As Scotland’s men’s football team makes plans for the 2026 World Cup and Scottish football sits top of mind for many across the country, we have added our voice to those seeking assurances about the preservation of the first ever Hampden Park in Glasgow.
The site, at Kingsley Avenue in Glasgow’s southside, is where Scottish and International Football played out its formative years. It was home to the Queen’s Park club from 1873–1883, and hosted Scottish Cup finals, including the very first final between Queen’s Park and Clydesdale in 1874, as well as Scotland internationals.
The story of Scottish football
Importantly, it was also where modern football as we know it was created. Scottish teams are considered the first to start passing the ball between teammates, which went on to inspire the game in South America and beyond. Since 1905, the grounds have been leased by the Hampden Bowling Club, but with the club winding up in this month, there has been a considerable level of community and public concern that the site will be lost and subject to development. Football’s Square Mile, the world’s largest open-air football museum sharing the story of Scottish football and the impact of the earliest matches in Glasgow on the modern game, is leading the call for the site to be saved.
Philip Long, the National Trust for Scotland’s Chief Executive, said: “Scotland’s recent win was a glorious moment in the game’s history, so let’s not sully that by the potential obliteration of the very first Hampden Park. The site is intrinsic to the development of the game of football as we know it, so it makes a vital contribution to Scotland’s culture and modern identity. A place of such significance needs to be protected and respected. It is vital that our country’s cultural history is preserved, and we continue to tell the stories that have made Scotland the place it is today. We urge all parties concerned, as well as Historic Environment Scotland and the Scottish Government, to come together to find a way forward that will ensure this pivotal site is saved and its historic role shared and celebrated.”
The first purpose-built international football stadium
An archaeological excavation at the site discovered the remains of what has been described as ‘the first purpose-built international football stadium’, and it is considered the template for the countless pitches and stadia that followed it worldwide. Eventually, because of the construction of the now adjacent railway line, Queen’s Park and Scottish Cup and International fixtures moved to a new site – ‘Hampden Two’ – 150 yards away in Crosshill in 1884. However, this was not before Scotland beat England 5–1 in 1882, an event commemorated in a mural on the back of the bowling pavilion, visible daily to commuters on the very railway line that led to the move. The third Hampden Park was built on land acquired in Mount Florida in 1899, and play began there in 1903. This is the stadium that is still in use today.
Football’s Square Mile and the Glasgow Building Preservation Trust have been working together to devise a feasibility study that can design a viable future for the site of the first Hampden Park. Funding has been secured for the study, and a design team is ready to start once a small amount of gap funding is found.
Ian McLelland, the National Trust for Scotland’s Regional Director for the South & West, added: “Over the last 150 years, football has become synonymous with Scotland and Hampden Park synonymous with Scottish Football. We’re aware of the valiant efforts being made by Football’s Square Mile and the Glasgow Building Preservation Trust to find a viable way forward for the very first incarnation of Hampden Park so that it is not lost. While as a charity, we are not in a position to take over the site, we are keen to support the interpretation of this cultural legacy and work with partners to tell the story of Scottish football and its impact on the world. Football’s Square Mile fulfils an important need in Glasgow, ensuring that this intangible history is not lost. Intervention at national and local authority level will be necessary, and we believe this site and the heritage it represents certainly justifies that.”
Text and images are courtesy of the National Trust for Scotland. For more information on the Trust or to help them protect Scotland’s heritage see: www.nts.org.uk
Do you enjoy our content?
Content on the Scottish Banner website remains free for users. Stories and events listed for the international Scottish community continue to be an important resource for many across the world. As advertising revenue remains a challenge, our readers can donate to help us produce unique Scottish content for global Scots. Every contribution counts and thank you for considering your support.
Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication and website visit: The Scottish Banner
It is no surprise to see Americans celebrating St. Patrick’s Day and honoring their Irish roots. Likewise, it is not surprising to see the proliferation of Scottish Games and festivals where kilts and bagpipes represent the diaspora of Scots to America as well. The Celtic influences on America are unmistakable and widely celebrated—and in some cases, elevated to large-scale international performances such as the Virginia International Tattoo, held each year in Norfolk.
This event, one of the largest of its kind in the United States, brings together military bands, massed pipes and drums, Irish dancers, Highland dancers, and performers from across the Celtic world and beyond. Notably, pipe bands from Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States regularly perform side by side, while both Irish and Highland dancers add a vibrant visual expression of Celtic tradition through precise footwork and centuries-old choreography.
Ulster-Scots
There were Irish and Scots emigrants in the United States as early as the 17th century. Irish indentures and some prisoners from Cromwell’s wars in Ireland were among the earliest from that nation. Between 1720 and the coming of the American Revolution in 1775 it is estimated that roughly 250,000 Irish – mainly Protestants from Ulster whose ancestors were planted in that region during the Tudor dynasty from lowland Scotland and northern England made their way to America due to social and economic hardships. Scottish merchants prospered in port cities and population centers up and down the Eastern seaboard while other Scots predominated the trade being established with Native American tribes on the frontiers.
Highland Scots, many being affected by the social, economic, agricultural, and cultural changes in the years following the failed Jacobite Rebellion of 1745–46 settled in organized parties – sometimes recruited by colonial governors and led by former tacksmen of Highland estates. They established notable settlements, the largest of which was in the Cape Fear Valley of North Carolina. Ulster-Scots were the predominant pioneers who settled the colonial “backbone” of the early American colonies pushing toward and across the Appalachian mountains and beginning the nation’s westward expansion.
Emigration was renewed again following the American Revolution, with further Scots and Ulster-Scots being influenced by the “push” of economic and social factors such as the continued rises in land rents, while the “pull” of favorable accounts of settlements sent home by neighbors and kinsmen who had improved their conditions in America. The beginnings of the “Highland clearances” where estate owners found it more financially beneficial to turn lands over to sheep and deer forests than have rent paying tenants with only limited means led further Highland Scots to settle among the regions already pioneered by their kin.
The largest numbers of Irish emigrants to America came during the famine years of the late 1830’s through the early 1850’s where as many as 2 million Irish settlers came primarily to the cities of Boston and New York City with many dispersing further afield as well. The promise of riches which were offered by news of the discovery of gold in California was also another motivator for many who were in dire straits and seeking better opportunities in America.
Celebration of their uniqueness and identity
Rhodes Academy of Irish Dance.
While Scots and Ulster Scots in the South proliferated and continued the expansion of settlement into lands cleared of Native American threats as well as those formerly occupied by the French and Spanish, Irish emigrants also expanded along growing westward trails as well as providing labor for factories, the expansion of roads and canals, and the beginnings of rail transportation. Place names taken from Ireland and Scotland as well as the surnames of prominent settlers can be found from their original places of settlement and along their routes westward throughout the expanding United States. Presbyterian Scots as well as the Catholic Irish placed high regard on education, and early schools as well as colleges which were established based on those values were among the earliest in many regions, with many still existing from those pioneering efforts.
The hearty fighting spirit of both Scots and Irish –drawn as some suggest from long struggles in their homelands – led many to become military as well as political leaders from their earliest years in America. A romantic attachment to their homeland, perhaps in some cases influenced not only by family tradition but also by images created by writers such as Sir Walter Scott, Jane Porter, and Robert Burns led many to not only hold on to their concept of ethnicity but to celebrate it through the establishment of St. Andrews and Hibernian Societies nationwide as well as military units with Scottish and Irish themes which reflected the unity of their ethnic communities as well as celebration of their uniqueness, identity and echo of the martial traditions carried to America by Scottish and Irish immigrants.
The cultural representations of these Celtic communities are relatively easy to find through the years. Newspapers were published in America in the native languages of the Gaelic speaking Irish as well as Highland Scots, as well as in the native Welsh of those lesser-known settlers even up into the early 20th century. Emigrations of Celts from Brittany in France to New York City in particular from the late 19th century into the mid-20th century also brought that lesser known culture into the Celtic-American mix. Celebrations of St. Patrick’s Day in Irish communities, St. Andrews Day and Burns’ Nights in Scottish communities, and even St. David’s Day in Welsh communities are recorded from the 18th century until the present. Irish music clubs and sessions, Irish dance schools and Feis events, as well as the founding of pipe bands, Highland games, and fiddler’s gatherings represent efforts to keep traditional music and culture flourishing.
Large-scale events like the Virginia International Tattoo serve as a modern culmination of these traditions—bringing together not only Celtic performers but also international military ensembles, reinforcing how these once-immigrant traditions have become part of a broader American cultural and ceremonial identity. Meanwhile, the ballads and fiddle tunes preserved in isolated regions such as the Appalachian mountains represent the last vestiges of traditions which have had no outside influences to disturb them. They represent the strength of the oral traditions which were so prevalent among these Celtic peoples and served as the inspiration and roots of our own American traditional music.
Celtic roots
Pride in these ethnic connections has become quite mainstream in modern America. The “Roots movement” of the mid-1970’s – inspired in part by the release of Roots: The Saga of an American Family by Alex Haley, as well as the Bicentennial of 1976 seemed to inspire many Americans to delve into their own family stories and backgrounds – with many “discovering” their Celtic roots for the first time. Others who were aware of their ethnic roots had celebrated these connections for much longer. For many years, host Fiona Ritchie’s The Thistle and Shamrock brought an awareness of Celtic music and culture to millions through her widely broadcast National Public Radio show, and the release of the Outlander series of novels and its resulting television adaptation by Diana Gabaldon has launched a new interest and curiosity among mainstream America.
So, whether you celebrate with traditional music in a pub on St. Patrick’s Day, attend a Highland gathering, or experience the spectacle of the Virginia International Tattoo, know that the Celtic roots of America are quite deep. This history, these stories, and their associated lore are an important part of the American story. They are woven together into America’s history just as threads are woven together to make a colorful Scottish tartan or a rugged Irish tweed.
Text by Bill Caudill, a native of Waxhaw, North Carolina, is a historian, folklorist, and award-winning professional Scottish bagpiper known for his expertise in Highland Scots heritage in the American South. The 2026 Virginia International Tattoo runs April 16–19 at Scope Arena in Norfolk as part of the Virginia Arts Festival. Learn more at: vafest.org/tattoo.
Do you enjoy our content?
Content on the Scottish Banner website remains free for users. Stories and events listed for the international Scottish community continue to be an important resource for many across the world. As advertising revenue remains a challenge, our readers can donate to help us produce unique Scottish content for global Scots. Every contribution counts and thank you for considering your support.
Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication and website visit: The Scottish Banner
The American Scottish Foundation (ASF) announces the presentation of the 2026 Young Scot Wallace Award for Piping. Growing upon the American Scottish Foundation’s recognition of the great talent of Young Scots, the American Scottish Foundation expanded its Wallace Awards to include Young Scot Awards in various categories.
The ASF Youth Bursary program begun by the Foundation’s founder Lord Malcolm Douglas Hamilton 70 years ago, expands and builds upon his vision of support and helping Scottish and Scottish American youth in their experiences.
Pipes and Drums on the Fountain Terrace.
During New York Tartan Week 2026, the ASF will recognize award winning and celebrated piper, Craig Weir, who has advised and helped the American Scottish Foundation in the development of the ASF Pipes and Drums on the Fountain Terrace at Bryant Park.
The Pipes and Drums at Bryant Park is now in its 12th year and a leading element is the opportunity it offers to Scottish Youth Pipe Bands to build upon taking part in the New York Tartan Day Parade by performing on the Fountain Terrace of the Park – in the shadow of Andrew Carnegie’s New York Public Library.
Connecting the diaspora in its love of Scotland and the pipes
Craig with The Dalai Lama.
The award will be presented during the Pipes and Drums on the Fountain Terrace on Saturday April 11 at 12pm mid the performance taking place that day. “I am so grateful for Craig’s help and commitment to seeing the young Scottish pipe bands involved in New York Tartan Week and helping us develop Bryant Park Pipes and Drums into such an amazing part of New York Tartan Week – and we are looking to build on that with spotlighting Highland Games opportunities too,” noted Camilla Hellman, President, American Scottish Foundation.
Craig Weir grew up in Dundee and from the age of 8 the pipes have been a part of his life. The pipes have led to Craig travelling the world playing from Europe, China, Canada and the US where he has performed in 12 States to date. Craig has performed for many dignitaries including the various members of the Royal Family; fulfilling several performances for Queen Elizabeth II most notably at Balmoral in August 2022, and as part of Dundee funeral cortege farewell.
Craig pipes have greeted His Holiness The Dalai Lama and First Lady Michelle Obama. From royal visits to rock and roll, Craig has taken the stage connecting the diaspora in its love of Scotland and the pipes. From Queen to Bay City Rollers and to his own band with roaring horn section, Gleadhraich. In 2025 Gleadhraich performed in Tulsa, Oklahoma for Scotfest and will play later this year at the New Hampshire Highland Games and Festival as well as performing internationally.
Content on the Scottish Banner website remains free for users. Stories and events listed for the international Scottish community continue to be an important resource for many across the world. As advertising revenue remains a challenge, our readers can donate to help us produce unique Scottish content for global Scots. Every contribution counts and thank you for considering your support.
Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication and website visit: The Scottish Banner
The Bundanoon Highland Gathering have announced the following competitors for the events being run by the Kilted Warriors under the direction of Dr. Lance Holland-Keen and Aaron Monks. The Brigadoon committee would like to express their deep appreciation and congratulate the Kilted Warriors for their continual support at Bundanoon. At 3.10pm, on the oval The Kilted Warriors will be lifting the Bundanoon Stones. Incredible feats of strength, speed & stamina will be the order the day when the Brigadoon pays tribute to a traditional Scottish coming-of-age ritual in April.
This is a must see event as the weight of the stones are 100kgs, 110kgs, 120kgs, 145kgs and 165kgs.This should be an outstanding event this year as these are the top athletes in the games at the present time. Competitors for Bundanoon Stones include Tyler Helm, Defending Champion, Aiden Canini, Andrew Frazer and Bradman Houston.
History of the Stones
Modelled on the MacGlashen Stones from Scotland. Only five of the stones are used at any one time with the current competition set comprising the 100kgs, 110kgs, 120kgs, 145kgs and 165kgs. The stones vary in size from 43 centimetres to a massive 50 centimetres or half metre in a diameter. The history of the stones goes back over one thousand years to the highlands of Scotland when a boy was considered to have reached manhood when he could lift two stone in weight from the bare ground onto the top of a stone dyke or fence as we know it.
Most villages took part in this exercise and the stones varied from village to village. In the late 1970’s the lifting of the stones was brought back to life in Scotland with the introduction of the MacGlashsen Stones. The five round stones range in weight from 100 kg through to 165 kgs. The stones are laid out five metres apart lightest to heaviest with each competitor having to lift all five stones on top of a wooden barrel four feet in height. The person who can lift all five stones on top of the barrels in the fastest time is declared the champion of the day.
Also taking place on the field at Brigadoon is the Australian Highland Heavy Weight Events Championships. This is an outstanding field of heavy weight competitors, so the competition should be fierce which include: Rob Melin-Defending Champion, Jamie Muscat, Lance Holland Keen, Kurt Livins, Luke Reynolds, Nigel Skurrie, Lachlan Page, Shane Carstairs and MacaSuley Tinker. This event will start from 11am and finish at 2.30pm. There will be five events with one Australian Highland Heavy Weight Events Champion.
Bundanoon Highland Gathering also features solo piping and pipe band performances, Scottish dancing, fiddlers, clan and Scottish community groups, a unique range of stalls and more throughout the day.
The Bundanoon Highland Gathering will take place on Saturday, April 18th in Bundanoon in the NSW Southern Highlands. For more details visit: www.brigadoon.org.au
Do you enjoy our content?
Content on the Scottish Banner website remains free for users. Stories and events listed for the international Scottish community continue to be an important resource for many across the world. As advertising revenue remains a challenge, our readers can donate to help us produce unique Scottish content for global Scots. Every contribution counts and thank you for considering your support.
Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication and website visit: The Scottish Banner
The Puffer Preservation Trust, the charity that has managed the ongoing restoration and cruising operations of Clyde Puffer S.L. VIC 32 since 2002, has been awarded a grant by The National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) of £245,537 to support a programme of essential restoration to enable the vessel to continue steaming through West Coast waters into the future.
A regular sight in Scottish waters
All images courtesy of Samuel Callen.
S.L. VIC 32 is one of the last iconic Clyde Puffers to operate on steam. Once a regular sight in Scottish waters delivering crucial supplies to Islanders on the West Coast of Scotland. VIC 32 was commissioned by the Admiralty, as part of a fleet of over 100, and built to carry provisions to naval vessels and depots during WWII. Unlike most of her sister ships, VIC 32 was not scrapped and was purchased by Nick and Rachel Walker in 1975. They undertook an extensive renovation to carry passengers resulting in a unique example of a steamboat that has been almost continuously cruising in West Coast waters for 45 years.
Whilst the money generated from carrying passengers over the past 20 years has allowed the charity to fund the necessary maintenance and restoration of the vessel, the COVID years and a following dip in tourism on the West Coast made it challenging to complete the final parts of this works programme.
This National Lottery Heritage Fund award will enable the Puffer Preservation Trust to complete many of these final parts, including a replica wheelhouse and completion of replacement steel hull plating throughout the hold area of the vessel. The funding will also support investment in a steam turbine powered by VIC 32’s biofueled boiler to generate on board electricity. Replacing a diesel generator and further reducing the carbon footprint of the vessel which was already ahead of its time in converting to Biofuel in 2022.
Scottish seagoing icon
The project will also expand on the opportunities for people to get involved with VIC 32. Including workshops for volunteers to take part in the project and learn some of the traditional skills associated with maintaining a heritage vessel. In the long-term the works funded by this grant will allow the Puffer Preservation Trust to keep the boat steaming and educating future generations on the workings of steam power, as well as a continuing educational role demonstrating how these boats were entwined in the lives of Scots along the West Coast.
Phil Robinson, Trustee of Puffer Preservation Trust said: “The trustees of The Puffer Preservation Trust are extremely grateful to the NLHF for providing the financial assistance to support and sustain VIC 32’s much needed works over the coming 18 months. The Clyde Puffer is a Scottish seagoing icon, and this NLHF award will enable VIC 32 to operate into the foreseeable future.”
Caroline Clark The National Lottery Heritage Fund Director for Scotland added: “The Clyde Puffer is a hugely evocative symbol of way of life that has become a part of Scotland’s shared heritage. With our support, thanks to National Lottery players, the Puffer Preservation Trust will continue to care for and operate Vic 32 for many years to come. A living reminder of these hard-working little boats, their crews and their vital role in the communities they served.”
Built – 1943 at Dunstons Shipyard, Yorkshire for the Admiralty.
Launched – 3rd July 1943.
Carried – She is known to have carried cement, ammunition, and naval stores as far away as Scapa Flow and Devonport.
Weight – 163 TONS.
Speed – 6 knots.
Max no. of personnel – 10 passengers , and 5 crew.
Do you enjoy our content?
Content on the Scottish Banner website remains free for users. Stories and events listed for the international Scottish community continue to be an important resource for many across the world. As advertising revenue remains a challenge, our readers can donate to help us produce unique Scottish content for global Scots. Every contribution counts and thank you for considering your support.
Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication and website visit: The Scottish Banner
On 8 March 2026, Oor Wullie and The Broons, two of Scotland’s most beloved cultural icons, celebrated 90 remarkable years of mischief, family humour and unmistakably Scottish storytelling. To mark the milestone, a year-long programme of events, publications and community activities will honour Scotland’s favourite schoolboy and best-loved family, whose adventures have helped shape the nation’s identity for generations.
Woven into Scotland’s cultural DNA
First appearing in The Sunday Post on 8 March 1936, Oor Wullie and The Broons created a uniquely Scottish universe that has endured for nine decades. Their stories chronicled working-class life with warmth, humour and a deep sense of community, becoming woven into Scotland’s cultural DNA. Since then, Oor Wullie has spent nine decades perched on his famous bucket, getting up to no good with his pals Bob, Wee Eck and Soapy Soutar, girlfriend Primrose Paterson and dodging his nemesis PC Murdoch around the fictional town of Auchenshoogle.
Meanwhile, The Broons has portrayed the joys, chaos and heart of family life in 10 Glebe Street, from Maw’s wisdom to Paw’s blustering and from the antics of the bairns to the romances and mishaps of Hen and Daphne. The Broons and Oor Wullie were an instant hit, and the country quickly became enamoured with the comics’ cast of characters. Readers were particularly charmed by the distinctive Scots language in the strips.
For many, these comics weren’t just entertainment, they were a window into everyday Scottish life, reflecting everything from changing fashions and technologies to shifts in society across the decades. Few cultural exports capture the Scottish experience as honestly, or as affectionately, as Oor Wullie and The Broons.
Lived vividly in Scotland’s imagination
Thomas Hawkins, Editor of The Sunday Post, said: “Very few fictional characters have lived as vividly in Scotland’s imagination as Oor Wullie and The Broons. For 90 years they’ve mirrored Scotland back to itself – its humour, its grit and its sense of community. This anniversary is a chance to celebrate where they’ve come from, and the new stories still to be told. From boosting morale during the Second World War to putting a smile on readers’ faces during the Covid pandemic, Oor Wullie and The Broons have been a reassuring constant in a world in flux. Throughout this anniversary year, we have fun activities and events planned plus a national competition to help find the next budding comic artist. So, get involved, we can’t wait to see what you will come up with.”
Martha Burns Findlay, Head of Public Programmes at the National Library of Scotland, added: “The National Library of Scotland is proud to preserve and champion Scots language as an integral part of our nation’s cultural heritage. We care for rich collections in Scots dating back centuries, from the likes of Robert Burns and Sir Walter Scott to Oor Wullie and The Broons, including the first ever Broons annual which was published in 1939. Oor Wullie and The Broons are truly national treasures, and we’re delighted to be working with DC Thomson to celebrate this special birthday.”
Do you enjoy our content?
Content on the Scottish Banner website remains free for users. Stories and events listed for the international Scottish community continue to be an important resource for many across the world. As advertising revenue remains a challenge, our readers can donate to help us produce unique Scottish content for global Scots. Every contribution counts and thank you for considering your support.
Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication and website visit: The Scottish Banner
The American Scottish Foundation 2026 Supper Club will bring together an array of performers for an evening of Scottish musical celebration – culminating in a performance for the first time of the award winning Atlantic: A Scottish Story, an unforgettable live performance of the award-winning podcast series and the hit Edinburgh Fringe production.
Set against the backdrop of the remote island of St Kilda, Atlantic weaves original and traditional Scottish music with true stories and rich characters to tell a deeply moving tale of a community on the edge of the world. Atlantic: A Scottish Story is part of the Carnegie Hall Festivals – United in Sound: America at 250 programing. Join creators Scott Gilmour and Claire Mckenzie (Noisemaker), alongside acclaimed artist Kirsty Findlay (The List Hot 100 Artists 2024) who will lead in bringing this powerful celebration of life. Alongside performances from some of Scotland’s most exciting new musical voices. Atlantic was developed in association with Royal Conservatoire Scotland and Noisemaker will continue development with Carnegie Mellon – four young performers from Carnegie Mellon.
Atlantic highlights the rich musical traditions that have influenced American music folk, bluegrass and country music, creating a powerful bridge across cultures.
Experience Atlantic: A Scottish Story at the ASF Supper Club, Thursday April 9th, 2026. For details visit: www.americanscottishfoundation.com
Do you enjoy our content?
Content on the Scottish Banner website remains free for users. Stories and events listed for the international Scottish community continue to be an important resource for many across the world. As advertising revenue remains a challenge, our readers can donate to help us produce unique Scottish content for global Scots. Every contribution counts and thank you for considering your support.
Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication and website visit: The Scottish Banner
The Lower Clarence Scottish Association is proud to announce that Willie MacCallum, a generational talent in the world of the Great Highland Bagpipe, will be visiting Maclean for the 2026 Maclean Highland Gathering. The recital will be held at the Former Maclean Services Club 36-38 River Street, Maclean from 7.30 pm on Saturday 4 April 2026. The event is free, and no bookings are required. Do not miss this unique opportunity to hear one of the world’s best in person.
A native of Campbeltown, Kintyre, Willie received his main tuition from his uncles Ronald and Hugh and also came under the guidance of another relation, his second cousin P/M Ronald McCallum, MBE – all champion pipers. The McCallum family can trace their piping directly back to John McAlister who won the prize pipe in 1782 at the Falkirk Tryst. Willie has been competing in piping competitions since 1973.
Piping Champion
Upon turning to open piping in 1979, he won his very first professional contest, the Piobaireachd event at Inveraray Highland Games against some of the finest competitors in Scotland. His solo prize winning list is incomparable and includes: Glenfiddich Invitational Piping Championship – Overall Champion, a record nine times, Glenfiddich Invitational Piping Championship – MSR Winner – eleven times, Glenfiddich Invitational Piping Championship – Piobaireachd Winner – four times, Inverness Gold Medal – Winner – 1989, Oban Gold Medal – Winner – 1995, Silver Chanter – Dunvegan, Skye – Winner – three times, Bratach Gorm – Scottish Piping Society of London – Winner – four times, Argyllshire Gathering – Senior Piobaireachd – three times, Argyllshire Gathering – Former Winners MSR – five times, Argyllshire Gathering – Open Marches – 1987, Argyllshire Gathering – Open Strathspey & Reel – 1987
He was a member of the successful Grade One Pipe Bands Babcock Renfrew, British Caledonian Airways, Scottish Power and Spirit of Scotland. During that time, he enjoyed several Pipe Band Championship wins and worked with some of the most successful Pipe Majors in the history of pipe bands. He has played for HM Queen Elizabeth at Balmoral Castle, as well as regularly for HM King Charles.
Chief Peter Smith, of the Lower Clarence Scottish Association, said “We are extremely excited to have a piper of Willie McCallum’s calibre coming to Maclean for Easter. We would like to acknowledge the assistance of Andrew & Amy Roach in arranging Willie’s visit to Maclean and to Riverview Funerals for their generous support.”
The Maclean Highland Gathering takes place over the Easter weekend April 3-4 in Maclean, NSW. For further details visit: www.macleanhighlandgathering.com.au
Do you enjoy our content?
Content on the Scottish Banner website remains free for users. Stories and events listed for the international Scottish community continue to be an important resource for many across the world. As advertising revenue remains a challenge, our readers can donate to help us produce unique Scottish content for global Scots. Every contribution counts and thank you for considering your support.
Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication and website visit: The Scottish Banner
Funds will support vital conservation work at Ben Lawers National Nature Reserve—protecting rare alpine habitats, native wildlife, and the long-term health of one of Scotland’s most important mountain landscapes.
The National Trust for Scotland Foundation USA (NTSUSA) has met a challenge set by the Connecticut-based Jeniam Foundation, resulting in a gift of $75,000 to the National Trust for Scotland in recognition of the 75th anniversary of its acquisition of Ben Lawers National Nature Reserve. The gift comprises individual donations from more than 70 NTSUSA supporters across the United States, which were matched by the Jeniam Foundation.
The National Trust for Scotland purchased Ben Lawers in 1950 to protect its rare population of arctic-alpine plants, the largest in the United Kingdom. Since then, the Trust has embarked on a long-term program to understand the pressures affecting species and habitats by monitoring changes to the 11,000-acre landscape. These insights have helped reverse nature loss over the past 75 years. Successes on Ben Lawers include forty years of regular footpath maintenance, allowing open access to the landscape for more than 40,000 annual visitors. Updated wayfinding and interpretation highlight the significance of the cultural landscape (which dates back thousands of years) as well as the biodiverse natural habitat.
The Trust also has purchased grazing rights at market rate to enable the natural regeneration of the countryside, using GPS collars to create virtual fences, and pioneered the restoration of montane scrub, planting more than 400,000 montane willows.
Scotland’s natural beauty
In September, the Jeniam Foundation issued a challenge to NTSUSA, the American friend’s group of the National Trust for Scotland, offering to match all donations to Ben Lawers dollar-for-dollar up to $30,000. With this important leverage, NTSUSA sent an appeal to its members that was met with tremendous enthusiasm. In just two months, the Jeniam Foundation’s match was met and exceeded.
“Ben Lawers is a special place in part because it was the first property the National Trust for Scotland purchased specifically for nature conservation,” said Kirstin Bridier, executive director of The National Trust for Scotland Foundation USA. “The Trust not only cares for castles and country houses but also protects nearly 200,000 acres of wild countryside across Scotland. The success of this fundraising appeal demonstrates that Americans are interested in conserving Scotland’s natural beauty as well as its cultural heritage for the benefit of future generations.”
NTSUSA’s $75,000 grant to the National Trust for Scotland not only marks the 75th anniversary of the Trust’s acquisition of the landscape, but also recognizes the recent retirement of Helen Cole, who worked on the mountain as property manager and senior ranger for 35 years.
Ben Lawers is located north of Loch Tay in the Scottish Highlands. It is the 10th highest Munro (mountain over 3,000 feet) in Scotland. The National Trust for Scotland is that country’s largest independent conservation charity. In addition to wild landscapes like Ben Lawers, the Trust looks after ancient houses, battlefields, castles, mills, gardens, coastlines, islands, and all the communities, plants and animals which depend upon them.
In the US, The National Trust for Scotland Foundation USA has raised nearly $12 million for the Trust’s conservation priorities since its founding in 2000.
Do you enjoy our content?
Content on the Scottish Banner website remains free for users. Stories and events listed for the international Scottish community continue to be an important resource for many across the world. As advertising revenue remains a challenge, our readers can donate to help us produce unique Scottish content for global Scots. Every contribution counts and thank you for considering your support.
Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication and website visit: The Scottish Banner
Scotland has contributed a great deal to the James Bond phenomenon, both the books and, especially, the films. Bond’s creator, Ian Fleming, was English but he had a notable Scottish family background. When the long-running film series began, former Edinburgh milkman and footballer turned actor Sean Connery made the role of Bond his own to the extent that in the later books, Fleming gave Bond a Scottish background not unlike his own.
Actors like Robbie Coltrane, Robert Carlisle and Alan Cumming have appeared in the films, while Lulu, Sheena Easton and Shirley Manson-fronted Garbage have all provided theme songs (The Man with the Golden Gun, For Your Eyes Only and The World is Not Enough, in case you are wondering). And of course, Scottish locations have featured in several of the films, most notably From Russia with Love, The World is not Enough and Skyfall.
Geoffrey Boothroyd
But right near the beginning of the Bond phenomenon, a Glasgow resident helped to shape Bond’s profile and even inspired one of the most popular recurring characters in the film series. Geoffrey Boothroyd was not actually Scottish, though. He was born in Blackpool in 1925, but by 1956 was living in Strathbungo, near Queen’s Park, in the quietness of 17 Regent Park Square, as douce and prosperous then as it is now. He worked for the now vanished British chemicals giant ICI in their armaments division. In his private life he was also a firearms expert and enthusiast.
Boothroyd enjoyed the early Bond books but was not happy that Fleming had armed 007 with a .25 Beretta. Boothroyd wrote to Fleming and advised him (trigger warning – 1950s attitudes coming up!) that the Beretta was ‘…really a ladies’ gun and not a really nice lady at that…’. Fleming was always keen to get the detail in his books correct and entered into a correspondence with Boothroyd. Boothroyd recommended a .38 Smith and Wesson or a Walther PPK. In the end, Bond was armed with the Walther right up to the present day in both films and books.
At the time Boothroyd and Fleming were making their acquaintance, the author was busy editing the book of From Russia with Love. Fleming had wanted a cover picture that juxtaposed a Beretta pistol with a rose. Somehow, Berettas proved hard to find. Fleming wrote to Boothroyd asking if he knew how he could get hold of a Smith and Wesson instead. As a gun enthusiast, Boothroyd actually owned one, and sent it off to Fleming in London (special delivery, you would hope). The Glasgow weapon was duly illustrated alongside a rose on the cover of the first edition.
Meanwhile, in the usually quiet Glasgow Southside suburb of Burnside, a horrible triple murder had taken place. The victims had been shot, and the weapon used was a Smith and Wesson. The local police had Boothroyd registered as possessing the exact same weapon so they came knocking on his door in the quiet surrounds of Regents Park Square. Boothroyd was able to immediately demonstrate his innocence by proving that his weapon had an alibi; he showed the police a telegram from Ian Fleming – yes, that Ian Fleming – conforming receipt. (The murderer was later identified as the notorious Glasgow criminal Peter Manuel, who was captured, tried and hung in 1958).
The Glasgow firearms expert
Desmond Llewelyn as Q promoting Octopussy. Photo: Towpilot – Ain wirk, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Fleming’s next Bond novel, in 1958, was Dr No and it features an armourer who supplies Bond with a Walther PPK; the armourer’s name is Major Boothroyd. Before he gets the Walther, though, the fictional Boothroyd removes 007’s Biretta telling him ‘Ladies’ gun, sir.’ Geoffrey Boothroyd had been immortalised in fiction
Fleming did not actually come face to face with the real Boothroyd until he travelled to Glasgow in 1961, in a meeting arranged by Scottish Television. By then Boothroyd had been engaged as an advisor on the first of the Bond films, Dr No (the films did not follow the order of the books). The film retains the character of Major Boothroyd, played by Peter Burton. In subsequent films, Bond’s weapons and gadgets are supplied by ‘Q’, played by the much-loved character actor Desmond Llewellyn, but if you watch carefully you’ll notice that in one or two films he is still addressed as ‘Boothroyd’, a long-lasting tribute to the Glasgow firearms expert.
Fleming died of a heart attack in London in 1964. His final novel, The Man with the Golden Gun was in the pre-publication stages and Boothroyd (the real one from Glasgow) was the obvious choice to advise on the book’s weaponry and he even helped with the editing of the book.
A lasting contribution
Boothroyd was now living in 11 Regent Park Square, having moved there from No. 17 on his marriage. He appears in a short film, The Guns of James Bond, made in 1964, in which he discusses his choice of weapons for Bond. Sean Connery introduces the film which was mostly shot inside No. 11. The film is available on the BBC archive on YouTube, so you can easily view it, and the remarkable Mr Boothroyd, online.
Boothroyd had been a lodger in No. 17 with the family of Mr Harold Skaife. Skaife ran a business called Glasgow Cine Services that supplied film and sound recording services. He built a sound recording studio in Wishaw, Lanarkshire, where Glasgow songstress Lulu recorded her very first songs. And Lulu, of course, would go on to record a Bond theme. It really is a small world.
Geoffrey Boothroyd sold his house, 11 Regent Park Square, in 1971. He went on to publish a number of books about guns, and eventually died in 2001. Perhaps you are as uncomfortable reading about guns and gunsmithery as I am writing about them, but Boothroyd seems to have been a good egg. And he made a lasting contribution to one of the most lucrative expressions of British popular culture.
Do you enjoy our content?
Content on the Scottish Banner website remains free for users. Stories and events listed for the international Scottish community continue to be an important resource for many across the world. As advertising revenue remains a challenge, our readers can donate to help us produce unique Scottish content for global Scots. Every contribution counts and thank you for considering your support.
Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication and website visit: The Scottish Banner
A Scottish charity campaigner has begun an extraordinary 3,000-mile endurance challenge across the United States to raise funds and awareness for mental health support in Scotland. Craig Ferguson, a Paisley-based mental health advocate, will walk from Los Angeles to Boston, completing a full marathon every day for 104 consecutive days, aligned with the upcoming Fifa World Cup 2026. Kicking off in February, this awe-inspiring pursuit will see Craig cover the equivalent of more than three thousand miles on foot, with the aim of reaching Boston in time for the Scottish national football team’s opening World Cup match on 14 June.
He was inspired to undertake this journey following his own experience of mental health challenges, and in tribute to friends and loved ones in his life who have been affected. Through this effort, he hopes to shine a spotlight on mental health, and to raise £1 million pounds of vital funding for Scottish Action for Mental Health (SAMH). Craig is no stranger to ambitious endurance fundraising. In 2024, he completed a remarkable 1,000-mile walk from Glasgow to Munich ahead of the UEFA European Football Championship 2024, passing through six countries and raising more than £70,000 for the Brothers in Arms men’s mental health charity, before being greeted by cheering fans on arrival in Germany.
Training for the “Tartan Trek” has been intensive, with Craig covering between 100 and 120 kilometres each week, alongside gym sessions of up to four days a week, as he prepares to brave the elements. He will complete the entire walk wearing a kilt – a powerful symbol of his connection to Scotland which, Craig says, also gives him a strong sense of motivation and personal empowerment. Craig hopes to be welcomed at the finish line by family and friends, as well as members of the Tartan Army, echoing the scenes in Munich where supporters gathered to celebrate the completion of his first endurance challenge in 2024. Like many Scottish football fans, he is also hoping to secure a ticket to watch his national team compete during the tournament.
Overcoming the challenge
When asked about the upcoming journey, Craig said: “I’d be naïve to think this is going to be a walk in the park. This challenge is three times the size of anything I’ve taken on before – physically and mentally – but that’s exactly what makes it so special. For me, it’s about pushing through, overcoming the challenge, and making it to the finish line in one piece. I chose to support SAMH because mental health causes are incredibly important to me, and I wanted to open up the conversation on a much bigger scale. We see the impact of mental health across Scotland and around the world, and SAMH are leading the way by breaking down barriers and making support accessible to all. I’m incredibly proud to be backing their life-changing work.”
Billy Watson, Chief Executive at SAMH, said: “Craig’s Tartan Trek captures exactly what SAMH stands for – courage, compassion and taking action when it matters most. Mental health challenges affect people in every community, and early support can make the difference between coping and crisis. The funds raised through this challenge will help us continue to provide accessible, community-based mental health support across Scotland, including through initiatives like The Nook. We’re incredibly grateful to Craig for taking on this remarkable challenge and for helping ensure that no one has to face mental health problems alone”.
Funds raised through the “Tartan Trek” will support SAMH’s nationwide services, which provide practical, emotional and social support to thousands of people experiencing mental health challenges each year. This includes adding to its national network of Nooks – welcoming, walk-in, barrier-free mental health support hubs available across Scotland.
Hazel McIlwraith, Director of Fundraising & Major Appeal at SAMH, added: “Craig’s Tartan Trek is one of the most extraordinary fundraising challenges we’ve ever been part of. Walking more than 3,000 miles coast to coast across the United States – a marathon a day for over 100 days – is an incredible physical feat, but what truly matters is why he’s doing it. Craig is using this challenge to shine a light on mental health, to show people that it’s okay to ask for help, and to raise vital funds that will directly support our life-saving services across Scotland. We are immensely proud to support him on this journey and grateful for his honesty, courage and determination.”
For more information on the Tartan Trek or to support Craig’s journey, visit: www.thetartantrek.co.uk
Do you enjoy our content?
Content on the Scottish Banner website remains free for users. Stories and events listed for the international Scottish community continue to be an important resource for many across the world. As advertising revenue remains a challenge, our readers can donate to help us produce unique Scottish content for global Scots. Every contribution counts and thank you for considering your support.
Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication and website visit: The Scottish Banner
Dundee Heritage Trust (DHT), the guardian of Captain Scott’s pioneering Antarctic ship, the Royal Research Ship Discovery in Dundee, has announced the beginning of the second phase of a major repair and conservation project aboard the ship. This next phase, coinciding with the 125th anniversary of the Dundee-built polar research ship, will involve extensive repairs to the weather-beaten bulwark and stanchions, and create a fully supportive habitat for the vessel for the very first time. The works are expected to cost in excess of £2M and are generously supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Tay Cities Region Deal, the Northwood Charitable Trust, the Headley Trust, amongst others. Discovery Point and RRS Discovery will remain open as usual to visitors throughout the works, a rare opportunity to observe both traditional shipwrighting skills and modern conservation methods in action, as tales are uncovered from within the ship’s historic timbers.
