew
Left the rest tae dae their best
As they had done at Waterloo.

By: David C. Weinczok

Main photo: 19th century engraving by Sir Edwin Landseer of an ‘illicit Scottish whiskey still’.

Tourism bosses in the Cairngorms have joined forces to promote the UK’s largest National Park as the ultimate winter travel destination for 2024. The latest data suggests that 2023 was a bumper year for tourism in the Cairngorms, with a particular increase in visitors choosing to explore in the quieter winter months.

Led by Cairngorms Business Partnership (CBP), over 370 tourism firms are now coming together to promote the Cairngorms National Park as the UK’s ‘original winter destination’.

Highland winter wonderland

The Cairngorms National Park ‘Where Winter Comes to Life!’ campaign is showcasing over 1,700 square miles of Highland winter wonderland filled with seasonal magic, including the UK’s only free ranging reindeer herd at Glenmore, Balmoral Castle & Estate at Crathie, Aviemore Ice Rink, Tomintoul & Glenlivet Dark Sky Park, Dalwhinnie Distillery, Landmark Forest Adventure Park at Carrbridge, Loch Insh Outdoor Centre at Kincraig and the Highland Wildlife Park.

The CBP is working with tourism businesses across the region to help extend the season and bring business to local visitor economies over the quieter winter months, with a focus on outdoor adventure, wildlife and nature, health and wellbeing, food and drink, culture and heritage.

The initiative is being geared towards promoting reasons to visit and explore the Cairngorms National Park from October to the end of March, showcasing areas that can accommodate visitors in the quieter season, as well as highlighting the long-established relationship between tourism, the great outdoors and wellbeing. The Grant Arms at Grantown on Spey and The Rowan Tree near Alvie are amongst the list of top accommodation providers who have already signed up to the campaign and will be staying open to visitors throughout the winter.

Visitors are being encouraged to enjoy everything from winter sports, stargazing and cycling, to guided wildlife-spotting adventures and opportunities to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights. Local expert guides will be on hand to offer a warm welcome to visitors, including opportunities to explore the natural history, landscape, heritage and traditions of the Cairngorms.

Built on winter experiences

CBP is supported by the Cairngorms National Park Authority as a Chamber of Commerce and a Destination Marketing Organisation committed to promoting responsible and sustainable tourism. Craig Mills, CEO of Cairngorms Business Partnership, which is leading the official Visit Cairngorms winter campaign, said: “The Cairngorms were built on winter experiences. Home to three of Scotland’s ski centres, our very own reindeer herd and a 90-mile SnowRoads trail, we’re the UK’s original winter destination. We’re also home to some of Scotland’s most historic castles and distilleries, as well as popular family attractions, watersports, winter wildlife watching, and some incredible high and low level walking and cycling routes. Wintertime is when the Cairngorms are at their most magical. This winter, we’re encouraging visitors to explore the UK’s largest National Park and find out why the region really is ‘Where Winter Comes to Life!’”

Lisa Anderson, Marketing & Sales Manager for Landmark Forest Adventure Park, added: “Winter is a truly special time to visit the Cairngorms. Whether you’re seeking adventure in the snow or a peaceful walk-through frost-covered forests, this season offers something unique for everyone. Our Ancient Forest Twi-LIGHTS is a magical way to experience the beauty of the pinewood forest, with twinkling lights and enchanting effects that create an unforgettable atmosphere. During the winter months, Landmark Forest Adventure Park offers a variety of both indoor and outdoor activities for visitors to enjoy.”

The latest tourism economic impact research report for the Cairngorms National Park indicates steady growth in visitor numbers, spend and employment. There were an estimated 2.15 million tourism visits to the region in 2023, adding around £419m in value to the local tourism economy, and supporting over 5,400 full-time equivalent jobs.

Duncan Freshwater, Managing Director of Loch Insh Outdoor Centre, commented: “Winter in the Cairngorms brings unique opportunities to engage with nature and experience a wide range of outdoor activities. Whether it’s observing wildlife in their winter environment or participating in seasonal sports, this area becomes a prime destination for both adventure and nature enthusiasts. The newly installed, state-of-the-art artificial ski slope on our site also allows guests to enjoy skiing regardless of weather conditions, adding a new level of accessibility and convenience to the winter sports experience. Our Boathouse Restaurant and accommodation also offer comfort and warmth after a day of winter activities. Visiting the Cairngorms in winter provides a chance to experience the park in a unique way, combining adventure, comfort, and convenience.”

To plan your visit to The Cairngorms National Park this winter, go to www.visitcairngorms.com/winter

Main photo: Red squirrel flying into winter. Photo: Wild Photographer.

 

The 13^th Hororata Highland Games, held on Saturday 9 November, welcomed an impressive turnout this year. The event featured 230 volunteers, 700 competitors, 140 stallholders, 23 clans, and over 10,000 visitors. This vibrant event once again demonstrated its importance as a major highlight of the Canterbury event calendar and solidified its reputation as an iconic festival.

Chieftain Richard Lang, who has been involved since the festival’s inception, expressed his pride, stating, “I have witnessed the growth of the Hororata Highland Games into what can truly be described as a world-class festival in every aspect. It was humbling to see the joy this event brings to our community.”

The sense of camaraderie and mutual support among competitors set the Games apart as participants not only aimed to excel but also encouraged their peers. The enthusiastic involvement of visitors of all ages contributed to a truly festive atmosphere.

The Oceania Heavyweight Championship was fiercely contested throughout the day and culminated in an exhilarating showdown at the Hororata Stones, where athletes raced against the clock to lift five stones weighing between 90 and 140 kg onto barrels. Australian Terry Sparkes emerged victorious, claiming the title for an impressive fourth consecutive year, narrowly beating Ashburton’s Craig Manson. The Women’s Championship yielded a record-breaking performance by Kelly Drummond, who claimed victory, while Connor O’Brien secured the Men’s Championship with a commendable mention for local competitor Ethan Burgess, who placed third in his debut in the heavy arena after being inspired by previous volunteer experiences.

A festival like no other

The Hororata Highland Games is also renowned for being the largest gathering of pipe bands in New Zealand outside of the Nationals. This year, nineteen bands with 497 pipers and drummers participated in the Chieftain’s Welcoming ceremony, delivering an emotional performance of Amazing Grace, led by Maggie McConnochie, moving many attendees to tears. Scottish musician Willie McArther further entertained the crowd with popular Celtic ballads during a lively sing-along.

Richard Lang emphasized the festival’s significance for the community: “The Hororata Highland Games is a festival like no other, fuelled by the passion of our volunteers. This event embodies a true sense of community and purpose. It serves as a foundation for our community to build our future, with profits directed toward the Hororata Hall project and supporting nineteen community groups involved in fundraising. The Hororata Community Trust is grateful for the support from our partners and suppliers who enable our community to stage the Games.”

The Hororata Highland Games has become a cherished tradition, bringing together the community and visitors alike, and looks forward to another successful event next year.

The 14^th Hororata Highland Games will take place on November 8^th, 2025. For more detail see: www.hororata.org.nz/highland-games

All images, unless otherwise noted, courtesy of Kathryn Taylor.

 

Community has always been at the heart of the Galson township – from fighting for their land 100 years ago to now being part of a community-owned estate.

The power of community has been celebrated and commemorated with the opening of a monument in the north of the Isle of Lewis on a community-owned estate, 100 years after a community worked together and resettled on their land after it was cleared to make way for a sheep farm. ‘na Dorsan’, which is the Scottish Gaelic for the doors, was unveiled in South Galson, Isle of Lewis on Friday 1^st November and marks 100 years of transformation, whilst commemorating some of the township’s significant historical events.

In 1924, Galson’s story underwent a profound transformation as 52 families found new homes in Melbost, South Galson, and North Galson. People, hailing from Dell, Borve, Shader, Carloway, Fivepenny Ness and further afield, were able to make their home in Galson, but not without significant confrontations by some; in 1863 the community of Galson was cleared to make room for a sheep farm and in 1888, Galson Farm was raided by a large group, resulting in the arrest, and transfer to court in Edinburgh of four men; Malcolm Smith, Malcolm Saunders, Malcolm Maciver and John Nicolson. Fast forward to 2007, the entire estate passed into community ownership, to be managed by Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn (Galson Estate Trust) on behalf of the community.

Significant historical documents

Juliette Desportes, the historian who consulted on the accompanying exhibition, shared: “I was delighted to contribute to this project and help capture the voices of those who have bravely fought for the right to live on and off the land. While the story of the clearances for sheep and subsequent land raids is a well-known one, the events which took place in Galson have somehow been largely ignored by historians. It is wonderful to see such an important historical episode come to light and be celebrated in this way, 100 years after the township’s resettlement.”

The exhibition details Galson’s fight for land and those involved in the project called on significant historical documents to learn more about the challenges, including original mortgage documents and deeds for croft houses, including those of Seonaid Ruairidh ‘an Mhàrtainn and Murchadh ‘an Bhàin Dòmhnallach, two of the people to be resettled in 1924, and the grandparents of Agnes Rennie, the current Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn Board Chairperson.

On reflecting on moving to Galson in 1924, Seonaid Ruairidh ‘an Mhàrtainn, who was born in Shader in 1898 and died in 1995, recalled to Agnes, who also lives in Galson: “O yes, we liked it. It was lovely right enough. It was green and clean. Nothing was ploughed except for the land around the tack… Each family had their own sheep when they came to Gabhsann. What they had they brought with them. They brought all their possessions as they were not coming on a temporary basis. They were here to stay.”

The heart of this community

Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn, which operates to ensure that the community of Galson Estate benefit from community ownership, and manage all estate business, whilst also overseeing a range of projects, to support and develop the area, commissioned the monument, and accompanying exhibition. Designed by celebrated artists Will Maclean and Marian Leven, who also designed other island monuments including the Iolaire and Sùileachan, na Dorsan was unveiled in the opening ceremony, which featured musical and poetry contributions from community members, including a young piper from the Lewis and Harris Youth Pipe Band and primary school pupils who had written poems to celebrate the day.  Marian Leven, artist, commented: “Our idea was to create a monument which reflected the re-establishment of Galson township, using the symbolism of the doorway to represent the homes and the welcome which are the heart of this community. It has been a source of pride and satisfaction to see the concept of na Dorsan coming to fruition.”

Janet Macleod, Cultural Engagement Officer, Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn, added: “I would encourage anyone, whether you are a member of the local community or a visitor to the area, to visit the monument and exhibition to learn more about the history of Galson and to reflect on the historical and cultural importance of this project. I am very grateful to have been part of the team coordinating this project, and I have gained a far greater appreciation of the challenges faced by those who were cleared from the area and what they went through for us to be in the position that we find ourselves in now, living and working in a thriving community owned and managed estate.”

For more information about na Dorsan and the work of Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn, which manages the community-owned 56,000 acre Galson Estate, please visit www.galsontrust.com.

Back again for year three, the Tallahassee Highland Games at Apalachee Regional Park are shaping up to be something special. With a clear mission to celebrate Scottish and Celtic heritage, culture, and athletics, we’re excited to bring our growing community together once more. Thanks to our incredible supporters, clans, athletes, and friends, these Games have become more than just an event—it’s a homecoming and a new family reunion for so many.

What’s Happening in 2025?

We’re honored to host three stages this year, offering a full range of music, dance, and cultural performances. With Tallahassee Irish Step Dancers, Sycamore Assembly Scottish Line Dancers, and Timberlane Arts and Dance Academy, there will be plenty of opportunities to kick up your heels. We’ll also be joined by the Tallahassee Pipes and Drums, Krooked Kilts, Roisin Mo Chroi, and Dram-O-Day. We’ll also be joined by the Tallahassee Pipes and Drums, Krooked Kilts, Roisin Mo Chroi, and Dram-O-Day, adding rich layers to our celebration. To help keep the culture alive, we’re excited to introduce two new musical competitions this year—a fiddle competition and a bagpipe competition.

For the kids, we’ve expanded the Kids’ Zone, featuring the Kids Highland Games—complete with mini cabers, weights, and even a sheep toss, bounce castles,  face painting and other activities performed by some of our guest Clans. We want the next generation to feel just as connected to this culture as we all do, and what better way to spark that interest than through games and fun? We’re excited this idea to work collaboratively with the Clans is growing in momentum, and just plain fun for everyone. We’ve seen coloring contests, a build your own beard event by the North Florida Facial Hair Society, and a rock hunt—to which I’m surprised kids didn’t go onto the field and try to nab the huge Atlas stones. As someone who knew nothing about my origins as a young kid, I’m sure thankful for these interactions today and know whole heartedly how impactful they can be for our youth.

Athletics, Culture, and Tradition

Our local athletes have been training hard all year, and they’ll be competing for the $3,500 prize pot in the National Caber Championship and the $750 prize for Stones of Strength National Qualifier winners. Expect some fierce competition, and the more you cheer, the harder they’ll push! We’re proud to once again have Francis Brebner, 25x World Caber Champion, leading the charge as our emcee, pushing  athletes to their new highs with his energy and expertise. Given our new extended layout allowing our guests to view the events even better, Francis and the Athletes should bring quite the show.

To further our commitment to Scottish athletics, we’re proud to introduce Team Tallahassee Sports Corporation, our newly established 501(c)(3) nonprofit. This organization is dedicated to supporting local athletes in their pursuit of Highland sports by providing stipends for travel, acquiring essential training gear, and offering the resources needed to excel in traditional Scottish athletics.

Funds raised from beer sales at the Games will go directly to Team Tallahassee, ensuring that our local athletes have the support to train, compete, and represent Tallahassee across the Highland Games circuit. This initiative allows us to not only celebrate Scottish culture but actively invest in the next generation of athletes, keeping the strength and spirit of the Games alive in our community.

Clans, and VIP Experiences

If you’ve been before, you know that the clans are the heart of our Games. Thankful to our generous Sponsors at Visit Tallahassee, we have the resource to do something quite different—Clans and Societies attend for FREE. We’re looking forward to seeing even more tents set up, with Clans and Societies sharing your stories, some Scotch, and of course the laughter and new memories. Given the uniqueness of our host location, Apalachee Regional Park Many of the Clans will have the Games on one side to enjoy and watch out the backs of their tents, and the festival goers on the front. We’re excited this layout proved a big hit with the community last year.  Whether you’re a long-time clan member or a new face, the clan tents will be a must-visit.