The first phase of the major works project took place from 2023 to 2025 and focused on £1.4M of urgent structural repairs to the most vulnerable stern section of the ship. This included conserved areas of the ship’s deck and stern, involving traditional shipwrighting methods such as caulking, steam bending, and blacking—endangered skills at risk of being lost to over 1,000 historic ships across the UK, including 6 operated as visitor attractions in Scotland. Through the project, these traditional techniques are being preserved, documented, and shared for future generations.
125 years of Discovery
The announcement of the next phase of conservation work comes as the RRS Discovery approaches its 125th anniversary on March 21st. The Royal Research Ship (RRS) Discovery was built in Dundee and launched in 1901. It was the first ship in the world purpose built for scientific research in ice-packed Antarctica, providing the ideal vessel for the first official British exploration of the region since the voyage of James Clark Ross sixty years earlier (1839–1843). The 1901 expedition launched the careers of some of the leading figures in what was to become known as the ‘Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration’, including Robert Falcon Scott (who led the expedition), Ernest Shackleton, Edward Wilson, Frank Wild, Tom Crean and William Lashly. The RRS Discovery is the sole surviving UK ship from the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, which lasted between the end of the 19th century and the Shackleton–Rowett Expedition of 1921–1922.
The expedition carried out scientific research and geographical exploration in what was then largely an untouched continent. It was seen as a trailblazer for later ventures and a landmark in British Antarctic exploration history, with many notable discoveries including the Cape Crozier emperor penguin colony; snow-free dry valleys in the western mountains; the Antarctic plateau (upon which the South Pole is located); evidence that the Ice Barrier was a floating ice shelf; and the discovery of many new marine species.
Following further Antarctic expeditions in 1925 and 1929, as well as an extended period as a Sea Scout training ship based in London between 1931-1979, RRS Discovery returned to Dundee in 1986, where it has resided as a multi-award-winning visitor attraction operated by Dundee Heritage Trust, attracting over 80,000 visitors a year.
Returned to its home city by Dundee Heritage Trust in 1986, RRS Discovery is today at the geographic, economic and cultural heart of Dundee, explored by tens of thousands of visitors from across the globe each year. Part of the UK’s National Historic Fleet, she is officially recognised as one of the UK’s most important historic ships. Formed in 1985 with a mission to preserve the ship for future generations, the Trust also has responsibility for Discovery Point, an Accredited museum and one of the region’s most popular visitor attractions telling the story of Discovery and her groundbreaking scientific expeditions. The current project aboard the ship is a part of the Trust’s wider transformation project at DiscoveryPoint, which hopes to transform the museum for the next generation.
Emma Halford-Forbes, Heritage Director at Dundee Heritage Trust said: “We’re thrilled to be moving on to the next phase of works aboard the internationally significant RRSDiscovery. We’ve formed an excellent team, who have guided us through the first phase of works and shared so much knowledge and skill with our team and volunteers. We’re delighted to be working with them for the next two years.”
Do you enjoy our content?
Content on the Scottish Banner website remains free for users. Stories and events listed for the international Scottish community continue to be an important resource for many across the world. As advertising revenue remains a challenge, our readers can donate to help us produce unique Scottish content for global Scots. Every contribution counts and thank you for considering your support.
Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication and website visit: The Scottish Banner
More than 1,000 performers from 13 countries descended on the city of Brisbane for The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, exclusively at Suncorp Stadium to celebrate the iconic event’s 75th anniversary milestone.
International arrivals included more than 800 musicians who flew into Brisbane from across the world, as well as over 38,000 Tattoo fans from intestate and overseas, with the expected economic impact an estimated $39 million to Queensland.
A living canvas of music, movement, ceremony and precision
Alexander Middlemis, Sian Roach and Macey Bennett and Freddie Bailey.
Freddie Bailey, Pipe Major at Brisbane Boys College Pipe Band and Alexander Middlemis on drums, with Highland Dancers, Macey Bennett and Sian Roach, and Alan Lane, Artistic Director of the Tattoo put tartan on the tarmac at the Brisbane international Airport to welcome fellow performers and interstate and international fans. In a record-breaking Australian first, the world-renowned Tattoo presented four consecutive nights at Suncorp Stadium, the first time any act has delivered four back-to-back performances at the iconic venue. Representing Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Norway, Switzerland, Tonga the United Kingdom, the United States and more, the cast created one of the most globally diverse line-ups ever assembled for an international Tattoo production.
Ahead of opening night performers arrived in Brisbane to undertake four days of intensive, full-scale rehearsals, transforming Suncorp Stadium into a living canvas of music, movement, ceremony, and precision. These final rehearsals brought together military bands, cultural groups, dancers, drummers, and pipers, many performing together for the very first time, to deliver a seamless, emotionally charged production under the stars.
More than 30 bands and cultural groups performed in The Heroes Who Made Us, including UK Military Bands from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force, The Combined Military Bands of the Australian Defence Force, Queensland Police Pipe Band, Western Australia Police Pipe Band, Australia’s Federation Guard, His Majesty the King of Norway’s Guard Band and Drill Team, Japan Air Self-Defence Force Central Band, His Majesty’s Armed Forces The Royal Corps of Musicians Tonga, Top Secret Drum Corps, United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, and the Brisbane Boys’ College Pipe Band, alongside performers from New Zealand and beyond.
Renowned for stirring music, military precision, cultural displays, and dramatic performances set against the backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is a global phenomenon, drawing over 230,000 spectators annually in Scotland and over 100 million more worldwide through international broadcasts. Hundreds of thousands have flocked to previous Australian editions of the Tattoo in Sydney (2005, 2010, 2019) and Melbourne (2016).
Unique in global performance
Alan Lane, Creative Director of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, with cast members.
For many involved, the Brisbane performances carry deep personal meaning. Among the cast were members of a fourth-generation Scottish family, who prepared to share this emotional milestone together on Australian soil, a living reflection of the heritage, pride, and continuity the Tattoo represents. Alan Lane, Creative Director of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, said ahead of opening night: “With the energy and excitement building. Each day sees the arrival of more of the creative team and cast from around the world.
Transforming over 1,000 cast members into one seamless production in just a few days is the challenge of the Tattoo. A challenge that makes the Tattoo unique in global performance. Performing four consecutive nights at Suncorp Stadium is something no artist has done before. I can’t wait for Australian audiences to see the Show we’ve prepared for them.”
Highland Dancers Sian Roach and Macey Bennett with Freddie Bailey, Pipe Major, Brisbane Boys College.
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner added: “We’re thrilled to host the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Brisbane for the very first time. This spectacular, world-class event will draw visitors from across the country, deliver a big boost for local businesses, and shine a global spotlight on Brisbane as Australia’s lifestyle capital.”
Brisbane Airport CEO, Gert-Jan de Graaff said: “We’re proud to play our part in bringing The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo to Brisbane and it’s fair to say we’ve never seen this much tartan on our tarmac. As the city’s gateway, Brisbane Airport plays a vital role in welcoming performers and supporting the logistics that make world-class cultural events possible.”
Returning to Australia for the first time since 2019, the Brisbane season represents one of the Tattoo’s most ambitious international stadium productions to date. Cutting-edge lighting, immersive sound design, and large-scale visual effects will elevate the performance, blending the timeless traditions of the British Armed Forces with modern storytelling and world-class production innovation. The Tattoo then travelled to Auckland’s Eden Park for its successful New Zealand run.
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo will take place in Edinburgh August 7-29th. For details see: www.edintattoo.co.uk
Do you enjoy our content?
Content on the Scottish Banner website remains free for users. Stories and events listed for the international Scottish community continue to be an important resource for many across the world. As advertising revenue remains a challenge, our readers can donate to help us produce unique Scottish content for global Scots. Every contribution counts and thank you for considering your support.
Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication and website visit: The Scottish Banner
As hereditary Chief of a Scottish Clan, I feel a strong sense of duty, reaching out to my fellow kinsmen worldwide, to bring them together in friendship, embracing our past and enjoying all aspects of our Clan Society today. Our activities are far reaching, from Highland and Celtic Games and Clan Gatherings to exploring our history, ancestry, Highland dress, tartan, music, dancing, Gaelic traditions and whisky.
I greatly enjoyed my first visit to Australia last year, when I was privileged to be Games Chieftain at the Bundanoon Highland Games in April. My Clan Society team, headed by Hon Troy Grant, took me on a splendid tour over the Mountain Range from Sydney to Brisbane, taking in local Scottish heritage sites at Glen Innes and Maclean.
I was delighted to be invited by Ian Young and the Committee to be Chieftain at the Melbourne Highland Games and Celtic Festival on 29 March. I am very much looking forward to that occasion, visiting Melbourne and meeting both Grants and fellow Celtic followers alike.
My great grandfather Frank, being a second son, emigrated to New Zealand in 1870, seeking fame and fortune, as was typical at the time. He farmed near Otago, stood for Parliament in 1884 and became the Earl of Seafield in 1888. He died shortly after and was buried in Oamaru.
His eldest son, James inherited and returned to the UK, only to die in the trenches in 1915, passing the Seafield titles to his daughter Nina and the Grant titles and Chieftainship of the Clan to his brother Trevor, my grandfather, who became Lord Strathspey. He returned to the UK with his family in 1912, the year his son Patrick was born, my late father.
I therefore have a strong connection with New Zealand. We are re-starting our Society there, which in the 80s had more members than our US Society! Canada also has a special significance for me, as a Baronet of Nova Scotia. The title was granted in 1625, by King James 1st of England and 6th of Scotland to my forebears, who helped fund an early settlement mission to Nova Scotia.
I attended a 400-year Anniversary Celebration at Stirling Castle last July, which included lectures about the Mission, early settlers and the present day. My title of Lord Strathspey is a Barony, which allowed my forebears to sit in the House of Lords in Westminster. As the senior title, this takes precedence over the Baronetcy title of Sir and is therefore my correct form of address.
The Chieftainship of the Clan is my most significant position
I regard the Chieftainship of the Clan is my most significant position. My mission is to support our Clan worldwide, increase global participation in events and history, developing and sustaining our bond of kinship. I helped my late father set up the International Societies in the 1980s and am following his footsteps in my various trips abroad and Clan activities. Life is now so very different, the internet and social media bringing instant connectivity, the sharing of ideas and events as they happen. This necessitates a change in the way our Societies are run, embracing the new technology.
Personal contact remains all important and thankfully meeting together, whether at a Gathering, Games or just socially remains key, IT (in theory!) simply making all such arrangements easier to set up and manage.
Our Societies in the UK, USA, Australia and New Zealand are either re-starting or evolving in a similar manner. We have agreed to set up a global website and a digital historical archive for all to share, access and enjoy.
Meanwhile, we have launched the Grant 1714 tartan, one of the earliest Clan tartans on record, the traditional Clan tartans, including Grant, having been registered in the 1850s. We are following this with the launch of a Grant 1714 branded Highland single malt Scotch whisky.
I work closely with all those involved in the Societies, trying to help bring about change, expand our “offering” and reach out to members, both old and new, embracing the spirit and bond of Kinship.
Our Annual Gathering in Scotland will take place from 7-13 August in Grantown on Spey, including the Abernethy Games on 8th and the Grantown Show on 13th. All Grants, affiliated families and friends are all most welcome!
I feel blessed to work with our Clan Grant Society teams and to meet the ancestors of longstanding Grant families from around the world.
The Melbourne Highland Games and Celtic Festival takes place on Sunday March 29th for information visit: www.melbournehighlandgames.org.au
Do you enjoy our content?
Content on the Scottish Banner website remains free for users. Stories and events listed for the international Scottish community continue to be an important resource for many across the world. As advertising revenue remains a challenge, our readers can donate to help us produce unique Scottish content for global Scots. Every contribution counts, no matter how small, and thank you for considering your support.
Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication and website visit: The Scottish Banner
As the USA prepares to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution and the founding of the United States, there’s no better place to reflect on our shared story than Virginia. The 2026 Virginia International Tattoo takes place April 16-19 at Scope Arena in Downtown Norfolk, proudly celebrating 250 Years of American Independence.
Presented in partnership with Virginia Tourism Corporation and The Hixon Family, join a cast of over 800 performers from across the globe in a dazzling display of military pageantry, precision, and passion, featuring massed pipes and drums, military bands, drill teams, dancers, choirs, and special guests. Expect heart-stirring moments of majesty and might, timeless traditions, and stirring tributes that will move and inspire.
Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Betzabeth Y. Galvan.
“Each of the 2026 Tattoo’s seven performances will be just under two hours long, but the staff, cast, crew, and volunteers of the Tattoo will collectively spend more than 60,000 hours in order to make those two-hour performances happen,” said Scott Jackson, Producer/Director of the Virginia International Tattoo since 2002. “Our performers in 2026 come from five different nations and eight different time zones. That means every hour of every day from now until opening night, someone somewhere in the world will be preparing for the Virginia International Tattoo. Every hour of every day somewhere in the world people will be preparing to share their very best with you, the audience!”
What is the Tattoo?
Dance display at the Virginia International Tattoo, Scope Arena.