We’re thrilled to again host The St. Andrew Society of Tallahassee, which has seen a boost in new members due to the new Tally Highland Games. We’re honored that membership has risen as well as welcoming some new participants this year, including Saving Scottish Wildcats, an organization dedicated to protecting Scotland’s wildcats, a cause and cultural history so unique that I have to say we didn’t even know about at first. It’s new friends, community and awareness like this that we are honored to have been a part of.

And, for those looking for something extra special, our VIP experience is packed with perks—close parking—and we mean close, private tent access, VIP-exclusive cocktails, and a special Friday night dinner with Scotch and SWAG. It’s the best way to immerse yourself fully in the Games. Interestingly enough, as we chose our new Host Hotel, the Holiday Inn Capital East, for its strategic positioning and elegant space, it turns out the management was the original host for the original Tallahassee Highland Games. His excitement and incredible executive chef have created a surprisingly tantalizing menu for us, once again.

Looking Back and Moving Forward

We’re still thinking about last year— we were blessed with at least one perfect day with blue skies, perfect weather, and an incredible sense of community. Even when “true Scottish weather” blessed us on Sunday, we saw the heart and soul of everyone who stayed with us through the rain. As a new Games series, we’re constantly making improvements to our offerings for all of our guests—vendors and clans included, making better use of our space, logistics and of course growing the team. This year is going to be even bigger and better. We’re constantly working to grow, improve, and ensure that the Tallahassee Highland Games is an event people look forward to attending for years to come.

We can’t wait to see you all at the field— check our website www.tallyhighlandgames.com to start planning your experience with us. And of course bring your family, bring your friends, and get ready for the best year yet. Slàinte Mhath, and we look forward to hosting you soon!

The Tallahassee Highland Games takes place February 8-9, 2025. For more details: www.tallyhighlandgames.com

Text by: Ryan R May.

 

At long last we have been able to hold a most enjoyable and long anticipated Clan Gathering, the last being in 2018. A great time was had by over 120 members from worldwide in October 2024. Members and family gathered on Skye for a friendly and enjoyable week, at first in great blue skies, but also with some Skye showers and a nice breeze towards the end of the week, assisting with the flying of the Chief’s banner on the Clan Lands at Scorrybreac.

Clan lands at Scorrybreac

Highlights of the Gathering included: the raising of the Chief’s flag at Scorrybreac, unveiling of a stone seat for Clan stalwarts, Murray and Barbara Nicolson. Also, Clan meetings and guided walks on the Clan lands at Scorrybreac. An evening of entertainment from local artists and clan members, with casual dining at Gasta in Portree and a casual, informal ceilidh. Many years ago, a ceilidh would be the word Scottish and Irish people would use for a social gathering and probably didn’t always involve social dancing. There was a time in Scotland when it was forbidden to play Scottish traditional music, to wear a kilt or tartan and it could be punished by death.

So, a ceilidh might have been a code word that the ‘Authorities’ didn’t understand. Our evening was such a time of poetry, dance, stories and songs, plus a nice chance for a good yarn and a few drams with family or friends. Going away brunch at Skeabost Hotel, followed by a most informative talk on the history and tales of St Columba’s Isle, a gentle walk to explore St Columba’s Isle and inspect the historic Nicolson’s Aisle, with 29 Nicolson Chief’s said to be buried there.

The next Gathering will be in 2026, somewhere in North America. For further information on Clan MacNicol see: www.clanmacnicol.org

Text and photo courtesy of Mal Nicolson.

 

Gather the clan on the first Saturday in December, when the sound of hundreds of bagpipes will herald the start of the Daylesford Highland Gathering.  For 73 years, Daylesford has embraced a day of Scottish culture – beginning with a huge pipe band street march in Vincent Street at 9am with over 250 bagpipes and drums.

Highland Heavy Games

A full day of events at Victoria Park follows and includes; the Victorian Highland Dance championships and the Pipe Band Contest including the marching of the Massed bands.

This year sees the return of the Highland Heavy Games. Back for the first time in 30 years! The games will include the Victorian championship light and heavy hammer throw, the Caber toss, Stone Put and more. Make friends with a Highland Collie, sample some fine whiskey or haggis and tatties, browse the market stalls and make a day of it.

Gather the clan, get your kilt on and head to the Daylesford Highland Gathering Saturday, December 7. For more information see: www.daylesfordhighland.com.

Decorated piper Callum Beamount, from Guardbridge in Fife, made history in Perthshire in October when he was crowned overall winner at the esteemed Glenfiddich Piping Championship at Blair Castle for the second year running.

For the first time in the event’s storied history, ten first-place qualifiers were invited to vie for the prestigious title, with the 51^st annual event proving to be an electrifying showcase of piping talent and prestige. All competitors were seasoned veterans of the competition, each having played at the event at least once before, and performed exceptionally in front of a sold out audience in Blair Castle’s Victorian Ballroom and to hundreds via an online livestream.

Premier competition in solo bagpiping

The Glenfiddich Piping Championship was founded in 1974 and is the premier competition in solo bagpiping, showcasing top pipers from around the globe. The event, organised by The National Piping Centre, Scotland’s centre for excellence in piping and drumming, funded by the William Grant Foundation, and held annually at Blair Castle, is a celebration of piping excellence, tradition and expertise.  For more than five decades, it has inspired the world’s finest exponents of Ceòl Mòr or Piobaireachd (the great music) and Ceòl Beag or light music (the little music).

This year’s competition saw Callum Beamount lift the trophy for the second time, making it back to back overall title wins in 2023 and 2024 for the Fife piper. Inveraray’s Stuart Liddell took second place and Nick Hudson, from Texas, was third overall.

Callum Beaumont was also named the March, Strathspey and Reel (MSR) competition winner, with Stuart Liddell taking first in the Piobaireachd. Ian Duncan was awarded the Balvenie Medal for services to piping. This was the 40^th presentation of this medal, which was first presented in 1984. Ian was awarded the medal for his service in Perthshire, where he has taught, led the Vale of Atholl Pipe Band and worked tirelessly to nurture the next generation of pipers for many years.

The pinnacle of solo piping competitions

Overall winner Callum Beaumont said: “Between getting married in the summer and taking this title, this has been the best year of my life. To come out overall winner has really topped off an amazing year personally and professionally.”

The National Piping Centre’s Director of Piping, Finlay MacDonald, said: “It’s a testament to the depth of talent and dedication in the piping world that we had ten exceptional first-place qualifiers this year and Callum Beaumont is a very worthy winner, impressively securing the title for the second consecutive year. The Glenfiddich Piping Championship remains the pinnacle of solo piping competitions, representing the very best in piping talent from around the world. We thank everyone who has supported this Championship over the past 51 years.”

The Glenfiddich Piping Championship will return on Saturday 25^th October 2025 at Blair Castle. Tickets will be available from summer 2025. Visit:  www.thepipingcentre.co.uk/glenfiddich.

Main photo: 2024 Glenfiddich Piping Championship competitors.

They are one of Scotland’s most popular music groups who are celebrating their 25^th birthday. And now, a majestic oak in Lochaber which bears their Skipinnish name has been voted Britain’s favourite tree in a survey carried out by the Woodland Trust. The news completes what has been a remarkable period for band duo, Angus MacPhail and Andrew Stevenson – and gives them the opportunity to write a special song which they will unveil when they perform in front of an expected 15,000 fans at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow next September.

Mr Stevenson said: “We are absolutely delighted that the Skipinnish Oak has come out on top in this national poll, because is an ancient tree that is very much loved by the local community and the many tourists who come to visit it. It has seen many historic and landmark events, but this will be its first award for its beauty and history, and shows the affection people have for it. We hope it will make it a double and, as the UK’s entry, go on to lift the European title (which will be announced early in the New Year).”

The music landscape is flourishing

Skipinnish, themselves, have enjoyed a terrific year with packed concerts at Edinburgh Castle and in Inverness. It’s a far cry from the early days when the duo were performing in any Highland pub they could find which was looking for live music offerings.

Mr MacPhail told the Scottish Banner: “Back in the early 2000s, when we were still in our fledgling years, Runrig and Capercaillie were the only trad bands who could attract crowds of 2,000 or 3,000 and that had been the case for many years. But things have changed and very much for the better. Now, you have six or seven different groups who are in that same sphere and the circuit is in great health with folk from all ages and backgrounds. Much of that growth is down to the pioneering work of two groups in particular, so it was a huge honour that Malcolm Jones of Runrig and Karen Matheson of Capercaillie joined us as guests of our anniversary celebrations, since we have been fans of their music for many years.”

With more than 20 trad festivals taking place across the country in 2025, including the internationally-renowned Celtic Connections, the Orkney Folk Festival, Edinburgh Tradfest, Shetland Folk Festival, Stonehaven Folk Festival, Ceolas and HebCelt – which has partnered with Isle of Harris Distillery in allowing up-and-coming artists to perform – the music landscape is flourishing.

A virtuous circle

Mr MacPhail said: “It’s happening across all ages and a very significant part of the expansion was the development of Gaelic Medium Education, which has given so much confidence to youngsters and allowed them to flourish in their own culture. It’s a virtuous circle, the cumulative impact of a lot of hard work which has been done by a huge spread of organisations and individuals in the Highlands and beyond. I grew up listening to this music and so did so many others. Yet now, there are so many platforms on which to perform and the number of festivals has helped us all. And many young people are tapping into the phenomenon, which is great for the future.”

As a proud native of Tiree, he relished playing traditional music wherever there was an audience while forming a rare symbiosis with his Lochaber-born colleague. Who would have guessed, 25 years ago, that they would now be linked not only by their musicianship and songwriting ability, but by a magnificent oak tree from more than a millennium ago?

Text by: Neil Drysdale

Main photo: An unknown Dutch tree enthusiast captures an image of the Skipinnish Oak. Image by Andrew Stevenson.

 

Did you know?

-The Skipinnish Oak, on Lochaber’s Achnacarry Estate, is a well-known natural feature in the local area and has a very commanding presence within a conifer plantation which surrounds it.

-Up until 2009 the oak has been previously undocumented and unnamed. The name was given to the tree by experts partly because of Skipinnish co-founder Andrew Stevenson who is from the area and has known the tree from his days as a young boy growing up locally. The day after a Skipinnish gig, piper Andrew guided a group of Scottish woodland experts to the tree. The enthusiasts were so taken by its pedigree as an ancient Highland oak that the experts named it after the award-winning band.

-The Skipinnish Oak was up against 11 other UK oaks. The Tree of the Year competition is run by the Woodland Trust to celebrate the contribution trees make to our lives and the planet. The winner will go on to represent the UK in the Europe Tree of the Year competition.

As we prepare to bid farewell to 2024, Queensland Pops Orchestra invite you to join us for a truly special night – our Queensland Pops Orchestra’s 40^th Anniversary New Year’s Eve Celebration at QPAC. Following on from the tradition established 40 years ago by Colin Harper, the orchestra will feature talented Queensland artists along with the fabulous musicians who will make this New Year’s Eve one to remember.

Warwick Adeney was a young violinist on the QPAC stage for the first concert in 1984 Patrick Pickett is delighted to welcome him back as guest concert master after a long and distinguished career with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra.

Artist line up

Award winning soprano Nina Korbe

Tenor William Bourchier

Chris Williams, internationally recognised Digeridoo player

Pipe Major Bruce Grice

Ozscot Highland Dancers

Voices of Birralee

And Special Guest artists -The Borealis Quartet from Canada. One of the most dynamic and exciting world-class ensembles of its generation. They receive international critical acclaim for its fiery performances, passionate style and refined musical interpretation.

Concert details

Tuesday 31 December. 5pm & 9pm

Concert Hall QPAC, Grey St, Southbank QLD 4000

Tickets https://www.qpac.com.au/whats-on/2024/qld-pops-orchestra-40th-anniversary-nye-gala-concert

Or phone 136 246.

For more information on the Queensland Pops Orchestra see: https://qldpops.com

Glasgow based Loganair, the UK’s largest regional airline, has joined with Swedish hybrid-electric airplane manufacturer Heart Aerospace, to launch a new and exclusive partnership dedicated to decarbonising regional air travel. As part of the agreement, Loganair and Heart Aerospace will exclusively collaborate on establishing use-cases for hybrid electric aircraft within Loganair’s extensive Scottish and UK network. Heart Aerospace is developing the ES-30, a hybrid-electric aircraft with the capacity to carry up to 30 passengers. The ES-30 has the potential to significantly reduce carbon emissions while offering cost-effective and accessible air travel.

Sustainable UK regional flying

Luke Farajallah, Chief Executive Officer, Loganair, said: “This is a very exciting and significant moment for Loganair and for the future of sustainable UK regional flying. This exclusive collaboration with Heart Aerospace brings together two organisations who share a passion to see aviation emissions reduce in a realistic and meaningful way, and we definitely see the ES-30 as being a strong contender to emerge as one of the leaders in this space. At Loganair, we are very proud of our environmental work and achievements to date, and we see this as the next logical step along the path to a greener future for UK regional aviation.”

As part of the partnership, Loganair and Heart will work together to explore use cases for the ES-30 as well as engaging with the Scottish and UK Governments and airports, to promote and highlight the benefits of this innovative form of propulsion. The ES-30 will have a fully electric zero-emissions range of 200 km and an extended hybrid range of 400 km with 30 passengers on board. With 25 passengers on board, the aircraft has the potential to achieve a range of 800 km. Loganair will also join Heart Aerospace’s Industry Advisory Board, which includes a range of airlines, governments, leasing companies, and airports from all over the world committed to supporting the electrification of air travel.

In a thrilling quest to uncover secrets from one of Scotland’s most significant historical sites, archaeologists and volunteers have begun a remarkable dig at Culloden Battlefield, where the course of British, European and world history changed dramatically nearly 280 years ago.

Experts armed with both traditional archaeology tools and cutting-edge technology are peeling back layers of earth to reveal untold stories of the final clash of the Jacobite Rising in 1746.

The final battle of the Jacobite Rising

Led by the National Trust for Scotland’s Head of Archaeological Services, Derek Alexander who said: “This project aims to facilitate further understanding of the final battle of the Jacobite Rising of 1746. It’s always exciting to be working at Culloden Battlefield and so many of the artefacts have great stories to tell. Even small scale pieces of fieldwork can contribute to a better understanding of how the battle unfolded.”

Solemn history

This excavation combines traditional archaeological methods, such as grid-based test pits, metal detecting and modern techniques to uncover more artefacts that could provide further insights into the Battle of Culloden. Areas such as the Field of the English will be targeted for metal detecting, utilising techniques applied during the excavation at the Battlefield of Waterloo, which maximised artefact recovery.

The dig will be conducted with great care, respecting the site’s solemn history. Culloden Battlefield is a designated war grave, and the Trust ensures all activities at this significant site are designed with thoughtful care and respect.

Deepscan sonar picks up potential Nessie reading.

On Thursday 3^rd October, The Loch Ness Centre had a finding whilst onboard the vessel Deepscan, which has advanced sonar technology to explore the depths of Loch Ness daily. The radar system recorded a sizeable reading that has sparked intrigue and speculation among researchers and enthusiasts.

The radar system, specifically designed to detect underwater objects and formations, identified a distinct anomaly in the loch. While the exact nature of these readings remains under investigation, preliminary analysis suggests they could represent substantial underwater presences or potentially large aquatic creatures inhabiting the loch.

Radar records unexplained disturbance on loch bed

The reading on Thursday 3^rd October at n57°14.850 w004°31.688 suggests there was a disturbance on the loch bed. At the time, the team were out on the loch with Aberdeen University for their first official deployment of weeHoloCam and they were passed Urquhart Castle and were heading down to Fort Augustus when their equipment spotted the disturbance on the loch bed. Deepscan cruise uses cutting-edge technology to investigate the unique underwater environment of Loch Ness. With the use of sonar and radar systems, a hydrophone and most recently a state-of-the-art holographic camera, Deepscan has been able to provide The Loch Ness Centre with a detailed understanding of the loch to date.

Nagina Ishaq, General Manager of The Loch Ness Centre, said: “These radar readings have raised many questions about what lurks in the depths of Loch Ness. Our Deepscan cruise has consistently aimed to deepen our understanding of the loch’s ecosystem, and this finding shows that there are still many unknows about the loch. We are currently working with Loch Ness researchers to conduct further analysis of these readings which hopefully mark a major milestone in the search for Nessie.”

Main photo: The radar recorded a sizeable reading that’s sparking curiosity.

Hidden away in the woodlands that skirt around the edge of glorious Loch Eck in Cowal, Argyll, lies the grave of a man that undoubtedly changed the world. Chances are you’ll have never heard of Archibald Clark Kerr but his careful coaxing of Winston Churchill and many liquor-fuelled liaisons with Joseph Stalin in Moscow played a big role in bringing World War 2 to a conclusion.  His face features in the official photographs from the three key landmark conferences that straddled the end of hostilities. From Tehran to Yalta to Potsdam, Kerr was there in the background helping to bring the Allies and the Soviet Union around the table in order to finally see off the Nazi threat and define the new post conflict global order.

The greatest diplomat in the world

It’s impossible to sum up the myriad achievements of Archie in one article. It needs a book, and it was to Radical Diplomat by Donald Gillies (1999) that I turned along with a number of online resources and countless vintage videos on YouTube. A career diplomat once described as ‘the greatest diplomat in the world’, Kerr was born in Sydney, Australia in 1882. He had strong Scottish family roots and regularly returned to his home in Inverchapel from his many foreign ambassadorial adventures. His family relocated to the UK in 1891 with Archie starting his schooling at Bath College a year later. His ambition was clear although it was always expressed with a degree of self-deprecating humour. He was only 20 when he wrote “I am thinking of getting made a peer. I should first…call myself Lord Inverchapel…Then I should be promoted to Viscount Inverchapel and finally Earl Kilmun.” In 1906 he joined the Diplomatic Service with his first posting taking him to Berlin. He very nearly hit it off with Princess Sophie, sister of the Kaiser and twelve years his senior. She went on to marry the King of Greece. By 1910 it was time for Archie’s diplomatic odyssey to quicken with postings in Buenos Aires and Washington, DC before heading to Rome just before the outbreak of the First World War.

He was desperate to enlist but his efforts were thwarted at every turn. In 1915 he was posted to Persia, now Iran and a nation at the time that was undergoing its own crisis of identity given competing German/Turkish, Russian and British influences. He finally got the chance to sign up in June 1918, joining the Scots Guards as a Private but the war ended just as he finished his basic training. In 1919 he headed to north Africa with a posting in Morocco and then Cairo in Egypt where he almost became romantically involved with Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, later to become Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. In 1925 he returned to the Americas with a position in Guatemala. Despite political differences, Archie was nurturing a strong friendship with Winston Churchill and regularly sent him exotic butterflies for his private collection garnered from across central America. From there it was south to Santiago. It was in the Chilean capital that he met his future wife,  Maria Theresa Diaz Salas (Tita), 29 years younger and the daughter of a millionaire.  In a speech to the St Andrew’s Society of Valparaiso in late 1928 Archie was reported as saying: “Wherever he lives…the heart of the Scot is always in Scotland…Scotland is always home.”

Stalin

Archie and Tita headed to Sweden for a new posting in Stockholm in 1931. He didn’t hold back when describing the natives! “They are only interesting when stark naked. Dressed they are the worst of bores” he was reported to have said. He had just taken up sketching nudes in his spare time! In 1935 it was onward and eastward yet again with Baghdad, capital of the fledgeling nation of Iraq, beckoning for Archie and with it, a host of tricky issues to resolve. By now a Sir, his trouble shooting reputation was growing and a posting to China followed in 1938. It was another ‘hot spot’ with Japanese and communist threats growing against the nationalist government. The war clouds were gathering yet again across Europe. Of the Munich Agreement Archie said: “The effect of the Munich accord on foreign opinion…is that perfidious Albion has been true to form and let down her friends again. The Chinese reaction is that we are entirely self-seeking and have merely been keeping them in play with fair words….our prestige is at a low ebb in the east.”

In 1942, a year after he’d separated from Tita, he got a position in the USSR that really moulded his reputation in the midst of conflict. He was based in Kuibyshev, now Samara, in the Russian deep south. Diplomatic missions had been relocated there from Moscow given the Nazi threat to the Soviet capital.  Whilst in China his flat in London had been destroyed in the Blitz, many of his personal belongings had gone down in a ship sunk by Japanese torpedos and he had lost his true love. His first meeting with the Stalin proved to be the stuff of legend despite being interrupted by an air raid on Moscow! He wrote: “My first surprise was the shape and size of him. I had expected something big and burly but I saw…a little, slim, bent, grey man with a large head and immense white hands. When he shook my hand, he looked almost furtively at my shoulder and not at my face.”

The pair found common ground in their passion for alcohol, tobacco…and sex! In a communication to Anthony Eden he wrote “It was probably no more than a juxtaposition of two old rogues, each one seeing the roguery in the other and finding comfort and harmony in it…and chuckling over it…chuckling all the more because of the governess presence of the boot faced Molotov.”

He also wrote of Stalin… “I found him to be just my cup of tea. And now he has done something which the staff here declare to be without precedent. He has sent me a large quantity of his own pipe tobacco.” Archie was fully aware of Stalin’s murderous ways with the blood of more than 5 million Russians on his hands but he navigated a pragmatic approach with the Soviet leader… “…if we let ourselves be disturbed by backgrounds in Russia today we shall get nowhere…” Soviet secrecy and fear presented big obstacles to Archie’s work and he became bored and disillusioned with life in the backwater of Kuibyshev. He hankered after the banks of Loch Eck. It was now four years since his last visit to his beloved Scotland. His request fell on deaf ears. There was work to do in the USSR and a Treaty to sign that could hasten a conclusion to the hostilities that were crippling Europe and the Soviet Union. Donald Gillies, author of Radical Diplomat, wrote: “Clark Kerr’s ability to establish a good working relationship with Stalin did prove crucial in smoothing out the many difficulties which arose during the war years…without Clark Kerr there is a good chance that the alliance with the Soviet Union would have foundered long before it actually did in the post war fall out. It’s hard to imagine any other British diplomat being able to settle down to a drinking session, punctuated with bawdy jokes and coarse tales, with the Politburo!”

The alliance with the Soviets

In August 1942 Churchill visited Moscow to meet with Stalin.  Archie described his arrival: “The first glimpse I had of the PM was a pair of stout legs dangling from the belly of the plane and feeling for terra firma. They found it and then came the plump trunk and finally the round football head.. And quite a normal hat. It was like a bull at the corrida when it first comes out of its dark pen and stands dazzled and bewildered and gazes at the crowd…”  The talks were a rollercoaster with the two leaders not always seeing eye to eye…until Clark Kerr’s finest hour!

Clark Kerr had a private chat with Churchill in the grounds of a dacha where the PM was staying. He was straight to the point with the British leader and told him that he was going about the talks in the wrong way.  Churchill said of Stalin: “That man has insulted me. From now on he will have to fight his battles alone.”

Clark Kerr suggested Churchill had made a mess of things: “You mean that you think it’s all my fault,” said Churchill. Clark Kerr replied: “Yes I’m sorry but I do.” He persuaded Churchill to meet Stalin that evening one to one. The pair had a very successful meeting, more of a social ’get to know you’ chat than anything strategic. It started at 7PM and ended at 2AM when a final communique was agreed. They had connected, there had been a meeting of minds that seemed impossible just hours earlier. Churchill, previously grumpy and moody, was ecstatic that morning and openly (quite literally) got ready for his bath in front of Archie who provided the Foreign Office with a sketch of that memorable moment! Over the coming months, as war raged on, relationships were cemented further between Archie, Stalin and the Russians…although lubricated would be a better description! At one event one of the Russians, after many vodkas, got out an unarmed tommy gun and asked Archie if he knew how to use it. Archie accepted the challenge and proceeded to fire from the hip raking the bellies of Stalin, Molotov et al. Stalin then took the gun and fairly decimated the crowd, thoroughly enjoying the joke but paying special attention to many of his worried ministers!

Archie returned to Britain for three months leave in late 1942 but got the chance to broadcast on BBC radio immediately prior to his return to the USSR in February 1943. “The alliance with the Soviets was not only a solemn bond,” pronounced Archie during his 15-minute speech “..but a human pact between two nations. We shall do all we can to see that it runs smoothly, and we shall do it with heart and soul.” Churchill’s final instructions to Archie were: “I don’t mind kissing Stalin’s bum but I’m damned if I’ll lick his arse!”

Diplomacy walks a fine line

 

The expectations of the Russians from the start were that a second front should be opened up in western Europe and they were keen to pin down the post war arrangements in eastern Europe. With the Normandy landings still some way off, Archie used all of his charm and charisma to keep the USSR on side helped immensely by his relationship with Stalin and lots of Russian alcohol! Towards the end of 1943 Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt met in Tehran to discuss the opening of the aforementioned second front and other issues. During a lunch meeting one of the party farted rather loudly. Clark Kerr chuckled but was chided by Churchill who said: “Do not let the heat imparted by someone else’s buttocks detract you from the discipline of a solemn matter.” The conference proved to be a great success. The winds of change were in motion! Diplomacy walks a fine line and Archie was an adept tight rope walker in that respect wherever and whenever he was called upon. The Yalta conference followed in early 1945 with the Nazi war machine in full retreat on all fronts.

Following the end of World War 2 the third great conference of Allied leaders took place with Churchill being replaced by Atlee halfway thru as a result of his defeat in the General Election. Truman made up the triumvirate.  Once again Clark Kerr was at the centre of proceedings and was also becoming more realistic and honest in his assessment of the Soviets. In his final years Kerr was a pivotal character in the establishment of NATO and played his part in the start of the European Union project prior to his untimely death at the age of 69 in 1951.  You do wonder what Archie would make of the parlous state of the world today with authoritarianism once again rife and a ‘tribes in trenches’ culture running riot. We hardly ever learn the lessons of history…but you can bet Archie learnt a few!

Text by: Rob Wilkinson

Main photo: Archibald Clark Kerr. Photo: National Portrait Gallery.

Operatunity, New Zealand’s foremost provider of daytime concerts and luxury musical tours, invites you to embark on a musical journey like no other. With nearly 200 concerts and 21 vibrant tours each year, we pride ourselves on bringing exceptional musical experiences to audiences across the country. Our diverse program includes everything from lively music festivals to international operas, and enchanting concerts set in some of the world’s most picturesque locations.

Thistle & The Shamrock

Mark your calendars for Thistle & The Shamrock, a sensational tour gracing New Zealand stages from 13 January to 14 February 2025. This invigorating celebration of Irish and Scottish music promises to transport you to the heart of Celtic traditions. Prepare to be swept away by the infectious energy and soul-stirring melodies performed by an outstanding ensemble of talented artists.

The lineup features beloved fiddler Marian Burns, whose exciting performances will leave you spellbound. Joining her are the exceptional accordionist Tracey Collins and a collection of renowned vocalists, including Bonaventure Allan-Moetaua, Karl Perigo, Alex Foster-Winder, and the celebrated West End star Russell Dixon. Operatunity’s own director, Susan Boland, adds her unique flair to the performances, all accompanied by the masterful pianist Paul Carnegie-Jones. Together, this dynamic group will take you on a musical odyssey filled with everything from rousing patriotic anthems and haunting ballads to lively jigs and whimsical tunes. This tour is a feast for the senses, promising an unforgettable celebration of the rich tapestry of Celtic music.

Tickets for this concert tour are available for purchase on our website, www.operatunity.co.nz, or you can reach our friendly concert team toll-free at 0508 266 237. Don’t miss the chance to be part of this extraordinary musical experience!

An Adventure Awaits: Celtic Celebration Scotland & Ireland

If you find yourself enchanted by Thistle & The Shamrock, then brace yourself for an even grander adventure! Join us for our spectacular 25-day Celtic Celebration – Scotland & Ireland tour, taking place from 25 July to 21 August, 2025. This cultural journey offers numerous musical experiences, guided by our talented hosts, including Bonaventure Allan-Moetaua, Karl Perigo, and fiddler Marian Burns.

Throughout the tour, you will experience the legendary Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, enjoy intimate private concerts, visit lively pubs with local musicians, and revel in the beauty of traditional shows. Highlights include a magical cruise featuring live performances, the delightful Taste of Scotland show, and captivating performances of Riverdance and a medieval show at the historic Bunratty Castle. This adventure isn’t just a journey through breathtaking landscapes; it’s a deep dive into the proud history and rich cultural heritage of Scotland and Ireland.

To secure your place on this unforgettable tour or for more information, visit our website www.operatunity.co.nz, call our dedicated travel team toll-free at 0508 886 489, or email us at [email protected].