The centuries-old tradition of Tattoo originated as a signal from drummers instructing Dutch innkeepers near military garrisons to “Doe den Tap-too” or “turn off the tap”. Hearing the call “Tap-too” soldiers would return to their barracks for an evening roll call. The ensuing parade of soldiers evolved into a military marching band performance now known worldwide as “Tattoo.” The Tattoos seen across the world today are ceremonial performances of military music by massed bands. Each Tattoo is influenced by the culture of the country they represent.
Fans of these massed spectacles of music and might flock to the world’s great Tattoos including The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Scotland, Basel Tattoo in Switzerland, and Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo in Canada. But the greatest Tattoo in the United States, and rivaling the largest in the world, is the Virginia International Tattoo.
This year’s performers include Royal Canadian Air Force Pipes and Drums (Canada), Musique de la Marine Nationale (National Band of the French Navy), Republic of Korea Army Military Band and Honor Guard Battalion, King’s Color Squadron of the Royal Air Force (UK), and from the USA Camden County Emerald Society Pipes and Drums, Hampton Roads Police Color Guards, The Kiltie Band of York, Norfolk Fire-Rescue Honor Guard, Rhodes Academy of Irish Dance, Tidewater Pipes and Drums, U.S. Air Force Heritage of America Band, U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, U.S. Marine Corps 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band, U.S. Navy Fleet Forces Band, Virginia Symphony Orchestra Chorus and more.
No comparable experience in the United States
As it has been since 1997, one of the anchor events of the Virginia Arts Festival is the Virginia International Tattoo. Led by J. Scott Jackson, the Virginia International Tattoo has become the largest such event in North America and numbers among the largest Tattoos in the world. Selected by the American Bus Association—the nation’s premier travel organization—as the top event in the United States in 2016, the Virginia International Tattoo has drawn visitors from across the country and around the world and has welcomed performers from 31 nations.
There simply is no comparable experience in the United States and no greater voice for expressing our nation’s gratitude to those who serve. Some of the most memorable of the 25 past Virginia International Tattoos have saluted the Tuskegee Airmen, Vietnam Veterans, Medal of Honor recipients, and women in the military. Each show is a moving lesson in history and patriotism for every generation, including the more than 20,000 students who attend the Tattoo every year.
Don’t miss the Virginia International Tattoo – America’s International Military Tattoo. Tickets are available and on sale now at www.vafest.org, by phone at 757-282-2822, or in person at the Virginia Arts Festival Box Office located at 440 Bank St, Norfolk, VA 23510.
Do you enjoy our content?
Content on the Scottish Banner website remains free for users. Stories and events listed for the international Scottish community continue to be an important resource for many across the world. As advertising revenue remains a challenge, our readers can donate to help us produce unique Scottish content for global Scots. Every contribution counts, no matter how small, and thank you for considering your support.
Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication and website visit: The Scottish Banner
Independence Days around the world often mean fireworks, military parades and other exuberant traditional festivities. On the tiny Scottish island of Gigha, however, the celebrations are rather less headline-grabbing – yet no less significant. The population of just under 200 mark Gigha Day – their “independence day”, the day the islanders succeeded in purchasing the Hebridean island in a community buyout in 2002 – on March 15.
“For the first few years, it was quite a big day,” explains Ian Wilson, vice chairman of the Isle of Gigha Heritage Trust, which manages the island. “Now at 1pm that day the school kids read a poem, we raise the flag and everyone goes back to the hotel. It’s not like July 4th!” Low key the celebrations may be now, but the community buyout was a landmark event when the islanders bought Gigha from its last private landlord for £4m.
The Hebrides
Looking over the Sound of Gigha by Paakman01, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Just seven miles long by a mile and half wide, Gigha is the most southerly of the Hebrides, with stunning white beaches, above average sunshine and amazing views from its west coast across to the islands of Islay and Jura. But before 2002, when the buyout was completed, those beautiful natural assets weren’t enough to keep the population afloat – the number of residents on the island had dropped to below 100 and the primary school was in danger of closing.
Now, the population has nearly doubled, sub-standard housing has been renovated, and a host of projects have proliferated over the last 24 years. These include the creation of 9km of paths, complete with of interpretation boards and information boards, forming loops around the island, allowing visitors and locals alike to explore away from the main north-south road, and a campsite for visitors.
It’s not been an easy ride – “I would say to anywhere else considering it do it as a last resort not a first” says Ian. But he admits: “There are certainly lots of things on the island that wouldn’t be here with a private landlord.” The island’s history with humans stretches back thousands of years to the Mesolithic era. When the sea roads were the super highways of their day, Irish settlers arrived, and the Gaelic language and culture flourished here. For 2,000 years Gigha was a heartland for the language with the 1921 census showing the island as 75 per cent Gaelic-speaking.
Grob Bagh Beach, Isle of Gigha by Brian Turner, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Gigha also has a tradition of harp playing, mainly through the Galbraith family, one of three surnames associated with the island; the others being MacNeill and MacDonald, two clans who fought over the land here. The Norse took over in the 9th century, and the island became part of the Viking southern Kingdom of the Isles until the end of the 13th century when King Haakon IV was defeated at the Battle of Largs – his mighty fleet assembled just off Gigha.
But there was little peace for the inhabitants of the fertile island under Scottish rule. Until the late 19th century the island was mainly held by the MacNeills but there were various murderous ups and downs including in 1530, when Ailean nan Sop (or Alan of the Straw, due to his habit of setting light to buildings using straw as kindling) slaughtered several inhabitants and later that century when the Macleans of Duart descended, killing hundreds on Islay and Gigha.
The biggest community buyout in the UK
The Boat House restaurant, Gigha by M J Richardson, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
The MacNeills sold the island for £49,000 to one James Williams Scarlett in 1865 and after that, the island had a succession of owners which coincided with a slide in population from a peak of 600 in the 18th century to below 100 when the island was put up for sale in 2001. Many of those who left in the 18th century boarded ships for the US, joining those from surrounding islands to settle in the Cape Fear area in North Carolina.
Once quite isolated – before the first steamships started passing by in 1877, people rowed or sailed across the three miles to the mainland and the island only got its first pier in 1895 – now there is a regular car ferry which takes just 20 minutes from the mainland. The community voted yes in 2002 on plans to try for a buyout and only 17 days after the ballot the £4 million was raised, the funds coming from the lottery-backed Scottish Land Fund, which gave its biggest grant ever of £3.5 million, and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, which provided £500,000, which was double its previous biggest grant.
It was a landmark decision – the biggest community buyout in the UK at the time with the island’s owner, Derek Holt, having turned down three private offers to allow the community sale to go ahead. There was a small catch – £1 million had to be repaid but a huge fundraising effort by the islanders, with ceilidhs, quizzes, sponsored rows around the island and the sale of the main property, Achamore House, saw that money raised. It hasn’t all been plain sailing – at one point finances were said to be on a “knife’s edge” and there have been highly public fallouts among islanders on the way forward. But there have been some unqualified successes – the sub-standard housing has been renovated thanks to funds from the “dancing ladies”, wind turbines bought by the Isle of Gigha Heritage Trust.
Flag iris on Gigha by M J Richardson, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Gigha’s profile was further boosted in 2021 when it became the setting for a reality TV drama called Murder Island, written by famous crime author Ian Rankin, while in recent years the island has been gaining a reputation as a Dark Skies location. A site in the quiet north of the island has been named as a Dark Sky Discovery Site by the UK Dark Sky Discovery Partnership. On cloudless dark nights the Milky Way is clearly visible from here and the group behind the initiative, Dark Skies Gigha, holds several starry events over the year including a party to mark the Perseids meteor shower each August.
Ian says: “It’s a welcoming island, you only have to be here for ten minutes, and you feel you are at home. People come looking for a better quality of life and they find it on Gigha. It’s a fantastic place to live – I can’t explain it, it just gets you.”
BY: Judy Vickers Main photo: Isle of Gigha – Twin Beaches by Brian Turner, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Do you enjoy our content?
Content on the Scottish Banner website remains free for users. Stories and events listed for the international Scottish community continue to be an important resource for many across the world. As advertising revenue remains a challenge, our readers can donate to help us produce unique Scottish content for global Scots. Every contribution counts, no matter how small, and thank you for considering your support.
Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication and website visit: The Scottish Banner
Set in the stunning landscapes of Glen Innes Highlands, in northern New South Wales, the Australian Celtic Festival is a truly unique celebration of living Celtic culture in Australia. Each May, the township of Glen Innes embraces its Celtic heritage and welcomes thousands of visitors from across Australia and internationally to gather among the iconic Australian Standing Stones – the National Celtic Monument of Australia now in its 34th year.
In 2026 the Festival celebrates the Year of Scotland, delivering four days of music, ceremony, culture and action from Thursday 30 April to Sunday 3 May 2026.
Honoured Guest
Every year the Australian Celtic Festival is delighted to invite an Honoured Guest who reflects the year’s featured Celtic nation. This year we are pleased to announce acclaimed cook Ali Stoner, known internationally as Roving Haggis, as its Honoured Guest in 2026.
Glasgow-born and Melbourne based Ali demonstrates her creative approach to Scottish food with storytelling and invites us to make her delicious and innovative, yet traditionally inspired recipes celebrating Scottish culture, heritage and connection. Ali will play a central role in the Festival program with a series of special presentations and side events across the weekend, and will officially open the Festival at the Opening Ceremony on Friday 1 May in Glen Innes Town Square.
The Australian Standing Stones venue
The Australian Standing Stones.
Over the four days, events are held throughout Glen Innes and the surrounding District, with the main Australian Standing Stones venue a hive of activity on Friday evening 1 May, Saturday 2 May and Sunday 3 May, with Celtic inspired market stalls and food vendors, music, dance, piping, ceremony and live action. Visitors can watch thrilling live jousting tournaments on horseback, cheer on competitors in the Highland Games, catch the Celtic nations ceremonies, Kirkin of the Tartan and visit the Clan and society tents around the stone circle. Families will love the Celtic Kids marquee including performances on the Sunday Family Fun Day, especially designed for the young ones, Celtic dog parade and Fashion parade. Our Celtic Cauldron marquee will host the Poets Breakfast and offers the chance to experience the living traditions of Celtic music, song and language in an inspiring environment.
The re-enactors add another fascinating layer to the weekend. Groups such as An T-Arm Albannach and the New England Medieval Arts Society (NEMAS) re-enactment and living history groups will take you back in time with demonstrations, traditional crafts, storytelling, military drills and dramatic battle displays. Their presence gives visitors a real sense of the history behind the culture being celebrated. The entertainment line up at the Highlands Stage has a full program of top Australian Celtic musicians and dancers, harpists to Celtic rock. This stage is adjacent to an array of food vendors and the Boar ‘n’ Drum Tavern and licensed precinct with outdoor screen to listen to the music with old friends and new in the welcoming atmosphere.
Evening Events
Friday Night kicks of the entertainment at the Australian Standing Stones venue, with the Friday Night Céilídh in the Highlands Marquee hosted by energetic Scotsman, Graeme McColgan and Ceilidh Connections. This traditional gathering will have you on your feet faster than you can say haggis!
The Saturday Night ‘Sesh’ hosted by Mick McHugh from The Gathering and featuring a variety of local and visiting artists will make for an energetic evening’s craic!
ACF Celtic Food Trail
A major feature of the 2026 Year of Scotland is the expanded ACF Celtic Food Trail, which weaves culinary experiences throughout Glen Innes and the Festival site. Leading this journey is acclaimed Scottish cook and storyteller Ali Stoner, the Festival’s Honoured Guest.
Ali brings warmth, authenticity and deep cultural knowledge to the Festival, sharing traditional Scottish recipes, stories and sustainable food practices. She will appear at the Celtic Cauldron alongside Roberta Muir, host demonstrations, and participate in special side events with local producers, chefs and venues across town. Throughout the week, local cafés, pubs, restaurants and producers will embrace the Celtic theme with special menus, tastings and events that invite visitors to truly “taste Scotland in the Highlands.”
Events Around Town
During Festival week Glen Innes comes alive with events for both visitors and locals. On Thursday evening the much-loved 100,000 Welcomes Concert offers a warm musical introduction to the weekend ahead. Across the town there are talks, workshops, the Highlands Hub Celtic Symposium, a busking competition, the Australian Celtic Cultural Awards for art & fashion. The Land of the Beardies Museum also hosts special programming that connects local history with Celtic heritage.
On Friday morning the official Opening Ceremony takes place in the historic town centre, bringing together civic leaders, performers and community in a proud and festive moment. Saturday morning features the iconic Street Parade from 9:30am, when crowds line the main street to watch massed pipe bands, clans, dancers and community groups march together in solidarity and celebration.
After the parade, many local businesses join the festivities by decorating their shop windows in Celtic themes. Free shuttle buses run throughout the weekend, connecting the town, Showgrounds, Visitor Information Centre and the Australian Standing Stones so everyone can enjoy the Festival with ease.
Stay and Explore
Glen Innes offers accommodation to suit every traveller, from motels and boutique farm stays to caravan parks and scenic camping areas. Many visitors choose to stay longer to experience the beauty of the New England High Country in its peak autumn season, with golden landscapes, crisp air and spectacular natural scenery just a short drive from the Festival.
With accommodation sometimes hard to find, we encourage day trips from neighbouring towns and villages.