*Please note that tickets for concerts and spaces on tours are limited. Contact us today to ensure you don’t miss out on these incredible musical experiences!

The popular time-travelling fantasy drama Outlander returns this month for the Season 7, part 2 over eight episodes. Coming off the first half of Outlander Season 7, we find Claire, Jamie and Young Ian leaving the colonies and arriving in their beloved homeland: Scotland. The perils of the Revolutionary War force them to choose between standing by those they love and fighting for the land they have made their new home. Meanwhile, Roger and Brianna face new enemies across time, and must battle the forces that threaten to pull their family apart.

As loyalties change and painful secrets come to light, Jamie and Claire’s marriage is tested like never before. With their love binding them over oceans and centuries, can the MacKenzies and Frasers find their way back to each other?

The Outlander television series is inspired by Diana Gabaldon’s international best-selling books, which have sold an estimated 50 million copies worldwide, with all nine of the books gracing the New York Times best-seller list. The television series has become a worldwide success with audiences, spanning the genres of history, science fiction, romance and adventure in one amazing tale.

Outlander Season 7 Part 2 will premiere in the US on Starz on Friday 22 November. Outlander Season 7 Part 2 will premiere in Australia on Foxtel on Saturday, 23 November. Also available in other regions and please check listings.

Images courtesy of Starz.

In September we looked at some of the curiosities and lesser-known attractions of Glasgow. Fair’s fair; now for a similar look at Edinburgh.

Edinburgh’s other castle

Everybody knows Edinburgh Castle, one of the most recognisable (and busiest) attractions anywhere in the world. But Edinburgh has other castles and one of them is also in the care of Historic Environment Scotland (HES). At Craigmillar Castle you won’t have to queue to photograph anything. The castle is about three miles southeast of the city centre, from which several bus routes run from to Old Dalkeith Road, a short walk away. Parking at the castle is limited.

Any building of any age in Scotland seems to have been visited by Mary Queen of Scots and she knew Craigmillar Castle well, and enjoyed a lengthy stay there in 1563. In June 1567 she gave birth to the future James VI in Edinburgh Castle and that November Mary and little James sought peace at Craigmillar Castle. The Queen enjoyed hunting and falconry in the surrounding countryside, now a country park where we’re all free to roam where Mary did.

Two impressive yew trees grow in the gloom of the castle’s inner courtyard, outside the original tower. The later parts of the castle were built in the 1660s. The Gilmour family bought the estate from the Prestons in 1660 and built these new ranges. Craigmillar has something for everyone; small children will love the spooky dark passages and spiral staircases; even sullen teenagers will giggle at the long-drop latrine closets.

Dunbar’s Close

The Royal Mile suffers from overtourism, and it can be exhausting just walking through the crowds. The historic closes that lead off it are often fascinating and none more so than Dunbar’s Close which opens on the left as you walk down the Canongate towards Holyrood. It’s probably named after David Dunbar, a lawyer who owned properties here in the 18^th century.

The close leads to a small green space designed to resemble a 17^th century garden. It’s small but endlessly fascinating. When the lavender is in bloom there’s a sleepy buzzing of bees. In its present form, remarkably, the garden only dates to 1976, when a charity called the Mushroom Trust acquired the ground, employed the landscape architect Seamus Filor to design a garden, and gifted the result to the city on completion in 1978.

Drop into Dunbar’s Garden to enjoy peace and greenness. But not all at once. Let’s preserve the atmosphere.

The Old Botanics

Another corner of Edinburgh, another garden. Hopetoun Crescent Garden is just off the grand thoroughfare of Leith Walk, near MacDonald Road tram stop. It is partly a relic of what is now the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. The city’s first ‘physick garden’ appeared in the 17^th century near Holyrood Abbey, moved to what’s now Waverley Station (just imagine that!) and then to the area around Hopetoun Crescent in the 1760s.

It made its final move (so far…) to the present Inverleith site in the 1820s but this lovely little garden remnant survived. It’s impossible to be sure which trees survive from the Botanic Garden era, but there are some surprisingly large examples for a city garden. Great credit is due to the Friends of Hopetoun Crescent Garden who have transformed a site that was a neglected eyesore by the 1990s into a beautiful community greenspace.

The other Scott Monument

The Scott Monument in Princes Street Gardens has now been demoted to the world’s second largest monument to a writer (the Jose Marti monument in Havana has replaced it) but the city has plenty more memorials to Scott. He’s commemorated in the Writer’s Museum in the High Street, quotations from his work bedeck Waverley Station (named after his first novel, of course), and you can see paintings and sculptures of the man himself in the city’s galleries. But there’s another Scott Monument, on Corstorphine Hill; and it’s nearly as tall as the one in Princes Street.

Corstorphine Hill Nature Reserve lies to the west of the city centre, a quick bus run (12, 26, 31) from Haymarket or Princes Street. A path begins from Corstorphine Road near the zoo, climbing steeply, but the angle soon eases. You reach a viewpoint, the Rest and be Thankful; this is the spot where Alan Breck and Davie Balfour part at the end of their hazardous journey from Mull in Robert Louis Stevenson’s Kidnapped.

On the heavily wooded summit, you find an impressive tower that’s just the sort of thing a wandering hero in a Scott novel might come upon in a thunderstorm as hostile redcoats close in upon him. It has the alternative names Corstorphine Hill Tower, Scott Tower or Clermiston Tower and was built in 1871 for the 100^th anniversary of Scott’s birth. Thanks to volunteers from the Friends of Corstorphine Hill you can go inside and enjoy the view from the parapet on summer Sunday afternoons.

Trinity House, Leith

Trinity House, Leith, is just a short distance from the Foot of the Walk tram stop and is another HES property. It was the home of the Incorporation of Mariners and Shipmasters, an organisation that collected port dues and worked in the interests of the local seafarers; incredibly, the Incorporation dates from 1380. It was based on this site from the late 1500s and when the present late Georgian building was constructed in 1818 some parts of the older buildings were included: the north wall incorporates a stone with the date 1555.

It’s now a museum celebrating Leith’s maritime history featuring many original fittings and items of furniture with artworks and other exhibits. It usually closes for winter at the end of September but in October 2024, to mark Black History Month, there was a special exhibition on Leith’s Black History.

These are just some of the lesser-known features of Edinburgh. There are of course, many more, and the same is true for Glasgow. Seek them out for yourself, and tell the Scottish Banner about them.

Text and photos: David McVey.

Alex Geddes has never been somebody to shirk a challenge. And that’s just as well given the scale of the project which he accepted more than a decade ago. After working with Grampian Police for many years, he left the force the day before the creation of Police Scotland and wondered what next might be on his radar.

However, just a few weeks later, he received a phone call from Score Group, the company which had originally purchased the former Peterhead Prison – which closed in December 2013 – to ask if he was interested in converting it into a museum.

And, though there were many issues to resolve while transforming the former Hate Factory – a place which kept many of Scotland’s worst criminals behind bars for decades – into a venue which tourists might love to visit, Alex knuckled down to the task. In the role of operations manager, he dealt with different agencies, sought help and advice from local and national bodies and the consequences were extraordinary when the venue opened its doors in the summer of 2016.

As he said: “The task of taking it from an empty shell to a five-star visitor attraction within three years had me facing various challenges, along with many ups and downs. Yet the day that the grading officer from VisitScotland announced we had secured our five-star rating saw the tears flow as my dream from day one was finally achieved.”

Incredible stories

Alex and his colleagues have worked with everybody from Robert Gordon University to Westhill Men’s Shed and the producers of the Channel 4 drama series Screw, and have been involved in a diverse range of exhibitions, forays into what’s described as “dark tourism” and educational initiatives with schools in the region.

He said: “One visitor I met on week one of our opening summed it up when I asked him if he had enjoyed his visit. He stopped and gazed at the main halls and said: ‘I’ve always wanted to see in it, but never wanted to be in it’. The one thing which has given me most satisfaction is speaking to former officers that worked here and hearing their stories converted onto our award-winning audio tour. Too often in the past, their incredible stories were never heard, but I hope we have given them all a voice for future generations to enjoy and learn from.”

It’s now time for Alex to hand over the day-to-day running of the popular museum to a new business manager while he moves into a public relations role. But there’s no question of this redoubtable fellow stepping away entirely from his cherished site.

He said: “As you may imagine, for a small charity with huge overheads, funding is always a challenge as we try to keep the former prison intact. Given that the prison was originally built in 1888 and only closed in 2013, we have to do a lot just to keep the place wind and watertight alone. So, I do hope I can now focus mainly on ensuring our good name is maintained while securing funding to keep the museum alive and moving forward.”

For further information on Peterhead Prison Museum visit: www.peterheadprisonmuseum.com

Text by Neil Drysdale.

Did you know?

-Peterhead Prison opened in 1888 and closed as a working prison in 2013.

-HM Convict Prison Peterhead was the only convict prison in Scotland.

-Britain’s first state owned passenger carrying railway transported the convicts between the prison and granite quarry, for Peterhead Red Granite, for their daily work between 1888-1958.

-The prisoners also helped in building Peterhead harbour’s breakwater.

-The early cells of 1888 were just 5 ft x 7 ft x 7 ft high, and hung with a hammock-style bed.

-Over the years Peterhead has housed some of the hardest and most violent criminals in Scotland including serial killers, thieves and gangsters.

-A five-day prisoner riot broke out in October 1987 which resulted in the inmates taking over part of the building and holding guard’s hostage.

-Peterhead Prison Museum is open year-round in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire.

The Pipes of Christmas is proud to announce its first-ever performance in Boston, marking a major milestone in the concert’s 26-year history. The Boston concert will be held in loving memory of Brian O’Donovan, who hosted the beloved Christmas performance A Celtic Sojourn for Boston audiences for more than 20 years.

“Boston has long celebrated its Irish and Scottish roots through music, culture, and community, and Brian was a veritable institution in this endeavor,”said Pipes of Christmas producer Robert Currie. “While we can never replace the ‘Celtic Sojourn’ experience, we honor Brian’s legacy and love of Celtic traditions through our Boston performance. We are thrilled to join this vibrant tradition by bringing the Pipes of Christmas’ unique blend of music and storytelling to the city.”

The Pipes of Christmas: Bringing a 26-year tradition to Boston audiences

Since 1999, “The Pipes of Christmas” has captivated audiences in New York and New Jersey, becoming a cherished annual event for many. The concert blends traditional instruments such as pipes, drums and harp with ancient carols, original compositions, and spoken readings, offering a Celtic Christmas experience that’s both joyful and reverent. The concert is also a fundraiser. All proceeds support the Learned Kindred of Currie’s cultural outreach programs, scholarships, and preservation initiatives. By attending, concert-goers enjoy a beautiful evening of music and support efforts to keep Celtic traditions alive in the United States and around the world. The Boston performance will take place at the historic Old South Church on December 12. Additional performances will take place in New York City on December 14 and Summit, NJ on December 15.

Tickets will be available starting November 8, with a special pre-sale for GoFundMe donors started on October 25. Since its debut 26 years ago in 1999, The Pipes of Christmas has played to standing-room-only audiences. Now a cherished holiday event, the concert gives audiences a stirring and reverent celebration of the Christmas season and the Celtic spirit. Audience-goers return year after year to experience the program, many reporting that the Pipes of Christmas has become part of their family’s annual Christmas tradition. The concert has been lavished with critical acclaim. In his review for Classical New Jersey Magazine, Paul Somers wrote, “The whole evening was constructed to introduce gem after gem and still have a finale which raised the roof. In short, it was like a well-constructed fireworks show on the Glorious Fourth.” The Westfield Leader described the concert as “a unique sound of power and glory nowhere else to be found.”

International concert highlights

In addition to the live concert experience, the Pipes of Christmas can be enjoyed globally through the concert highlights webcast which will be available by subscription over the Christmas holiday.  Further, the Learned Kindred of Currie is offering some special donor perks including primary access to ticket sales and a specially produced EP album featuring remastered concert selections.  The Society is also offering an exclusive Yule Log video showcasing beautiful Scottish scenery with music selections from past concerts.

The Pipes of Christmas will take place in Boston on December 12, New York City December 14 and Summit, NJ on December 15. A global webcast will also be available to view online December 20-31^st. For full details see: www.pipesofchristmas.com.

 

A ‘remarkable’ Pictish ring with an intricate setting has been uncovered at a Moray fort previously thought to have been ‘archaeologically vandalised’ by the construction of a new town. The kite-shaped ring with a garnet or red glass centre had lain undiscovered for more than a thousand years at the Burghead fort before it was uncovered by a volunteer in a dig led by the University of Aberdeen.

Although known as a Pictish site, its historical value was widely assumed to have been lost when the town of Burghead was constructed in the 1800s, covering over much of the fort and dismantling the stone that remained for building. Among the families encouraged to relocate to the new town to support the fishing industry were the ancestors of John Ralph – a former engineer and graduate of the University of Aberdeen. When he retired, John signed up as a volunteer for the Burghead digs after seeing a social media post by the University’s Professor of Archaeology, Gordon Noble.

Something really exciting

Professor Noble has led excavation work, funded by Historical Environment Scotland, over the last three years which has shed new light on the importance of the site and enabled the development of 3-D reconstructions of how it might once have looked. John, who describes himself as an ‘enthusiastic amateur’ had many moments over the two-week excavation – his third dig at the site – where he thought he had discovered something, only to for the experts to tell him he had a knack for finding ‘shiny pebbles’. So when, on the last day of the final dig, he found something that looked interesting, he didn’t hold out much hope. It was only when he showed it to a fellow volunteer and his eyes lit up that he realised he might ‘have something’.

Professor Noble says that what he was presented with was ‘truly remarkable’. “John was digging and then came over and said, ‘look what I’ve found’. What he handed over was incredible,” he added. “Even before the conservation work, we could see it was something really exciting as despite more than a thousand years in the ground we could see glints of the possible garnet setting. There are very few Pictish rings which have ever been discovered and those we do know about usually come from hoards which were placed in the ground deliberately for safekeeping in some way. We certainly weren’t expecting to find something like this lying around the floor of what was once a house but that had appeared of low significance so, in typical fashion, we had left work on it until the final day of the dig.”

The ring is currently with the National Museum of Scotland’s Post-excavation Service for analysis and John, who grew up in Burghead, is delighted to have added his own piece to the puzzle in understanding the region’s Pictish past. “It is a real thrill to dig up an artefact in the knowledge that you are probably the first person to see it for 1,000-1,500 years,” he said. “It becomes a real guessing game of who owned it, what did they use it for and how was it lost.”

Scotland’s remarkably rich history

Professor Noble and his team will use the ring and other evidence uncovered on the dig to start to answer those questions. Professor Noble added: “We will now look at the ring, evidence of buildings and other artefacts to consider whether the ring was crafted on the site and who such an important piece of jewellery might have been made for. We have some other evidence of metalworking and the number of buildings we have uncovered is quite striking. This further indicator of the high-status production of metalwork adds to the growing evidence that Burghead was a really significant seat of power in the Pictish period.”

Susan O’Connor, Head of Grants at Historic Environment Scotland, said: “Given Scotland’s remarkably rich history, it shouldn’t be surprising that that we are still uncovering important pieces of Scotland’s past, even where we least expect it. We are proud to have funded and supported the excavation work conducted by the University of Aberdeen, and are delighted that volunteer John Ralph played such a pivotal role in bringing it to light – literally! Whilst the materials used themselves are not particularly valuable in today’s monetary sense, this find is hugely significant for what it tells us about Pictish lives and society. We’re excited to find out more once our colleagues in the National Museum have finished their investigations.”

2024 marks Stirling’s 900^th anniversary as a Royal Burgh with a variety of events taking place until April 2025. The city is steeped in history and with some impressive buildings and stunning landscapes and it is a photographers dream. Stirling local, and photographer, Fraser MacDonald loves his home town and shares with us just some of the amazing places to visit when next in Scotland.

Text and all images by: Fraser MacDonald

Nestled between the Scottish Highlands and Lowlands, Stirling is a city steeped in history and surrounded by natural beauty. As a photographer, I’ve found that there’s no better place to explore with a camera in hand—its cobbled streets, medieval architecture, and breathtaking landscapes offer endless inspiration. This year marks the city’s 900^th birthday. Stirling inspired me to take up photography. I’ve lived here all my life and can’t see that ever changing. I’d often snap photos of the picturesque city using my iPhone.

One day I decided to buy a camera, and I have never looked back. Stirling acted as the perfect training ground for me. It’s a place often overlooked by passing tourism. But I think it has more than enough beauty to rival popular stops such as Edinburgh and Glasgow. Stirling was granted city status in 2002, but don’t let that fool you. It still very much has that small-town vibe. There’s something unique about this place. It’s pretty hard to explain. It offers something rare: a place where time feels suspended, and yet every moment is fleeting and ready to be captured. It’s a city that invites you to slow down and appreciate the beauty of its environment.

A pivotal location in Scottish history

Stirling Castle stands proud on a volcanic rock, its elevated presence visible from every corner of the city. Many battles of time gone by have been lost and won here. When the sun sets, the soft light dances off the castle’s ancient walls, creating a photographer’s dream. This is my favourite subject in Stirling to shoot. There are so many different angles you can capture, each one offering something unique and magical.

The misty mornings over the old bridge evoke a sense of reverence. If you get there early enough, you can capture the stunning reflection that bounces off the River Forth. Every inch of this bridge is steeped in history. It was an integral part of Williams Wallace’s victory during the first war of Scottish independence. A pivotal location in Scottish history that reverberates through the ages.   The National Wallace Monument was built in 1869 and stands 220ft tall. Towering over the River Forth, it really is a sight to behold. There’s no better place in Stirling to capture the sunset. There is something so majestic when the golden rays shine perfectly through the monument’s crown. It reminds me of a solar eclipse and that the world is trying to tell us something.

Something magical about this sleepy old town

Pretty backdrops are an essential part of every photo. In autumn, the Ochil Hills burn with golden and red tones, while in winter, the first frost turns them into a winter wonderland. This ever-changing landscape offers photographers new perspectives with each passing day. In the morning, you can tell how the weather will play out just by looking into the mountain’s soul.

Stirling’s people bring the town to life. Whether it’s the lively gatherings at the annual Stirling Highland Games or the vibrant energy of the university campus, capturing the spirit of the town’s residents adds depth and warmth to the historic backdrop. In every face, you can see a connection to Stirling’s rich past and hopeful future. In every photograph, I aim to encapsulate Stirling’s narrative, celebrating both its historical brilliance and modern ambition while sharing my passion for photography with a broader audience.

I’ve been fortunate enough to travel to some incredible places over the years. I’ve hiked the Hollywood Hills and shot the famous sign, I have stood in the shadow of the Empire State Building and captured its greatness and I have also flown over the Nevada desert and photographed the dazzling lights of Las Vegas. But nothing compares to my hometown. I’ve never taken it for granted and never will. There’s something magical about this sleepy old town…

Follow Fraser MacDonald’s photo journeys across Stirling and beyond at: www.instagram.com/thecanonkid

 

Stirling 900

 

It is thought that the original creation of the burgh of Stirling by David I was given as a verbal instruction so no written record exists. The earliest charter is held by Stirling Council archives issued by David II in 1360 that confirmed an earlier charter of King Alexander II given on 18 August 1226.

Burgh status elevated an existing settlement into something more distinctive. The king granted his burgesses or freemen privileges. These included: holding their land and property directly from him, having the right to elect a council, holding their own court, levying local taxes and holding markets. The Stirling 900 celebration will take place between April 2024 and April 2025, to coincide with the coronation of King David.

For more information on Stirling 900 and the list of events visit: www.yourstirling.com/whats-on/stirling-900

 

Did you know?

Stirling

-The name Stirling probably comes from the Gaelic or Cumbric for “land enclosed by a stream or river” Sruighlea. The origin of the name is uncertain although others claim it comes from a Gaelic or Scots word meaning “Place of battle/Struggle.” It also may come from the Brythonic name for “dwelling place of Melyn.”

-Stirling is the smallest city in Scotland and a former ancient burgh. The town was originally created as a royal burgh by King David I in 1124 which it remained until 1975. In 2002 Stirling was granted city status as part of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee.

-Stirling was originally a Stone Age settlement as suggested by the presence of the Randolphfield stand stones and the Kings park prehistoric carvings. Stirling has always been a strategically important place in Scotland due to its defensive crag and tail hill and its position at the foot of the Ochil hills on the border between the lowlands and the Highlands.

-Stirling is dominated by the castle and the medieval old town. The city was the location of several major battles during the wars of Independence. You can still visit the site of the battle of Stirling Bridge (1297) and Bannockburn, where Robert the Bruce defeated the English in 1314, is a nearby town.

-In 1507 the first attempt of flight in Scotland took place at Stirling Castle. An Italian believed he could fly using feathered wings and jumped from the castle battlements, breaking his thigh in the process as he fell to earth.

– Mary Queen of Scots was crowned at Stirling Castle in 1542.

The Central Florida Scottish Highland Games, the largest community event in Seminole County, is organized each year by the Scottish-American Society of Central Florida. This event was created to promote and preserve the area’s strong Scottish heritage. Each January, the two-day gathering welcomes thousands of visitors to Central Winds Park in Winter Springs, Florida (just north of Orlando) for a celebration of tradition, community and culture.

In 2025, the festivities will begin on Thursday evening with the annual whisky tasting, where visitors are welcome to sample from an array of expertly curated spirits. Presented by, The Whisky Cabinet, a group of dedicated local whisky enthusiasts, with an emphasis on unique and rare whiskies to engage, educate and entertain whisky newbies and connoisseurs alike. Things take off on Saturday with several competitions including in traditional heavy athletics, Highland dance, bagpiping, and shortbread and scone baking. There is also the popular Boulder Boogie event, where contestants vie for bragging rights of carrying the heaviest stone the farthest distance.

The best of Celtic

The weekend also hosts several cultural activities, including border-collie demonstrations, a gathering of Scottish clans, musical performances, a medieval camp, axe throwing, and much more. Our festival is a family friendly event featuring non-competitive “Kids Games” versions of the traditional heavy athletics, arts and crafts and loads of other activities for the wee ones. Both kids and adults can enjoy the unique shopping opportunities. The Central Florida Scottish Highland Games draws some of the best Celtic artisans presenting jewelry, clothing, artistry, weaponry and more. Get yourself a kilt or new sporran. Add to your Celtic jewelry or purchase unique Celtic inspired gifts typically found only in Scotland and the UK.

There is plenty of food and drink. Come out and have a beer, wine or whisky with your haggis, scotch-egg, or fish and chips. Finally, there is the Ceilidh, a Scottish and Celtic gathering featuring the music of Albannach, and others performing on the “Loch-side” stage. Whether you are looking to explore your heritage enjoying a stroll through the clan village or cheering on the displays of strength and skill on the athletic fields, or simply enjoying food and drink with friends while listening to the music, there is something for everyone at the Central Florida Scottish Highland Games.

Tickets are now on sale for the Central Florida Scottish Highland Games which takes place January 18-19, 2025, Winter Springs, Florida. Visit www.flascot.com for details.

Huge wild cattle could be ‘back from the dead’ to rewild Highlands near Loch Ness.

Trees for Life has launched a project which could see the first introduction to the UK of a breed of huge wild cattle called tauros – effectively reintroducing the aurochs, the wild ancestor of all domestic cattle, four centuries after its extinction. The muscular, long-horned tauros have been bred to be as similar as possible to the ancient aurochs – a mega-herbivore which for millennia played a vital role in shaping landscapes and boosting biodiversity across Europe, including Scotland. The rewilding charity aims to introduce a herd of up to 15 tauros from the Netherlands to its 4,000-hectare Dundreggan estate near Loch Ness in 2026, in a scientific research project to boost biodiversity and create opportunities for people, including education and eco-tourism.

“Introducing the aurochs-like tauros to the Highlands four centuries after their wild ancestors were driven to extinction will refill a vital but empty ecological niche – allowing us to study how these remarkable wild cattle can be a powerful ally for tackling the nature and climate emergencies,” said Steve Micklewright, Chief Executive of Trees for Life. “Our Tauros Project is about looking forwards while learning from the past as we restore nature-rich landscapes that support wildlife and people, and are resilient to future environmental challenges. We also want to give people the chance to experience in a safe way the awe and wonder of getting close to an animal that feels really wild.”

A keystone species

Aurochs once roamed much of Europe as a keystone species, ensuring a rich mosaic of habitats including grasslands, forest, and wetlands. The animals are depicted in petroglyphs of the Côa Valley, dating back 30,000 years.  One of Europe’s largest land mammals – and the heaviest after the woolly mammoth and woolly rhinoceros – aurochs disappeared from Britain around 1300 BC. They later became globally extinct through habitat loss and hunting, when the last aurochs died in Poland in 1627. But aurochs DNA has survived in a number of ancient original cattle breeds. Uniquely, tauros have been ‘back-bred’ to genetically replicate, resemble and behave like the aurochs as closely as possible.

Scientists in the Netherlands have sought to bring aurochs back to life since the early 2000s, by interbreeding ancient cattle breeds that are genetically and physically closest to the aurochs. This has been aided by the first sequencing of the aurochs’ complete genome, in 2011. While classified as domestic cattle, tauros have no equivalent among other breeds. Bulls can reach up to 180cm and cows 150cm at the shoulder, similar in size to aurochs. They can live in a wide range of environmental conditions, with minimal human intervention. Research in Europe shows these modern-day successors to the aurochs can help create exceptionally rich habitats for wildlife through their size and behaviour – being bigger and more active than other cattle, and interacting with their environment more dramatically.

Herds of tauros move across landscapes in social groups, naturally grazing some areas intensively while leaving others untouched. This creates a mosaic of habitats that benefit a wide range of plants and animals, boost species diversity, and soak up carbon dioxide. One ecological game-changer is tauros’s creation of ‘bullpits’– bowls in the earth carved out by rutting bulls using their horns and hooves, or through strengthening their neck muscles by bashing their heads against one side of a pit. Bullpits form micro-habitats that support invertebrates, small mammals and birds, and allow pioneer plant species to establish.

Rewilding benefits

Tauros dung helps ensure healthy soils, and supports invertebrates which in turn are eaten by birds, small mammals and reptiles. Seeds are dispersed via the cattle’s fur. There are already several hundred tauros in mainland Europe, in The Netherlands, Czechia, Croatia, Spain and Portugal. While no large animal – from deer to other cattle breeds – is entirely risk-free, people can coexist safely with tauros given appropriate precautions, public education about respecting their space, and good herd-management. Tauros are known to be placid, especially towards people, and have been bred from cattle breeds that are not unnaturally aggressive.

Being a cross-breed of cattle, tauros can be legally imported to Britain. Trees for Life intends to release the small herd in a way that lets the tauros behave as naturally as possible, and that balances rewilding benefits with conservation of recovering ecosystems. The five-year project will strictly adhere to the legal and animal welfare requirements of keeping cattle. The tauros will be treated as farm animals but live as wild a life as possible. Signage and safety protocols will allow people to encounter them in a managed way. The release will follow a further year of project development, including research, detailed habitat assessments, and securing full funding.

For more information, see: www.treesforlife.org.uk/tauros.

All images courtesy of Grazelands Rewilding.

 

The 2024 Scottish North American Community Conference (SNACC) will take place on December 6^th -7^th, during the weekend of the Alexandria Christmas Walk at the Sheraton Suites, Alexandria. SNACC organizers are delighted to share further details of the upcoming panels and discussions for the 2024 Scottish North American Community Conference.

Friday conference highlights

Friday afternoon will begin with keynote remarks. Sir John McEwen will be in conversation with Gus Noble, President of the Chicago Scots and Maggie McEwan, discussing the Royal McEwen Exhibit and giving a reading from his play. Growing upon the introduction to the Clan Chiefs Heirs Project in 2023, a panel discussion will take place, led by Iain Cochrane, Earl of Dundonald, his son Lord Cochrane, and John Cochran as “Sennachie to the Chief”, moderated by John Bellassai, president of the Council of Scottish Clans and Associations (COSCA).

“Now in its 22^nd year, the SNACC conference has evolved into a real sharing of useful information about what is happening today–both in Scotland and here in the North American Diaspora. This extends not only to heritage-related topics but information about current cultural and artistic happenings and other events. I believe we’ve struck a good balance between the two, as we both look backward on heritage formation and history, and forward on current affairs and cultural evolution. Attendance these days can be either in-person or remotely. This allows for the widest possible audience to attend and participate in SNACC, regardless of location” said John King Bellassai, President of COSCA.