Tickets for official Festival events are available online at www.australiancelticfestival.com, where you can also find the full program of events happening across Glen Innes. Follow the Australian Celtic Festival on Facebook and Instagram for updates, artist announcements and behind-the-scenes stories as we prepare to celebrate the Year of Scotland in 2026.
Do you enjoy our content?
Content on the Scottish Banner website remains free for users. Stories and events listed for the international Scottish community continue to be an important resource for many across the world. As advertising revenue remains a challenge, our readers can donate to help us produce unique Scottish content for global Scots. Every contribution counts and thank you for considering your support.
Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication and website visit: The Scottish Banner
In a revelation that feels straight out of Outlander, researchers at Robert Gordon University have uncovered new evidence of an assassination attempt on Prince Charles Edward Stuart, better known as Bonnie Prince Charlie, during his stay at Bannockburn House in January 1746. The discovery of a lead ball consistent with an 18th century musket shot, found during conservation work on a historic bed in the room traditionally associated with the Prince, adds a dramatic twist to one of Scotland’s most storied chapters.
Using cutting-edge X-ray technology, archaeological visualisation experts from Robert Gordon University identified a deformed lead projectile concealed within the bed’s footboard—silent testimony to a moment of violence that may have unfolded during the Jacobite siege of Stirling. “This is historical detective work at its finest,” said Dr Catherine Bradley, Conservation Trustee at Bannockburn House. “For centuries, local tradition spoke of a shooting incident here. Now, fragments of that story are aligning with physical evidence. Every new detail takes us deeper into the intrigue of 1746.” The find follows last year’s identification of a musket ball impact on the room’s wall, suggesting not one but possibly multiple shots were fired. Researchers are now asking: How many attackers were involved? How did the Prince escape? Could there be truth to the whispered tales of a secret tunnel?
A living story
Professor Pritchard said: “This research improves our understanding of the Jacobite Rising and the dangers faced by Bonnie Prince Charlie. Our 3D visualisation technologies allow for the digital preservation of fragile objects and sites, creating records that support further research and public sharing. By capturing these assets accurately, we are both expanding our knowledge and guaranteeing their preservation for future study.”
The Bannockburn House Trust, in partnership with Robert Gordon University, Johns Hopkins University, and Historic Environment Scotland, is leading the investigation. Researchers emphasise that the investigation remains ongoing. The emerging evidence does not yet conclusively define the nature of the incident, but it does expand the evidence base. Further analysis and archaeological digs are planned. Malcolm McEwan, Chair of the Trust, said: “This is what happens when community heritage meets world-class research. Bannockburn House is not just a building – it’s a living story, and we’re inviting the public to be part of its next chapter.”
The discovery stemmed from a collaborative programme involving Historic Environment Scotland, Robert Gordon University, and Johns Hopkins University; which brings postgraduate students from the United States to Scotland to engage directly with historic buildings, conservation practice, and digital documentation as part of their training.
Main photo: Bannockburn House. Photo courtesy of Bannockburn House Trust.
Do you enjoy our content?
Content on the Scottish Banner website remains free for users. Stories and events listed for the international Scottish community continue to be an important resource for many across the world. As advertising revenue remains a challenge, our readers can donate to help us produce unique Scottish content for global Scots. Every contribution counts and thank you for considering your support.
Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication and website visit: The Scottish Banner
Savannah, Georgia, USA is a beautiful city to visit in May for the 48th annual Savannah Scottish Games. The area is known for old live oak trees draped in Spanish moss, with its long, draping, silvery-gray strands that hang from trees in warm, humid climates like the Southeastern U.S.
Savannah was founded in 1733 by General James Oglethorpe and is renowned as America’s first planned city designed to create a scenic, walkable environment. The design is based on a grid system each containing a central square, surrounded by homes, churches, and civic buildings. Twenty-two often tree-shaded, public spaces of the original twenty-four squares are still in existence today.
Savannah is known for its rich history (including being the birthplace of the Girl Scouts and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil), a vibrant arts scene, delicious Southern cuisine, and a reputation for being one of America’s most haunted cities, making it a top destination for history buffs, foodies, and those seeking spooky tales. A perfect backdrop for a Scottish games!
In January 1736, 177 Scottish Highlanders, recruited by Gen. James Oglethorpe, founded New Inverness (later Darien) an hour south of Savannah on the Altamaha River to serve as a military buffer against Spanish Florida. Led by John McIntosh Mohr and Hugh Mackay, these settlers were renowned for their warrior skills, crucial in defending the colony.
Fort King George State Historic Site in McIntosh County, Georgia, is the site of the oldest English fort on Georgia’s coast, built in 1721 as the British Empire’s southernmost outpost in North America to defend the frontier against Spanish and French threats. Today, it features a reconstructed colonial outpost with a blockhouse, barracks, and museum, showcasing the hardships of early soldiers and the history of the region. This coastal region is a great day trip from Savannah full of beaches, tidal communities and fresh seafood.
Family friendly festival
The Savannah Scottish Games is a family friendly festival jam packed with dancing, music, athletics, and fun for all ages. Held at Bethesda Academy for 18 years, the Savannah Scottish Games will welcome you with the sound of bagpipes, the thrill of the caber toss, and the warmth of Highland camaraderie. Bethesda is located approximately 12 miles east of downtown Savannah. Founded in 1740, it features gorgeous marshland on the Moon River with the region’s signature majestic live oaks draped in Spanish moss. A great backdrop for a Highland Games.
Bring a lawn chair and brace yourselves for the ultimate battle of strength on the bonnie fields. Cheer on 60 heavy athletes throwing heavy things. If that is not enough, competitions include tug-of-war and the Irish sport of Hurling. Wee lads and lassies are greeted at the front gate with a Children’s Passport. Visit with the various organizations and clans, collect passport stamps and redeem for a prize! Imaginations soar as sheep/duck herding border collies, birds of prey, hockey and living history reenactments perform demonstrations under the live oaks.
From powerful pipe bands and traditional bands (Seven Nations bringing Celtic rock, and folk music performances by Scotland’s Colin Grant-Adams, and local favorites- Swamptooth and Lochlann), you can take in a variety of music and dancing all day long.
Strolling the marketplace is a unique shopping experience. Enjoy local beer and mead—popular with the Celts and Vikings. Find your new favorite whisky during the whisky seminar & tasting experience.
Where Lowcountry charm meets Scottish tradition—Daniel Ravenel Sotheby’s International Realty/Stewart Sells The Lowcountry, is proud to be the Title Sponsor of the Savannah Scottish Games. Come to the 48th annual Savannah Scottish Games to experience Scotland in Savannah. Come for the heritage. Stay for the music. Leave with tired feet and a full heart!
Content on the Scottish Banner website remains free for users. Stories and events listed for the international Scottish community continue to be an important resource for many across the world. As advertising revenue remains a challenge, our readers can donate to help us produce unique Scottish content for global Scots. Every contribution counts and thank you for considering your support.
Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication and website visit: The Scottish Banner
International Women’s Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The National Trust for Scotland celebrates stories of prominent women from its past. The women have enhanced Scotland’s rich heritage in art, conservation, estate management, forestry, horticulture, interior design and photography.
The National Trust for Scotland is celebrating the stories of the remarkable women associated with the special places in its care to mark International Women’s Day on March 8. The pioneering women, who are strongly associated with the conservation charity’s heritage places across the country, have been instrumental in the development of the historic properties, with the legacy of their achievements inspiring the work of the National Trust for Scotland to this day.
The stories of the women from different walks of life have been shared as part of International Women’s Day to celebrate their contributions to the social, economic, cultural, and political advancement of women. Some of them are remembered for their work in different fields from art, conservation and estate management, forestry, horticulture and interior design to name a few. Their work has influenced and enhanced Scotland’s rich cultural heritage that the National Trust for Scotland works hard to care for, share and protect, now and for future generations to enjoy.
Sarah Beattie, National Trust for Scotland Senior Curator, said: “We’re delighted to celebrate International Women’s Day by sharing the inspiring stories of some of the women associated with the special heritage places cared for by our charity. These women, from different backgrounds, have been influential in their respective fields and their achievements have helped challenge societal notions across the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries to leave lasting legacies that we work hard to conserve. It is thanks to the ongoing generosity of our members and supporters, that we’re able to continue our work to care for, protect and share Scotland’s nature, beauty and heritage for everyone.”
Hannah’s love of art grew from staying at Kellie Castle in Fife as a young woman, where she was inspired to compose music and create art, embroidery, paintings and sculptures. Her creativity and curiosity led her to learn about plaster moulding from her family’s renovation of the property, with her skills helping to secure the opportunity to complete the decorative plaster ceilings at Falkland Palace for the Marquess of Bute.
While her brother (John Henry Lorimer) and nephew (Hew Lorimer) became famous for their artistic endeavours, Hannah was never considered a professional artist, but her legacy lives on through her work.
Miss Christian Dalrymple (1765 – 1839) – Newhailes House & Garden, East Lothian
Miss Christian Dalrymple.
Christian inherited Newhailes estate as the eldest daughter of her father, Sir David Dalrymple, Lord Hailes, 3rd Baronet of Hailes, who died in 1792. However, as a woman, Christian, was unable to inherit his baronetcy and focused her efforts to improve and manage the condition of the estate, repairing the library roof, improving the servants’ accommodation and extending the stable block.
As an early pioneer of conservation, Christian protected the grounds from industrialisation, helping to safeguard her legacy and the beautiful landscape at Newhailes for future generations.
Mary Irvine (1721 – 1779) – Drum Castle, Aberdeenshire
The portrait by Henry Raeburn of Mary Irvine.
A prominent figure from Scottish history, Mary helped her brother, Alexander Irvine, hide from Redcoats in a secret room at the castle following the Battle of Culloden. Following his death in France after his exile, Mary dedicated her life to managing the estate at Drum where she established the Royal Forest of Drum, with remnants from the ancient oak woodland still surviving to this day. Mary was influential in creating and maintaining a working forest and negotiated a good price for oak timber with local shipbuilders.
An advocate for conservation, Mary recognised the importance of the forest and the dual value it offered, expressing her thoughts on the trees, ‘I think they must be profitable as well as pretty’. Mary was daughter of Alexander Irvine, 16th Laird of Drum Castle.
Mairi Sawyer Mairi was inspired to follow in her father, Osgood Mackenzie, who created Inverewe Garden.
Having spent most of her life at Inverewe, it is no surprise that Mairi shared her father, Osgood Mackenzie’s passion for gardening. After his death in 1922, Mairi took over caring for the ambitious loch-side garden, containing plant species from across the globe, which was transformed from a barren wilderness in the Scottish Highlands into a coastline paradise that is a feast for the senses.
Although hindered by labour shortages after the Second World War, Mairi was determined to make the garden a success and in the spirit of inclusion, opened the garden to paying visitors for the first time to share its unusual and exotic plants for everyone to enjoy.
Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh (1864 – 1933) – Hill House, Helensburgh and Mackintosh at the Willow, Glasgow
Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh, the wife of renowned designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
Having studied at the Glasgow School of Art in the late 19th century, it is here that Margaret met Charles Rennie Mackintosh, which was the catalyst for a life-long artistic partnership that influenced interior design and architecture in the following years. Despite attracting attention on her own merit, the husband-and-wife duo worked collaboratively on many projects, so it is unclear how much she inspired his work, with both designers having contributed to the development of the ‘Glasgow style’ from 1890s to around 1914.
Regarded as one of the most versatile, imaginative and successful artists working in Glasgow in the early 20th century, original examples of her work can be found inside the Hill House, in Helensburgh, as well as in the recreated interiors of the Mackintosh at the Willow tea rooms on Glasgow’s Sauchiehall Street.
Miss Agnes Toward The former resident of Tenement House in Glasgow.
Mrs Agnes Toward and her daughter Miss Agnes Toward were the epitome of independent Glaswegian women in the 19th and 20th century. Mrs Toward had to provide for her daughter following the death of her husband in 1889 and successfully ran two dressmaking shops in the city to provide a middle-class upbringing for Miss Toward. Despite societal pressure on women to marry and the notion of ‘spinsterhood’ that dictated how widowed and single women were viewed at this time, Mrs Toward led an independent life with her daughter, moving into the Tenement House in 1911.
Miss Agnes Toward was afforded a good education due to her mother’s work ethic, which led her to formal college qualifications that helped her secure and hold the job as a typist with Prentice, Service & Henderson, a role she held for almost 50 years. Unlike many of her colleagues who would have stopped working following marriage, Miss Toward never married and continued working until the age of 73.
Text and images courtesy of the National Trust for Scotland. For more information on the National Trust for Scotland and the properties and stories above, please visit: www.nts.org.uk.
Main photo: Mrs Agnes Toward, the former resident of Tenement House in Glasgow.
Do you enjoy our content?
Content on the Scottish Banner website remains free for users. Stories and events listed for the international Scottish community continue to be an important resource for many across the world. As advertising revenue remains a challenge, our readers can donate to help us produce unique Scottish content for global Scots. Every contribution counts and thank you for considering your support.
Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication and website visit: The Scottish Banner
Discover inspiring stories from Scottish trailblazers this International Women’s Day (March 8th).
Scotland is a land steeped in fascinating history and filled with magical tales and experiences for visitors to explore and enjoy. As the world celebrates International Women’s Day on 8 March, it’s a time to reflect on the stories and achievements of Scotland’s well-known women, alongside the unsung heroines who influence the country we know today. From distinguished scientists and social reformers to trailblazing engineers and world-renowned artists and authors – Scotland has produced a plethora of formidable women.