‘Scottish Connections’ was introduced last year by the Scottish Government as a tool for the Scottish Diaspora. Taking part in this Panel will be Eilidh MacKinnon, Deputy Head of Scottish Government USA, together with Ian Houston and Gus Noble, president of the Chicago Scots. This will then continue into a panel looking at Youth Engagement, with Rory Hedderly, head of Business Development at the Saltire Foundation. The day will conclude with a wine and cheese reception with a chance to mix and mingle.

Saturday conference highlights

Following the Alexandria Christmas Walk, the afternoon session of the second day of the SNACC will continue with remarks from The Rt. Hon. Henry Baird McLeish, former First Minister of Scotland, titled “Moving Scotland Forward in Turbulent Times”. We will then have a Roundtable discussion, “Meeting our Challenges”, with the St Andrew’s Society of Detroit, St Andrew’s Society of LA, Chicago Scots, American-Scottish Foundation (ASF), Scottish American Women’s Society, St. Andrew’s Society of Washington, DC, and St. Andrew’s Society of Toronto. The next panel is “Youth Involvement: Growing our Young Scot Platform”, led by Cameron Steer, ASF Youth Ambassador. Camilla Hellman, ASF President and Brendan Fyfe, of St Andrews Toronto will then moderate “Highland Games; Challenges and Ways Forward” with leading organizers of Highland Games in the US and Canada.

Scotland in 2025 is a year of many celebrations, Camilla Hellman, President of American-Scottish Foundation, will lead a roundup on, spotlighting key milestones in Scotland in 2025. “All of us involved in the Scottish North American Community Conference are excited to once again return to Alexandria and to hold SNACC during the weekend of the Alexandria Christmas Walk. Through the introduction of Hubs, we hope to encourage and develop the conversation, bringing the community together and sharing ideas” added Camilla G Hellman, President, American-Scottish Foundation. The day will end with a reception and book signing by the Rt. Hon. Henry Baird McLeish. We invite organizations to look to gather members to act as a hub, joining us online and adding their voice to the conversation.

You can join SNACC 2024 in person or from anywhere remotely to add your voice. To register as a hub, go to:  www.scottishleadershipconference.com/home

A Scottish Parliamentary reception was held recently, hosted by Michael Marra MSP and the Unicorn Preservation Society (USP), to mark the bicentenary of Scotland’s oldest ship, HMS Unicorn.  MSPs and other VIPs were invited to the evening reception to hear about the ship’s incredible 200-year history and, going forward, the ambitious plans to secure her future.

HMS Unicorn was launched on 30 March 1824, originally constructed as a 46-gun frigate at Chatham Royal Dockyard. The ship was moved to Dundee in 1873 as a training ship for the Royal Naval Reserves and has been moored on the city’s waterfront ever since and is now one of the six oldest ships in the world.

Project Safe Haven

A much-loved Dundee tourist attraction and accredited museum, those gathered at Holyrood were told of the exciting plans for the HMS Unicorn’s future, Project Safe Haven, a major development which will secure the future of HMS Unicorn, ensuring she doesn’t succumb to the wear and tear of time. Project Safe Haven will also improve the tourism experience in Dundee, bringing more economic benefit and helping those within the city to thrive through the creation of more jobs and opportunities.

A significant injection of funding is required for major preservation work on HMS Unicorn to ensure its existence for future generations. Work has already begun on phase one of the work, to restore strength and robustness to HMS Unicorn’s hull and thereby improve her resilience at her current berth and ready her for her projected move to the nearby East Graving Dock.

The vision and mission of the Unicorn Preservation Society, established in 1968 to protect and preserve HMS Unicorn, is to deliver a world class museum experience, safeguard the future of the ship, inspire those who visit and work with the charity and offer lifelong learning and engagement opportunities for the charity’s local communities and beyond. Project Safe Haven, which will see the development of a Maritime Heritage Centre at the heart of Dundee, is the vehicle through which this will be achieved. Project Safe Haven will see a purpose built, environmentally sound Heritage Centre for visitors, learners and the community and will house collections, events and larger group activities.

Astonishing 200-year history

Michael Marra MSP said: “HMS Unicorn is a precious, beautiful and beloved artefact in our nation’s maritime history. She deserves the care and attention that outstanding volunteers and professional museum staff are now providing. I was glad to be able to bring her unique story to the attention of fellow members of parliament on this 200^th anniversary. In common with so many Dundonians HMS Unicorn played a part in my childhood with days out with grandparents and I am glad to still be able to take my own children along to enjoy learning about our past. The challenge we must all now rise to is to secure HMS Unicorn’s future as an asset for the city and the country.”

Museum Director, Matthew Bellhouse Moran, said:  “A Scottish Parliamentary reception to celebrate HMS Unicorn’s bicentennial year seemed a fitting tribute to mark an astonishing 200-year history as one of the oldest ships in the world still afloat today, and certainly the oldest ship in Scotland still afloat today. HMS Unicorn has been part of the fabric of life in Dundee over the last 151 years and is held in great esteem. As we move forward, we are now looking to secure the future of HMS Unicorn for the next 200 years. As a charity we have made good progress towards raising the necessary funds, but we need more significant funding to secure the much-needed preservation work to fulfil our vision of Project Safe Haven. Without this her existence for future generations is in serious question.”

To support the preservation of HMS Unicorn and to help Project Safe Haven come to life by becoming a ‘Shipmate’ of HMS Unicorn, please visit: www.hmsunicorn.org.uk/hms-unicorn/supporting-us

Glorious weather across the Cairngorms boosted a huge crowd for the annual Braemar Royal Highland Gathering on the first Saturday in September. More than 15,000 folk headed to the highland village and the Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park in Braemar, the permanent home for the Gathering, amongst them their Majesties King Charles and Queen Camilla, and some stars of stage and screen.

A warm welcome

And, they were all in for a few treats as above the normal track, field, heavy events, dancing, piping, tug-o’-war and massed pipe bands the afternoon’s programme included the first ever visit of the Band of the Royal Marines Scotland along with the Atholl Highlanders and their pipe band. The Atholl Highlanders are Europe’s only surviving private army and were attending the Gathering to present their Colours to HM King Charles, in doing so pledging their allegiance to The Crown.

By lunchtime there was barely an empty seat in the stands surrounding the main games arena and there was plenty vocal support for the athletes in heavy and other events. Traditionally noon marks the first march of the massed pipe bands, selected from towns and institutions across the north east of Scotland and as they entered the arena through the Queen Elizabeth Jubilee Arch they were greeted with loud applause. The King and Queen received a warm welcome from their Scottish neighbours when they arrived at the Gathering mid-afternoon – the band of the Royal Marines Scotland leading the crowd in the national anthem.

Heavy events

Welcoming them to the event the Gathering’s commentator, Dr Robert Lovie, reflecting on the health issues that had faced the Royal Family over the past year, said “I know I speak for everyone here when I say how much we have thought about our Royal Family this year. Please know that the communities at home and around the country and all those who take part in the Highland games, send you all our best possible wishes.” The massed bands led off what was the busiest part of the day’s programme which saw the Royal Couple in jovial mood as they watched youngsters in sack races and their own tug-o”-war team from Balmoral in action against neighbouring estate Invercauld.

The heavy events, in particular the Caber and 56lb Weight over the Bar competitions were attracting enthusiastic support from the crowd and cheers went up as Czech athlete Vlad Tulacek broke his own Braemar record he set back in 2019. Earlier in the summer, at the Drumtochty Highland Games, Vlad set a new world record in the same event. He attempted to even better that record at Braemar but a great attempt was later discounted on account of weight regulations.

The next Braemar Royal Highland Gathering will take place on Saturday 6^th September 2025. For further details see: www.braemargathering.org

Main image: Huntly & District Pipe Band enter the arena through the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee archway.

All images courtesy of the Braemar Royal Highland Gathering.

 

The 13th Hororata Highland Games promises vibrant blend of traditional festivities and family-friendly fun that will whisk people away to the Scottish Highlands right here in New Zealand! This Scottish celebration, thought to be the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere, offers a captivating blend of sports, culture, music and heritage.

“Our community loves welcoming people from all over the world for the Hororata Highland Games. You don’t have to be Scottish to enjoy the Games, but we find most people leave feeling a bit of Scotland in their heart,” explained Cindy Driscoll, Executive Officer of the Hororata Community Trust, the charity behind the festival.

This year’s celebration will feature an emphasis on music, showcasing the deep-rooted musical traditions of Scotland with performances from the Southern Celtic Fiddle Orchestra and a sing-along with Willie McArther. The Massed Bands March will be a highlight as part of the Chieftain’s welcoming ceremony.

A Scottish gathering would not be proper without a Chieftain. The role of Chieftain is steeped in Scottish history, with each clan led by a strong leader. At the Hororata Highland Games, the Chieftain embodies this tradition, seeking the strongest individuals to stand by his side in battle.

Richard Lang, founding Trustee and former Chair of the Hororata Community Trust has been named as the 2024 Chieftain. Richard has been instrumental in supporting the Hororata community since 2013. As a Partner at Duncan Cotterill law firm, his specialized skills helped the Trust regain ownership of the historic Hororata Hall. Committed to preserving the hall’s legacy, Richard highlighted its history, noting that it was established in 1890 by Sir John Hall to serve as a community gathering space. “It’s an honour to continue Duncan Cotterill’s legacy of supporting the Hororata community,” he stated.

Traditional Scottish competitive events

In the heart of this festival are traditional Scottish competitive events. “We have an impressive lineup of strongman athletes coming to Hororata to compete in the Oceania Heavyweight Championship. Additionally, there will be 19 bands, making this the largest gathering of bands outside of the Nationals in New Zealand. Along with 100 highland dancers, this event is shaping up to be one of the biggest Games we have ever hosted,” said Cindy.

Visitors will have the opportunity to not only watch the competitive events but they can also participate in a variety of activities, including tossing cabers, hurling haggis, Tug O’ War, running a Kilted Mile, and competing for the title of best-dressed lad and lassie in tartan attire.

This festival also offers a delightful Scottish farmyard, sheep shearing, woolcraft demonstrations, medieval Knight exhibitions, a fairground, and over 120 unique market stalls.

The Hororata Highland Games will take place at the scenic Hororata Domain, just 45 minutes from Christchurch. Gates open at 9 am, with a full day of activities running until 4:30 pm.

Discounted tickets are available online now and numbers are limited, with no gate sales on the day. Children under 16 years are free. All profits from the event will be reinvested back into our rural community.

Please note that mobile signal can struggle and EFTPOS machines can struggle to get signal, please make sure you bring cash for purchases. The Games also have ATM machines situated in Event Information Building (entry at rear of building).

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.hororatahighlandgames.org.nz

Discover some of the traditional ways Hallowe’en, or Samhainn, has been celebrated in Scotland.

Traditionally a Celtic festival which divided the year between the light and the dark half, Samhainn, pronounced ‘Sa-wayne’, was the celebration of the end of the harvest and a time where the boundary between our world would become weaker allowing ancestors and fairies to roam. Samhainn in Scottish Gaelic, was celebrated on 1 November with the festivities starting the night before.

The festival is known as Samhain in Irish and Sauin in Manx. As religion changed in the British Isles with the arrival of Christianity, Samhainn was possibly purposefully assimilated in the 8^th century when All Saints Day or All Hallows Day was moved from 13 May to 1 November. Hallowe’en became the name for the night before All Hallows Day and in Scottish Gaelic Halloween is called Oidhche Shamhna as an t-Samhain is the month of November.

Scottish Samhainn traditions

Bonfires-The folklore leads to the belief that bonfires, or samhnagan (‘sa-ow-nag-in’) in Gaelic, were lit as a form of protection from evil spirits that could be lurking on the night of Hallowe’en. The fire was meant to repel those with ill intentions and hold them at bay until the sun rose again. On the islands there were competitions between neighbours with each household trying to build the biggest fire. On the mainland it was common to put bonfires in prominent points on the landscape so that they could be seen from far away.

Turnip lanterns-We may now be more used to carving pumpkins for Hallowe’en, it was once turnips (or “tumshies” in Scots) that would have been carved with evil looking faces in order to scare off fairies and ghosts. Candles were placed inside to illuminate the faces so they could be seen from far away.

Guising-Guising is the original form of trick or treating. Parents would disguise their children to deter the roaming fairies and spirits from stealing them. On a night of mischief the children could play tricks on friends and neighbours or they could go from house to house telling jokes in order to earn treats. Perhaps one of the most famous guisers in Stirling could be James V who liked to dress up and visit his subjects in the villages near Stirling Castle.

Divination

Nut Burning–On the bonfires that were lit on the night of Samhainn couples could question whether their relationship would last. Each would place a nut on the fire and if the nuts hissed then it would be turbulent however if the nuts quietly and evenly burned then it was a good match.

Pulling up stalks-This is a fortune telling method mentioned in Robert Burns’ poem Hallowe’en. Those that wished to know the height and shape of their future partner waited until it was dark then with their eyes closed would pull a kale stalk from the ground. The shape and length of the stall would answer their query. If your stalk had lots of soil in the roots that was an added bonus! It symbolised a wealthy partner.

Fuarag na Samhna-A tasty combination of toasted oats and whipped cream called Fuarag na Samhna was made on Samhainn. Tokens would be folded in to predict what the next year would bring. Each person would eat a spoonful of the fuarag and if they found a token then their future had been foretold. If you found a coin then you would receive money, a ring represented an engagement, a button meant you would lose money and a thimble would mean another year without finding love.

Oidhche Shamhna sona dhuibh uile! Happy Hallowe’en!  How will you be celebrating this year?

Historic Environment Scotland is the lead public body established to investigate, care for and promote Scotland’s historic environment. For more details see: www.historicenvironment.scot

Text by: Lucy Rodger

Main photo: A young boy and girl dooking for apples. © The Scotsman Publications Ltd. Licensed via Scran.

 

A new drive has been launched to revive the ancient Gaelic healing properties in the heartland of the historic kingdom of Dál Riata – the coast of the Gaels – also known as Argyll and the Isles, on Scotland’s west coast. The importance of connecting to nature to boost our wellbeing has been well documented through numerous studies in recent years, but the Gaels have known and embraced these healing properties for thousands of centuries, as recorded throughout history and through Gaelic language and place names. More recently, the 2021 Scottish Social Attitudes Survey revealed that 70 per cent of those learning Gaelic believed it contributed to their wellbeing.