The most famous and intriguing of all Scottish women, Mary Queen of Scots, was born in 1542 at Linlithgow Palace. She became the Queen of Scotland at only six days old. Explore The Mary Queen of Scots Visitor Centre in Jedburgh or visit a range of incredible sites across the country linked to Mary’s eventful history.
Take inspiration not only from the women that have left their mark across Scottish history, but from the vibrant array of Scottish women forging new stories. Women showcasing ingenuity and leadership in tourism and empowering meaningful change across Scotland – the below are a brief example of Scotland’s inspirational stories with women at the core.
Historical & Cultural Experiences
The Glasgow Women’s Library-Glasgow Women’s Library is no ordinary library. As well as a lending library, it holds a wonderful treasure trove of historical and contemporary artifacts and archive materials that celebrate the lives, histories and achievements of women. From Suffragette memorabilia and 1930s dress making patterns to rare 1970s Scottish Women’s Liberation newsletters, it’s all here.
The only accredited museum in the UK dedicated to women’s lives, histories and achievements, Glasgow Women’s Library offers archives, exhibitions and events in the heart of the city’s East End. The library runs a vibrant and diverse programme of events and activities available all year round. Including Women’s Heritage Walks, book readings, exhibitions and so much more.
The Hill House – Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh (Helensburgh, Argyll)-The Hill House in Helensburgh is widely recognised as the most iconic home designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Scotland’s most famous architect. Commissioned by Glasgow book publisher Walter Blackie in 1902, up-and-coming architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh and artist Margaret Macdonald worked collaboratively to create the unique building, furniture and textiles. Mackintosh said of his wife: ‘Margaret has genius, I have only talent’. She is now regarded as one of the most versatile, imaginative and successful artists working in Glasgow in the early 20th century.
Edinburgh International Festival – Nicola Bendetti first Scottish and female Director-The Edinburgh International Festival welcomes the finest performers in dance, opera, music and theatre from across the globe to Edinburgh for a spectacular three-week celebration every August. As well as being one of the most influential classical artists of today, Nicola Benedetti is both the first Scottish and the first female Festival Director since the Festival began in 1947.
Women-Led Tours Showcasing History, Culture, and Adventure
Lerwick, Shetland.
Black History Walking Tour of Edinburgh, Lisa Williams-Discover Edinburgh’s deep links with Africa and the Caribbean over the past 500 years in this guided walking tour. With a focus on the Caribbean and Edinburgh’s role in the Transatlantic Slave System, hear the little-known stories of Edinburgh’s many visitors and residents of African, African American and Caribbean heritage from the 16th century to the present day. The tour is led by Lisa Williams, an author, poet and founder of the Edinburgh Caribbean Association. She curates a range of events across Scotland to promote Caribbean culture and leads walking tours focusing on Edinburgh’s black history.
Invisible Cities, Zakia Moulaoui (Edinburgh, Glasgow, Scottish Borders)-Invisible Cities is a community interest company, set up by Zakia Moulaoui, that trains people who have experienced homelessness to become walking tour guides of their own city. The organisation offers tours that are off the beaten track, personal and highlight real people, and raise awareness about social justice. As we approach International Women’s Day, visitors can join Invisible Cities ‘Real Women of Edinburgh’ tour that uncovers stories about women’s contribution to the city or ‘The People of Glasgow’ tour that explores the communities in Scotland’s largest city.
Shetland with Laurie, Laurie Goodlad- Shetland with Laurie is a Scottish travel writer and tour guide itinerary planner with a passion for all things Shetland. Born to the islands, Laurie can trace her ancestry back hundreds of years and wants to share her deep connection to Shetland with its visitors, allowing them to feel a sense of belonging themselves. Laurie guides visitors through bespoke tours to help unlock the secrets of these fascinating islands.
Food and Drink Experiences by Female Founders
Cail Bruich, Lorna McNee (Glasgow)-One of two Michelin-starred restaurants in Glasgow, Cail Bruich aims to create truly memorable dining experiences, working closely with producers and suppliers to offer guests the highest quality of food and drink. Head Chef Lorna McNee, protégé of the late chef Andrew Fairlie of Two Michelin-starred Restaurant Andrew Fairlie and the only female head chef of a Michelin-starred restaurant in Scotland, took up her first head chef role at Cail Bruich in August 2020. Lorna creates elegant plates of food that make the most of Scotland’s seasonally changing ingredients prepared with respect and a lightness of touch.
Spirit & Spice, Ghillie Basan (Cairngorms National Park)-Ghillie Başan harnessed her intrepid spirit to build a highly distinctive, thriving business at her remote Highland home. She offers remarkable off-the-beaten-track experiences with food and drink at their core. At her business, visitors savour her unique style of food, Scottish spirits, and a real sense of outdoor adventure. Take part in a Whisky Food Safari and enjoy the flavours of the wild landscape while enjoying the stunning views.
Nc’Nean Distillery, Annabel Thomas (Morvern Peninsula, Scottish Highlands)- Meet Annabel Thomas, founder and CEO of Nc’nean. Nc’nean is an organic whisky distillery nestled on the west coast of Scotland with a focus on sustainability. Nc’nean is one of the first female-founded distilleries in Scotland to be established in 200 years. They were also the first distillery in the UK to receive net zero verification, operating on 100% renewable energy.
Loch Levens Larder, Emma Niven (Kinross)-Nestled amidst the picturesque landscapes of Kinross, Loch Leven’s Larder is a family-run farm, restaurant, food hall and gift shop that celebrates the finest in local produce, craftmanship, and honest farm-fresh foods. Loch Leven’s Larder was founded by Emma Niven and her husband after they took over the family farm and recognised an opportunity to champion the community. The Larder uses as much local produce as possible, from vegetables grown in their own fields to produce from the many artisan makers in the surrounding area and the rest of Scotland.
Lussa Gin – Georgina, Sofie and Claire – (Isle of Jura, Argyll)-Located off Scotland’s west coast, the long and narrow Isle of Jura is home to around 250 people and 6000 wild deer. It is also home to Lussa Gin – an award-winning gin made by three women with 15 botanicals from the island wilderness. Visitors to the remote distillery, 25 miles along the single-track road from the Jura ferry, will be treated to fine views along the way.
Adventure & Outdoor Escapes
Wilderness Scotland-Starting in 2019, Wilderness Scotland decided to introduce an assortment of exciting, fully guided women-only departures to create a space to enjoy the great outdoors. Wilderness Scotland’s new trips have been devised to be even more inclusive to women who want to adventure in the wilderness. Whether a visitor wants to reduce competitiveness, feel confident in trying a new activity, take pride in their own abilities, avoid feeling self-conscious or simply become a part of the wilderness women’s community, these women-only trips open up the wilderness to more women to travel the wilds of Scotland with the kind of solidarity, ease and atmosphere that perhaps doesn’t come in a mixed group.
WanderWomen (Edinburgh, Scottish Borders, East Lothian)-Owned by Anna, WanderWomen Scotland facilitates award-winning, outstanding outdoor experiences for women in a unique mix of mindfulness and adventure. Anna created WanderWomen in 2018 to encourage women to have their space in the male-dominated adventure world. Her retreats include mindfulness walks, meditation, foraging, loch swimming, and more.
Wild Braemar, Annie Armstrong (Cairngorms National Park)-Owned by Annie Armstrong, Wild Braemar offers experiences including guided walks, wild swimming adventures, outdoor learning and creative workshops. Located in the heart of the stunning Cairngorms National Park, Wild Braemar aims to showcase the best of Scottish landscapes and natural spaces with experiences that are tailored to the visitor, providing unique opportunities to connect with nature.
Selkie Explorers, Celia Bull (Isle of Eigg)-Skippered by Celia Bull, an experienced yachtswoman who has sailed the world’s oceans for over 20 years, Selkie Explorers offers female crewed sailing day and multiday trips of the Hebrides, St Kilda and Northern Isles aboard a yacht named Selkie.
Incredible Creators
Siobhan MacKenzie.
Prickly Thistle, Clare Campbell (The Black Isle, Scottish Highlands)-Prickly Thistle is a luxury brand dedicated to Scotland’s iconic cloth, tartan, made by women. The brand has taken their vision and created three unique tartan designs. These designs feature within all of the product ranges which have been manufactured exclusively within Scotland from only the highest quality raw materials.
Radical Weavers, Mari Breslin (Stirling)-Immerse oneself in craft courses where heritage and culture intertwine, offering a chance to learn the art of weaving and explore Scotland’s textile history. Step into the enchanting world of weaving at the Radical Weavers independent charity studio nestled in the heart of Stirling. Experience one of the craft courses where heritage and culture intertwine, offering a unique opportunity to learn the art of weaving and delve into Scotland’s rich textile history. Discover the joy of creating tartan-inspired treasures, a perfect gift experience beyond the ordinary.
Siobhan MacKenzie-Siobhan Mackenzie is a multi-award-winning Scottish fashion designer. Born and raised in The Black Isle in the Highlands of Scotland, her Highland heritage and Clan Mackenzie roots inspired her graduate collection and have remained a firm inspiration transcending throughout the brand. Five days after graduating with a First-Class BA Honours degree in Fashion Design & Production Siobhan launched her self-named label in 2014, aged 21. Whilst a student Siobhan undertook an internship with Scottish kilt-makers Glenisla, where she learnt the art of kilt making and thereafter began to experiment with new techniques. Her innovative design flair mixed with a Made in Scotland brand ethos reinvents the classics into a contemporary label inspired by Scotland. Clients have included Justin Bieber and Alan Cumming on the Traitors.
Text and images courtesy of VisitScotland. To plan your next trip to Scotland, see: www.visitscotland.com
Main photo: Loch Levens Larder.
Do you enjoy our content?
Content on the Scottish Banner website remains free for users. Stories and events listed for the international Scottish community continue to be an important resource for many across the world. As advertising revenue remains a challenge, our readers can donate to help us produce unique Scottish content for global Scots. Every contribution counts and thank you for considering your support.
Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication and website visit: The Scottish Banner
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo’s debut in Brisbane in February 2026 proved to be a landmark cultural triumph, blending Scottish pageantry and international flair with Queensland’s vibrant energy. Staged at Suncorp Stadium from 12–15 February, the event marked the Tattoo’s first-ever full‑scale production in the city and formed the centrepiece of its 75th anniversary celebrations. Audiences were treated to The Heroes Who Made Us, a milestone show honouring the Tattoo’s incredible past while imagining its future.
The production showcased the signature elements that have made the Tattoo world‑famous: massed military bands, stirring anthems, precision drill, and the unmistakable sound of the pipes and drums. More than 1,000 elite performers from across the globe, led by the Massed Pipes and Drums of UK military regiments, delivered a spectacle of scale rarely seen in Australia. Performers came from across Australia as well as New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, Tonga, Japan and the USA.
Brisbane embraced the event wholeheartedly with the city streets alive with Tattoo guests and performers throughout the weekend. Though rain was persistent during the performances the extensive logistical planning contributed to the Tattoo’s polished presentation. Audiences were enthralled with performances being shown on Australia’s largest LED screen, measuring an incredible 50m by 22m, which displayed images of Scottish landscapes including the Tattoo’s home of Edinburgh Castle.
The greatest show on earth
Images: The Scottish Banner.
The Tattoo’s success in Brisbane stemmed not only from its theatrical grandeur but also from its deep history and cultural resonance. The Tattoo has often been called ‘the greatest show on earth’ and the Brisbane production certainly honoured that. The planning and detail that went into this show was like a military operation and audience feedback has been incredible.
Ahead of the Tattoo the show’s promoter told the Scottish Banner that pipe bands would form a focus of this production and that was delivered, along with some incredible local and international cast. The combination of military precision, global performers, and Scottish heritage created a powerful emotional experience for audiences to take home.
By the time the final notes faded on 15 February, the Brisbane season had firmly established itself as a highlight of the Tattoo’s 75‑year celebrations. Its blend of tradition, spectacle, and community engagement ensured that the Brisbane edition will be remembered as a resounding success.
Do you enjoy our content?
Content on the Scottish Banner website remains free for users. Stories and events listed for the international Scottish community continue to be an important resource for many across the world. As advertising revenue remains a challenge, our readers can donate to help us produce unique Scottish content for global Scots. Every contribution counts and thank you for considering your support.
Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication and website visit: The Scottish Banner
Travellers to the UK need to be up to date with the new policies now coming into effect. Visitors to the UK need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) if they do not need a visa for short stays of up to six months, or do not already have a UK immigration status. From 25 February 2026 eligible visitors without an ETA will not be able to board their transport and cannot legally travel to the UK. An ETA is a digital permission to travel – it is not a visa or a tax and does not permit entry into the UK – it authorises a person to travel to the UK. Non dual citizens of Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA will now be required to apply online in advance for an ETA to visit the UK. An ETA currently costs £16 and permits multiple journeys to the UK for stays of up to six months at a time over two years or until the holder’s passport expires – whichever is sooner.
British and Irish citizens do not need an ETA. However dual British citizens must have a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement when travelling to the UK. It is strongly advised that dual British citizens make sure they have a valid British passport or Certificate of Entitlement, to avoid problems like being denied boarding when travelling to the UK. From 25 February 2026, dual British citizens who cannot produce a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement will need to have additional identity checks and will not be able to go through UK passport control until their British nationality is verified.