Ancient Dál Riata heartland

Now members of the Argyll and Isles Tourism Cooperative have come together to ensure that visitors and locals alike can experience Dál Riata’s ancient and unique naturally restorative properties for themselves. Launching the drive, Cathy Craig, CEO of the Argyll and Isles Tourism Cooperative (www.wildaboutargyll.co.uk) said: “With our breath-taking natural environment, exceptional fresh air, rich flora and fauna, and outstanding array of water sources – from the Atlantic Ocean and lochs to rivers and waterfalls – it is easy to see why the Gaels would make our destination the capital of their ancient Dál Riata heartland. We’ve joined forces with our members in a bid to put these ancient restorative properties and our important Gaelic heritage back on the map. We would encourage visitors to follow in the footsteps of the ancient Gaels to really discover the wellbeing benefits that connecting with nature and Gaelic culture can bring. And with a wealth of truly blissful wellbeing experiences for visitors still to experience in Argyll and the Isles to this day, there are so many ways to do this. Argyll and the Isles is truly Scotland’s Wellbeing Coast.”

Open water swimming coach, Emma MacDonald agrees. Having been a visitor for over two decades she now calls Tobermory on the Isle of Mull home. Drawn by its outstanding natural beauty and the warmth of the local community, Emma moved to the island with her husband John, who is a native “Muileach” (the Gaelic name for people from Mull) and their two sons. In 2023 they launched Wild Hebridean Swimming providing wild swimming retreats on the Isles of Mull & Iona, where Saint Columba, who was highly regarded by the Gaels and the Picts, established a monastery that played a key role in the spread of Celtic Christianity throughout northern Britain.

On her retreats, Emma arranges for her swimmers to visit local Ardalanish Weavers where they can see a traditional working loom. And new for 2024 is a visit by Cuigeal, a Sgioba Luaidh (a waulking group) consisting of members of Còisir Ghàidhlig an Eilein Mhuilich (the Isle of Mull Gaelic Choir), where guests are treated to a re-enactment of waulking, or ‘fulling’, the process by which tweed is shrunk in order to make it waterproof. This process was long and wearisome and was accompanied by singing many rhythmic songs to lessen the boredom. Speaking on the launch of the Argyll and Isle’s Tourism Cooperative’s drive today, Emma said: “I am delighted to be part of an initiative that raises the awareness of the Gaelic language and culture. As well as enjoying the landscape, people really appreciate seeing how people used to live and of course still do.”

Drink from the Gaelic cultural well

Àdhamh Ó Broin, Gaelic Culture Officer for the Culture, Heritage & Arts Assembly, Argyll and the Isles (CHARTS) added: “In a world where people find themselves cut off from the rhythms of the natural world, it is increasingly important to return to the practices of our ancestors and to the land in which we experience symbiosis with nature. Argyll is choc-full of opportunity for this. Whether people have Gaelic roots or not, exposure to Gaelic language and culture allows people to think about and explore their own cultural legacy. Drawing from the ancestral well can bring enormous health benefits as we channel thousands of years of wisdom which has often become lost in the modern, western world. There is nothing quite like the feeling of bare feet on the living earth and Gaelic language in Argyll has been a descriptive tool of this relationship for hundreds, if not thousands of years. Come and visit, take off your socks and shoes, walk in sacred places that have held spiritual resonance for centuries, invest your energy here and drink from the Gaelic cultural well.”

The new ‘maitheis’ or wellbeing drive by The Argyll and Isles Tourism Cooperative also recognises the wide range of studies over the years (such as the Nord-Trondelag Health Study) that have evidenced the real difference that culture, museums, heritage sites, galleries and art workshops can make to boosting mental wellbeing.

Welcoming the drive and encouraging more tourism businesses to celebrate Gaelic culture, VisitScotland Regional Director David Adams McGilp said: “We know our history and culture are among the main reasons people choose Scotland as a destination and the Gaelic language plays a distinct role in our heritage, identity and culture. Visitors are also looking to connect with local communities and immerse themselves in our culture to boost their wellbeing. Gaelic can provide an extra layer to the authentic Scottish experience and we would encourage businesses in Argyll & Isles to consider maximising the opportunities that Gaelic brings and adding an element of Gaelic language to their offering.”

For more information about wellbeing experiences and connecting to Gaelic culture in Argyll and the Isles visit: www.wildaboutargyll.co.uk

 All images courtesy of Phil Wilkinson.

 

Members of the Argyll and Isles Tourism Cooperative offering visitors unique opportunities to boost their wellbeing or connect to nature or Gaelic culture or heritage include:

• The Royal National Mòd (11 to 19 October) – festival-goers can relax and unwind to the soothing sounds of Gaelic songs and voices at Scotland’s premier Gaelic festival, which takes place in Oban again this year. Organised by An Comunn Gàidhealach (The Highland Association), which was founded in Oban in 1891, The Mod represents ‘an annual opportunity for Gaels and non-Gaels to gather and renew old friendships as well as forging new ones’. The event features competitions across a range of disciplines, including music, song and dance, and performances from some of Scotland’s top traditional musicians and Gaelic singers.
• Heathery Heights leads sustainable foraging adventures, guided walks and outdoor experiences across Argyll & the Isles – from the less frequented hills and stunning rugged coastal paths with the chance to see a wide range of birds and sea life to ancient historical sites; and A’ choille-uisge Cheilteach (The Celtic Rain Forest). Due to its unique position on the Gulf Stream, Argyll is known for its special habitats of Atlantic temperate rainforest.
• Kilmartin Museum (Cille Mhàrtainn in Gaelic) – situated close to what was once the centre of Gaelic civilisation (Dunadd Fort – thought to be the capital of Dál Riata), Kilmartin Museum reopened in 2023 after a multimillion-pound refurbishment in one of Scotland’s richest prehistoric landscapes. Kilmartin Museum houses a nationally significant collection, which includes some panels describing the ancient belief in the restorative power of nature.
• Historic Kilmun (Cille Mhunna in Gaelic) – Historic Kilmun is a small village located on the shores of the Holy Loch, just north of Dunoon on the beautiful Cowal Peninsula. Founded by Gaelic monk St Fintan Munnu, the village was a monastic community in the 7th century. It is surrounded by Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), which are rich in wildlife, including otters, eagles and ravens, bats, roe deer, red deer, red squirrels, pine-martens, seals, eider ducks and many other species. The perfect place to unwind.
• Auchindrain Historic Township – Sheltered in the hills of Mid Argyll lies a hidden gem, a sole survivor of a kind of rural settlement where many residents spoke Gaelic and worked the land together. Up until the 1800s most people in rural Scotland lived in places like Auchindrain. In 2012, part of a much-thumbed Gaelic Bible was found in Auchindrain, tucked into a gap in the wall above the kitchen sink along with some sheets of newspaper from 1937. Today visitors can reconnect with the site using guide tablets in many different languages including Gaelic and English.

 

Did you know?

• Most of modern-Scotland once spoke Gaelic. It’s still spoken today by around 60,000 Scots.
• Gaelic has been preserved through literature, arts and folklore from across the ages. It plays a vibrant role in the modern world. It features in the hugely popular TV series Outlander, as well as in other radio, television and theatre productions.
• There are three types of Gaelic language still spoken today: Scottish, Irish and Manx. These are grouped under the term Goidelic.
• Goidelic languages are also regarded as Celtic, an umbrella designation including another three tongues which can also happily be thought of as sisters to one another; Welsh, Cornish and Breton, often referred to as Brythonic languages.
• Celtic languages arrived in Britain from the Continent somewhere in the region of a couple of millennia ago. Although there is debate about whether Brythonic or Goidelic came across from Europe first, there is no doubt that Celtic languages represent the oldest spoken “vernaculars” in the British Isles.
• The people from whom the Gaelic language sprung are known as Gaels, and today they are indigenous to Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.
• The Gaelic language has been preserved through literature, arts and folklore from across the ages, despite over 400 years of suppression.
• It is still spoken in some areas of Argyll and the Isles, for example on the Isles of TìrIdhe (Tiree) and Ìle (Islay) where it is still possible to hear the language in shops, community centres and at Gaelic cultural events.
• Gaelic culture and language is celebrated through events and festivals in Argyll and the Isles, including the Royal National Mod which takes place in Oban this year.
• The Gaelic community has supplied Scotland with many of the country’s national icons, including the kilt, tartan, sporran, bagpipes, ceilidhs and Highland games.
• VisitScotland research shows visitors are interested in Gaelic origins, areas spoken and heritage – four in five users who viewed Gaelic content on visitscotland.com were from outside the UK

Scotch whisky is one of the world’s favourite spirits, with a global reach to every continent. No trip to Scotland is complete without a distillery visit to learn how your favourite ‘drams’ are produced. As of May 2024, there were 151 operating Scotch whisky distilleries across Scotland, with more in the pipeline.

The Scottish Banner has teamed up with VisitScotland, Scotland’s national tourism organisation, to offer just a taste of what’s in store for whisky lovers at some of the many distilleries old and new across the country’s five whisky producing regions.

Highlands

Mainland Scotland’s most northerly distillery, 8 Doors Distillery located in John O’Groats opened in September 2022. The team here create whiskies from the very edge of Scotland that reflect the location and the local climate, and the distillery and visitor centre have been carefully designed to make the most of the amazing coastal views-www.8doorsdistillery.com.

If you like stunning views with your whisky, then don’t miss Scapa Distillery’s amazing new Scapa Noust tasting room in the Orkney islands. Noust is Scots for a boat-shaped hollow, and the tasting room ceiling is shaped like an upturned boat. The cliff top location provides spectacular views over the vast natural harbour of Scapa Flow and the landscapes beyond-www.scapawhisky.com.

A visit to a Scottish island is always a magical experience, and if you follow the Hebridean Whisky Trail, you’ll discover seven varied island distilleries including the newest addition: North Uist Distillery-www.hebrideanwhisky.com.

Back on the mainland, Nc’Nean Distillery, named after the ancient Gaelic goddess Neachneohain, is located on the beautiful Morvern Peninsula. The distillery has a strong sustainability ethos – it’s powered by 100% renewable energy, and only organic Scottish barley is used in the production of their smooth and elegant whiskies-www.ncnean.com.

Speyside

The famous Malt Whisky Trail takes in Speyside’s wealth of well-known distilleries and includes Speyside Cooperage where visitors can experience the precision and expertise required to produce Scotland’s iconic casks-www.maltwhiskytrail.com, www.speysidecooperage.co.uk.

Although opened just a year ago, the team at Dunphail Distillery near Forres is committed to crafting their full-bodied whiskies using traditional distilling methods. Located in a former farm steading in stunning Moray countryside, Dunphail offers visitors the chance to learn how the methods of the past are shaping the whiskies of the future, and to sample fine whiskies that have been specially selected for their Dunphail Distillery connections-www.dunphaildistillery.com.

Lying at the heart of the Cairngorms National Park, Cairn Distillery opened in October 2022. Although their first whiskies won’t be ready until the 2030s, they offer a range of CRN57° blended malts to give visitors a taste of what’s coming. Distillery experiences are available, there’s The Gathering for tasty food and refreshments, browse their shop, or just take a walk along the River Spey on their outdoor trails-www.thecairndistillery.com.

Islay

Islay’s oldest licensed distillery is Bowmore Distillery, taking its name from the island’s main town. Bowmore is a pioneering distillery, where the traditions, skills and expertise crafted in 1779 during the earliest days of Scotch whisky continue to be handed down. In one of the world’s oldest Scotch maturation warehouses, Bowmore single malts have been meticulously matured and transformed for over 240 years-www.bowmore.com.

In contrast, one of the newest distilleries on Islay is Ardnahoe Distillery – a family run business borne from decades of experience in the blending and bottling industry. The distillery takes its name from the Scots Gaelic for ‘heights of the hollow’, perfectly describing its setting, with views across to the Isle of Jura-www.ardnahoedistillery.com.

Fèis Ìle – The Islay Festival – is an annual gathering of whisky and Islay fans from across the globe. The event celebrates Islay, her culture and her spirit. The 2025 event will take place from 23^rd to 31^st May-www.feisile.co.uk

Lowland

The town of Falkirk is enjoying a whisky renaissance with the reopening of Rosebank Distillery, originally opened in 1840, and which recently restarted whisky production after a 30-year hiatus. This cherished distillery is well regarded by whisky connoisseurs and should be on the itinerary for any whisky lover coming to Scotland-www.rosebank.com.

Leith was once an important whisky trading port, and the opening of the Port of Leith Distillery in 2023 saw the return of the spirit to this historic part of Edinburgh. The UK’s first vertical distillery, it sits adjacent to The Royal Yacht Britannia. Whisky will be created using a vertical production process, and visitors will enjoy bird’s eye views from the chic top floor bar-www.leithdistillery.com.

Lying in a hidden glen at the foot of the Campsie Hills between Glasgow and Loch Lomond, Glengoyne Distillery has often been described as the most beautiful distillery in Scotland. Fully powered by renewable energy, Glengoyne offers visitors the unique opportunity to create your very own single malt in the Sample Room-www.glengoyne.com.

Campbeltown

Established in 1828, Springbank is the oldest independent and family-owned distillery in Scotland and is the only distillery to carry out the entire whisky production process on its premises-www.springbank.scot.

Springbank’s sister distillery is Glengyle, reimagined in the early 21^st century, and today producing Kilkerran single malt-www.kilkerran.scot.

Glen Scotia Distillery has been producing distinctive single malts since 1832. The distillery maintains much of its original design, including the fermenters, stillhouse and warehouse. A dram of Glen Scotia offers is a window through time to a traditional Campbeltown signature whisky-www.glenscotia.com.

The Kintyre Peninsula is also home to Beinn an Tuirc Distillers, named after the nearby highest point in Kintyre, translating from Scots Gaelic as ‘hill of the wild boar’. The distillery produces gin, vodka, rum and brandy, and you can even enjoy a stay at the distillery owners’ home – Torrisdale Castle Estate-www.kintyregin.com.

For more information to help plan your visit to Scotland go to www.visitscotland.com

Main photo: Speyside Cooperage. Photo: North East 250/Damian Shields.

Building upon the hugely successful Maitland Tattoo in 2022, and the 75th Anniversary of the Band’s creation, the City of Maitland Pipes and Drums Band with dozens of Pipe and Drums Bands from across New South Wales. The event will feature some of New South Wales and Australia’s most experienced and talented Piping and Drumming players. The day will also feature a large collection of classic and vintage cars and a variety of food and retail stores.

“We have been planning this event for nearly 18 months,” said the Band’s Secretary, Greg Queenan, “We have had great support from the City of Maitland Council, local residents and many local clubs, organisations and businesses.”

There a number of bands already confirmed to be competing for the crown of State Champion in their Grade, including the United Mine Workers Pipe Band, Knox Grammar School, Scots College, City of Blacktown Pipe Band, NSW Police Pipe Band, Tamworth District Pipe Band and of course, the City of Maitland Pipes and Drums Band who will be the duty band on the day.  A number of other bands have verbally confirmed their attendance – City of Newcastle RSL Pipe Band, Governor Macquarie Pipe Band, NSW Highlanders Pipe Band, Canberra Burns Club Pipe Band, North Ryde RSL Pipes and Drums, Sydney Thistle Highland Pipe Band with entries closing on the 13th October.

Two of our local schools with be in attendance with the Hunter Valley Grammar Schools Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Concert Band and Irrawang High Schools Drum Corps performing.

“We are very excited to bring so many great bands to Maitland and the Hunter Valley,” said Greg, “there will be plenty of entertainment for all ages.”

The NSW State Pipe Band Championships will take place Sunday November 3, from 9am, at Maitland Regional Sports Ground, entry: $5. For more information see: www.maitlandpipeband.org.au

Billed as one of Scotland’s best days out the finale of the 130^th Cowal Highland Gathering lived up to its reputation. Thousands of people from across the world gathered in Dunoon for the final day of the world’s most spectacular Highland Gathering with competitors, entertainers and spectators joining forces to make sure super Saturday was a day to remember.  Crowds watched as over a thousand competitors fought to secure some Cowal silverware.

Dancers, pipers, heavy athletes and wrestlers were joined by entertainers including cyclists, axe throwers, stunt runners and musicians to ensure the Gathering’s crowds were wowed from early morning until the end of the day. The standard of competition was world class, with every athlete and competitor giving their all to leave the Stadium as a Cowal Gathering winner.

The biggest Highland Dancing competition in the world

Then came the biggest Highland Dancing competition in the world – the World Championship finals – with dancers from Australia, Canada and the USA pitting their skills against the best the UK has to offer. In the end, it was Aisla Gocan-Wright from London, Ontario who emerged victorious in the World Juvenile finals, followed by Rebecca Acob of Coldstream and Ellie Murgha of Townsville, Queensland.  The trophy for best Scottish Juvenile Dancer went to Cody Fong from Kirkcaldy and the best Overseas Juvenile Dancer was Aisla Gocan-Wright.  In the World Junior championship, Eilidh Gammons of Helensburgh, defended her title and held off the challenge of Katjana Bruinsa from Leduc County and Maria Monk of Glasgow.

The best Scottish Junior Dancer was Eilidh Gammons, and the trophy for the best Overseas Junior Dancer went to Katjana Bruinsma.  The Adult World champion was Rebecca Thow from Aberdeen, followed by Marielle Lesperance from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, with Chloe McClean from Edinburgh in third.  Marielle Lesperance is taking home the Mary McHarg Quaich for best Overseas Adult Dancer.  The cup for best Scottish Adult Dancer went to Rebecca Thow.

Wonderful competitors

Speaking on behalf of the Board of Cowal Gathering, Fraser McCowan said: “On behalf of the Gathering’s organisers, I would like to thank everyone who has worked so hard to make sure the 130^th Cowal Gathering goes down in history as the best party in town! I’d also like to thank the thousands of people who have come out to support the Gathering over three days.  We’ve welcomed spectators not just from Argyll and Bute and Scotland more generally but from right around the globe, and the feedback we’ve received has been overwhelmingly positive. Of course, we wouldn’t have a Gathering at all without the wonderful competitors, who excelled themselves this year. Those of us lucky enough to have been here witnessed levels of performance never seen before. We all know how popular the traditional Highland Games events such as the piping, dancing and heavy athletics are, and of course they remain the main draw.”

The next Cowal Highland Gathering takes place at Dunoon Stadium from 28 – 30 August 2025. For details see: cowalgathering.com

Main photo: From left to right: Aisla Gocan-Wright, Rebecca Thow and Eilidh Gammons. Photo: Cowal Gathering

The Learned Kindred of Currie salutes the 2024 US National Scottish Harp Champion, Rhiannon Ramsey-Brimberg. The event was held in September at the Ligonier Highland Games in Pennsylvania.

Learned Kindred of Currie is the Title Sponsor of the US National Scottish Harp Championship and this month The Learned Kindred of Currie is proud to sponsor the Scottish harp event at Scotland Connecticut Highland Festival & Games as well as the Young Adult Literature Prize at the Royal National Mòd in Scotland.

Learned Kindred of Currie also supports events like The Pipes of Christmas, Tartan Day on Ellis Island and scholarships to young people around the world.

Even with the heavy rains and a change in venue due to flooding, history was made in Annan, Dumfriesshire on the 24^th August, 2024 on what was to be a fine but windy day. The Annan Festival and Gathering of the Clans, was well attended and a great success.

The Festival consisted of a parade of the chiefs greeted by Fiona Armstrong, Lady MacGregor, Lord Lieutenant of Dumfries, performances by the Teviotdale Steel Bonnets and the Time Bandits covering Reiver history and weaponry. There were highland games, piping and dancing and a performance by the Scottish tribal group Clanadonia. Clan tents were available offering information on the history and genealogy of the respective clans and families present.

The final part of the programme was the inauguration of the Chief of Carruthers. The last stage of the process initiated in 2007 by the Clan Shennachie, Dr George Carruthers, FSA Scot, was about to be completed. A petition was presented to the Lord Lyon in 2017 to bear the chiefly arms of Carruthers, first registered along with all other Scottish arms in 1672 by the petitioner’s ancestor. As such in 2019 and after 210 years of dormancy and analysis of the documents and proofs accompanying the petition, Dr Simon Peter Carruthers of Holmains was confirmed Chief of the Name and Arms of Carruthers.

Ancestral lands

The inauguration on our ancestral lands to name him Chief, began with a procession led by the Convenor, Mr Michael Carruthers carrying the Society banner. He was followed by those Chiefs and Commanders in attendance, the Shennachie and his banner, the Chief’s Household, the Inauguration Chaplain, the Lord Lyon’s representative and the Chief and his heir with their banner. They were welcomed to the stage area by Dr George Haig, Advisor to the Chief, who handed the proceedings over to the Shennachie. He welcomed the Chief onto the stage and explained the importance of a confirmed chief to the official status of Carruthers as a Scottish clan and family.

The Lord Lyon’s representative Sir Crispin Agnew of Lochnaw, Albany Herald Extraordinary presented the Chief’s Letters Patent from the Lord Lyon on behalf of the Sovereign. He spoke of the Chief’s lineage being 22^nd of his line, his legal right to bear the chiefly arms, the 1587 Act of the Suppression of Unruly Clans in which Carruthers are named and reiterated the importance that a Chief brings to the official recognition of any clan, both in Scotland and overseas. Sir Crispin Agnew finished with his best wishes and congratulations.

The presentation was followed by the Shennachie presenting the Chief with his symbols of office: A family bible, embossed with his arms, a Balmoral bonnet with the three eagle feathers of a chief, a gold ring with his arms upon it and finally a Cromach. Proudly wearing his three feathers, oaths were taken. Firstly, an oath by the Chief to his clan to preserve, protect and defend the name of Carruthers to the best of his ability.  Secondly an oath of fealty and loyalty to the Chief by the Shennachie on behalf of all the elders and stewards of Carruthers. Finally, the oath from the clan to the Chief, who loudly pledged fealty and loyalty and a willingness to honour the traditions of their name.

Ancient custom

Following ancient custom and in line with the Chief’s faith, the Inauguration Chaplain, the Reverend John Pickles, minister of the Church of Scotland for the parishes Annan, Brydekirk, Dalton and Hightae, gave readings from Psalms and the Gospel of St Luke. The Reverend led all present in prayers and according to ancient tradition as a member of the kirk, gave his blessing to the Chief and then to all those gathered.  The other Chiefs present were invited to give greetings.

The Chiefs of Clan Irving; Rupert Irving of Bonshaw, Hunter; Madam Pauline Hunter of Hunterson, Hanney; Dr David Hanney of Kirkdale, MacArthur; John MacArthur of that Ilk and the Commander of Clan McEwen; Sir John McEwen of Marchmont and Bardrochat gave their warm best wishes and Ross McEwen Esq, FSA Scot gave greetings from the Buchanan Chief; Michael Buchanan of Buchanan.

The Chief himself gave a heartfelt response to all greetings, all those from both the UK and overseas who had attended and to Annan the History Town Committee mainly Graeme MacGregor and Neil Carruthers for helping make it happen. He also thanked those who had worked in the background and supported him through his journey, namely George and Michael Carruthers and finally to his family, for their continued love and encouragement.

The Shennachie closed the proceedings, by declaring Simon Peter Carruthers of Holmains, Chief of Carruthers and commented on the fact that this was a culmination of a great many years of hard work and effort, and that by ensuring the legal process to have a Chief named was followed to the letter, today marked the final piece in a very long and arduous process. The celebration continued at the Annan Distillery with speakers, an inauguration dinner, appointments by the Chief and a ceilidh. He apologised to the latecomers, who sadly couldn’t attend.

Text by: George Carruthers.

Main photo: Dr Simon Peter Carruthers of Holmains.

Meet the Buchanans, a feature documentary from BAFTA award-winning producer Barbara Orton, has made its world premiere at the Tartan Film Festival in Los Angeles. For 300 years the Clan Buchanan has been without a chief. That is, until now… Historical fact and historical fantasy collide in Meet the Buchanans, which observes the coming inauguration of millionaire Scottish landowner Mike Buchanan as the newly confirmed Clan Buchanan Highland Chief, along with his wife Lady Paula and their teenage family.

Join the family in real Outlander style as the Buchanans attract tartan-mad enthusiasts from around the world. We meet characters drawn to Scotland by kinship, connection, and the excitement of the Clan’s first chief in over three hundred years – from two American sisters who wear the Buchanan tartan proudly, to Mexican Pedro Buchanan.

Cemented its place in Scottish history

The driving force behind his claim to the title, Mike’s determined wife Paula planned the inaugural three-day bonanza and ceremonial regalia on their magnificent Highland estate in 2022. She is now the chief architect of his ‘coronation’ (well, much of it, if an ancient source can’t be found). Following in the footsteps of famous Buchanan house guest, the nineteenth-century Scottish writer Walter Scott – ceremony and ritual are being freely invented. This unique event took place at Cambusmore, Callander, the modern seat of Clan Buchanan and the chief’s ancestral home.

The ceremony cemented its place in Scottish history as the first for many hundreds of years, and the new chief swore an oath to protect and champion the Buchanan Clan. A hidden world of British wealth and privilege unfolds as the family uncover and invent fresh entitlements of the new role: revealing not only whether they can pull off this event, but also how history is made (up). Meet the Buchanans raises important questions around identity, historical values and traditions, belonging, and the place of Clans in the modern world.

The newly-completed feature-length version began its festival circuit in August with the world premiere at the Tartan Film Festival in Los Angeles, organized by the St. Andrew’s Society of Los Angeles. A shorter version of the film was originally commissioned by BBC Scotland. The feature version which premiered at the Tartan Film Festival is supported by Screen Scotland.  The film premier took place at Lumiere Cinema in Beverly Hills and was followed by a Q&A with the Clan Chief, Lady Buchanan, and producer and director Barbara Orton, hosted by BBC Correspondent Sandro Monetti. Following the week of the premiere, the film was screened at the Pleasanton Highland Games hosted by the San Francisco Caledonian Club where Mike will be the Honored Clan Chief.

A Clan story that’s not stuck in the past

Barbara Orton, producer and co-director, says: “Now the feature version is finished, I can’t wait for festival and cinema audiences to see it and witness a contemporary view of Scotland, in a story about Clans originating in the modern world. It’s a Clan story that’s not stuck in the past.” Anthony Arnello, Events Director of the Tartan Film Festival added: “So often in America, people are fixated on dreams of discovering a long-lost connection to Robert the Bruce or a hope that they might in fact become a Clan Chief by some forgotten cousin. This film brings that fantasy to life, taking the viewer into the fold of becoming a Chieftain and along the way finding meaning, creating tradition, and building a legacy.”

Clan Chiefs must be approved by the Lord Lyon King of Arms. The Lord Lyon has full judicial powers to enforce use of heraldry and coats of arms in Scotland through the Lyon Court, the last surviving ‘Court of Chivalry’ in the world. As well as those with the surname Buchanan, clansfolk also include those with Scottish roots and surnames such as Bohannon, Coleman, Colman, Cormack, Dewar, Dove, Dow, Gibb, Gibbon, Gibb, Gibson, Gilbert, Gilbertson, Harper, Masters, Masterson, Morris, Richardson, Rush, Rusk, Walter, Walters, Wasson, Waters, Watson, Watt, Watters, and Weir. In the modern day, these are known as affiliated families but were previously known as septs of the clan.

The Hamilton and Districts Pipe Band celebrates, this year,120 years of continuous service to the Hamilton community. The sound of bagpipes and drums have been synonymous with Victoria’s western plains since the earliest Scottish and Irish settlers sought to continue their own ancient culture in a new land. In 1904 the Hamilton Pipe Band was formed through the merger of the existing Caledonian Pipe Band and other players.

Amazing milestone

To celebrate this amazing milestone, on Saturday 26 October, the Pipe Band is reviving what was once an annual event and holding the Hamilton Highland Gathering 2024 in the Botanical Gardens.  “The Pipe Band is just one of the many clubs and volunteer groups that make Hamilton a great place to live, work and play”, says Band president, Richard Murphy. “The Pipe Band is going to begin the event with a Street Parade made up of visiting pipe bands and local clubs”, Richard explains.

Southern Grampians Shire have sponsored the Pipe Band performances in the Botanical Gardens. Wannon Water has sponsored the Street Parade. Anyone wishing to contact the Hamilton and Districts Pipe Band can phone Ken on 0437 711 444, Richard on 0407 516 532 or see www.hamiltonpipesanddrums.org.au.

Main photo: The Hamilton and Districts Pipe Band, 1912.