Further guidance on ETAs, or renewing your UK passport, is available on: www.gov.uk
Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication and website visit: The Scottish Banner
Australian Jim Stoddart was born in a Glasgow Tenement and raised in a Glasgow Housing Scheme 1943-1965. Jim will be taking readers on a trip down memory lane, of a time and place that will never be the same again and hopes even if only a few people in the Scot’s Diaspora have a dormant folk memory awakened, then he shall be more than delighted.
A Paisley Poet
The broom, the briar, the birken bush, bloom bonnie o’er thy flow’ry lea;
And a’ the sweets that ane can wish, frae nature’s hand are strewd on thee.
When winter blows in sleety showers frae off the Norlan hills sae hie,
He lightly skiffs thy bonnie bow’rs as laith to harm a flower in thee.
Near thee I pass’d life’s early dayand won my Mary’s heart in thee.
Verses 1, 4 and chorus from Thou Bonnie Wood O’ Craigielea by Robert Tannahill.
Every present day Australian will tell you that nationalist and poet Andrew (Banjo) Paterson wrote the words to that wonderful and haunting tune Waltzing Matilda. Many might even recall that Christina Macpherson is said to have penned the music for him. That event supposedly happened whilst she was playing on her zither on a property in Queensland in 1895. A very much smaller number of ‘Aussies’ will know that Christina adapted that tune from an old Scottish Ballad, Thou Bonnie Wood O’Craigielea written by the Paisley Poet, Robert Tannahill and his good friend James Barr. Both Christina MacPherson and Banjo Paterson were of Scots descent so it should not surprise us that they were already familiar with this very beautiful old tune.
With that said I was impressed a few years ago to discover that the American writer and raconteur, Bill Bryson, also knew where the tune had come from for he mentions it in his book Downunder. He was in fact taking a humerous swipe at Banjo’s choice of words for the song but says”…on the other hand it has a lovely tune, it’s borrowed from an old Scottish Air, Thou Bonnie WoodO’Craigielea…”
The weaver poet
There has been much written about the Australian version of this song analysing Banjo Paterson’s words, their intent and meaning especially for the non-Australian. And that includes Bill Bryson’s take on the matter. But I shall leave all that aside to look at Robert Tannahill who never came to Australia, yet gave this land ten thousand miles away a much loved song that has become so associated with Australia and its people throughout the world.
Robert Tannahill was known locally as the ‘weaver poet’. He was born in Castle Street, Paisley in June 1774, and fourth son of a family of seven. His father was James Tannahill from Kilmarnock and his mother Janet Pollock from Boghill Farm near Beith. Soon after Robert’s birth his family moved to a cottage in Queen Street, Paisley. Robert apparently had a delicate constitution and a limp due to a deformity in his right leg. After leaving school aged twelve he was apprenticed to his father as a handloom weaver. During this apprenticeship Robert began to show his talent for writing poetry and that interest in poetry and music were to fully blossom in adulthood.
His writings began to appear in such publications as The Scots Magazine which co-incidently is the oldest magazine in the world that is still in print today. His music and poetry was contemporaneous with that of fellow poet, Robert Burns, and for that reason he is today considered to have been undervalued in Scotland at that time simply because of the greater popularity of Burns.
An important Scottish poet
My interest in Tannahill began when I realised some of his poetry mentioned places such as Crookston Castle, the castle that featured so much in my childhood as a place to visit and play in during the 1940s and 1950s together with the Glennifer Braes where I once camped with my childhood friends. I was intrigued to realise that he was creating some of his poetic works upon seeing that same castle ruin in his own childhood as well as the slopes of the Glennifer Braes perhaps as early as 1780. Although the Bonnie Woods O’ Craigielea lay at Ferguslie to the north west of Paisley I have to admit that I was not familiar with the song or the place back then even though my wife and I had grown up only a few miles from there. And to some extent that is an indictment upon our otherwise very good schoolteachers at Crookston Castle Secondary who introduced us to Robert Burns and William Shakespeare among others but not Robert Tannahill, a poet and songwriter even closer to home.
Robert Tannahill tragically took his own life in 1810 apparently following the rejection of his work by an Edinburgh publisher. His grave is situated in Castlehead cemetary on Canal Street in Paisley and there is a well named after him at Glen Burn in the Glennifer Braes. Tannahill knew and loved the green hills of the Glennifer Braes and his memorial well is a place where ramblers and wildlife can quench their thirst. It’s dedicated in deference to the immortality of his verse about the places he knew well and that I had also come to know and love in my childhood.
“The Bonnie wee well on the breast o’ the brae,
Where the hare steals to drink in the gloamin’ sae grey.”
That’s not very much in memory of an important Scottish poet and song writer and the man who gifted to Australia its favourite song. And as far as I am aware there is nothing at all in Australia to remind us of who to thank for our tune. In 1973 Australian’s were asked by plebiscite to decide upon a new national anthem for up until then it remained God Save the Queen. The main contenders for the honour of becoming Australia’s National Anthem were Waltzing Matilda, Advance Australia Fair and the status quo choice of God Save the Queen.
There is little doubt that the ever popular tune of Waltzing Matilda would have won hands down if Banjo Paterson’s words had been suitable for an anthem meant to unite and describe something to represent Australia to the world, as well as to ourselves. Banjo Paterson’s words didn’t do that. And of course, the words of Thou Bonnie Wood O’ Craigielea were not suitable either. So Advance Australia Fair, first performed in 1878 became the winner. It waswritten by the Scottish–born composer Peter Dodds McCormack. But that’s another story.
Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication and website visit: The Scottish Banner
The shores of Orkney and Shetland are no strangers to odd sightings. Islands that vanish as you approach them, ghost ships floating above the waves, sea monsters thrashing and churning the waves — all and more have inspired peat-fire tales for centuries. Every now and then amid dramatic phenomenon worthy of the sagas, a quieter sort of visitor appears.
Clad in sealskins and cutting a low silhouette barely perceptible above the water line, their vessels appear fused to their bodies. Try to catch one and they will travel as far with one stroke of their oar as you can in a thousand. Let’s meet these mysterious ‘Fin-Men’.
Fin-Men characteristics and sightings
An indigenous kayaker in the David Strait of North America, strongly resembling descriptions of the Fin-Men seen in northern Scotland. From Charles de Rochefort’s ‘Histoire naturelle et morale des’.
In 1703, an account of Orkney, Shetland, and the Pentland Firth by John Brand was published containing geographical, agricultural, and cultural information on the Northern Isles. Alongside more verifiable facts, he reported many conversations with locals relating to the Fin-Men. Brand wrote of them in general, “His boat is made of seal skins, or some kind of leather, he also hath a coat of leather upon him, and he fitteth in the middle of his boat, with a little oar in his hand.” These boats never had sails and could even be paddled when wholly submerged so as to get underneath dangerously breaking waves. A Fin-Man could cross from Norway to Orkney in just seven strokes of their oar, with the actual act of rowing being a total pretence – their vessels moved by magic, not muscle.
Furthermore, Brand reported, the Fin-Men are amphibious, dwelling in an underwater realm in wintertime and upon a hidden island in summertime. The Fin-Men could cast illusions, making their fins appear as human clothing and even being able to pass as humans for short periods when forced to go on land. Their arrival drove all the fish away from an area, making them ill-received by local fishermen. Fin-Men also had a penchant for making holes in human boats and for breaking fishing lines. The 17th century seems to have been the most prolific for sightings across Orkney and Shetland. One Fin-Man was sighted off Eday, Orkney, in 1682 but easily escaped when pursued. Another off Westray in 1684 also got away, but a sealskin boat later found ashore was allegedly kept in the Burray Kirk for decades afterwards. Fin-Men were also reported along the eastern shores of Moray and Aberdeenshire, though seemingly didn’t ply Scotland’s west coast. In all cases, they were only viewed from afar and no direct interaction with islanders is known of.
Theories: who were the Fin-Men?
Images of a kayak and implements allegedly washed up in northeats Scotland, from David Ritchie’s 1912 article ‘Kayaks of the North Sea’.
People in the Northern Isles were well-primed by existing beliefs to be curious about these new interlopers. Seals were vital to island life, with islanders wearing sealskin shoes and harvesting seal meat and fat – though any unnecessary seal-hunting was seen as taboo, given their sympathetic nature and quirks like responding positively to human songs. There was also a widespread belief that each creature on land, even people and all our social complexities, have aquatic equivalents, so the basic concept of human-like beings paddling over and beneath the waves would have raised no eyebrows. Still, the question remains – who, or what, could these Fin-Men have actually been?
The most common explanation takes a hint from the 17th century spelling of their name, ‘Finn-Men’. The indigenous Sámi people of northern Norway, Sweden, and Finland have long been thought of – by southern peoples who exoticised them – as powerful sorcerers. In the 17th and 18th centuries many travellers’ accounts claimed that the Sámi could control the weather, travel huge distances by magic, and shapeshift. The Sámi were, and are, masters of sealskin kayaks and can travel great distances in them. Could Sámi people have drifted south with errant tides, or even deliberately probed the shores of Scotland’s Northern Isles?
The kayaks used by the Sámi certainly bear a striking resemblance to those of the semi-mythical Fin-Men. Made from greased skins stretched over a wood frame, they were very low-lying in the water, long, and slender. An anorak, worn by the paddler to prevent water ingress, would give the impression from afar that the pilot and vessel were indeed one entity. When such sealskin boats became very waterlogged they became less buoyant and partially submerge. Indeed, Sámi paddlers could keep propelling them forward for a while even when the kayaks were wholly submerged, perhaps explaining sightings of mermaids and Fin-Men whose torsos alone stuck up from the water.
It is quite possible that some Sámi probed Scottish shores. It may also be that, during the Viking age, some Norse brought elements of Sámi lore with them which then fused with local tales about selkies and sunken kingdoms. The eminent 19th century Orcadian folklorist Walter Traill Dennison, however, doubted this simple Finnish connection. When asking older folk why they gave the name of Fin-Men to these rowers, the typical reply was, laconically, “Why surely, because they wear fins; onybody may ken that!
Another flesh-and-blood theory relates to climactic changes. The 17th through 19th centuries in Europe brought the ‘Little Ice Age’, a period when sea temperatures cooled to 5 degrees Celsius colder than they were by the end of the 20th century. Arctic ice pushed further south than previously typical. Many characteristics of the garments and vessels of the Fin-Men and Sámi also apply to those used by the indigenous Inuit of the Arctic Circle around Greenland and northern Canada. It is conceivable that small numbers of Inuit people may have followed the ice floes beyond their usual grounds, even as far as northern Britain.
One more explanation is simply that the term ‘Fin-Men’ became inextricably confused with other magical beings. Orkney was already home to the Finfolk, a similarly-named type of aquatic shapeshifter, and of course the ubiquitous selkie who left its sealskin at the shore to temporarily walk among us in fair form. Even fallen angels who landed in the water after their expulsion from heaven are said to have become seals or selkies. Could these folkloric and cultural associations with seals and divine entities explain some of the traits conferred on the kayakers, especially their great command of magic?
Antiquarian Dr Hugh Marwick observed that in Orkney, the term ‘Finn’ was often applied to the above-mentioned Finfolk who lived in their underwater realm of Finfolkaheem beneath the Eynhallow Sound, where Atlantic and North Sea tides crash together. The Finfolk are the ones most often blamed for snapping fishing lines, poking holes in boats, and having magic powers of illusion and weather-control – sound familiar? In Shetland, by contrast, Marwick says that ‘Finns’ exclusively applied to the very real Sámi people.
Even now, scholars have a very difficult time figuring out if historical references to Fin-Folk have any consistency. The term has been used to describe selkies, sea-trows, the Finfolk of Eynhallow, and the mysterious paddlers described above. Furthermore, the kayaking Fin-Folk are said to be turned away by the sign of the Christian cross, a common weakness of many other folkloric creatures in the Northern Isles. It could well be that strange vessels with lone occupants were indeed spotted off Orkney and Shetland, and that local terminology borrowed from existing archetypes to make sense of them and fit them into their existing legendarium.
An enduring mystery
There are no photographs of Fin-Men sightings, no confirmed face-to-face meetings, and no scientific or historical consensus one way or another. I do personally favour the theory that they were wandering Sámi or Inuit (or both), not least because of the fascinating anthropological implications and the prospect of Arctic kayakers having plied Scottish shores in secret potentially for centuries.
Even if we one day find definitive proof one way or another, I doubt we’ll ever untangle the Fin-Men’s alleged powers from those of other folkloric beings of the Northern Isles. That’s the beauty of such stories – over time, keeping the details consistent doesn’t really matter. It’s the sense of wonder and the shared fascination with something on the brink of the known and the unknown that keeps us coming back for more.
For the first time in 30 years, the Australian Pipe Band Championships will be held in Western Australia this April 11. Perth audiences will get to experience the incredible sounds and pageantry of hundreds of bagpipers and drummers performing on Subiaco Oval as the nation’s best pipe bands assemble for a unique battle of the bands. The Championships will see bands travel from Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and even Singapore to pit their skills against six competitive Western Australian bands hoping to leverage their home ground advantage.
Pipe Bands Australia expects over 20 bands to compete across the various grades. There is also a Drum Majors Flourish competition element where each Drum Major displays their skill at marching while spinning and throwing a mace. This demonstration of precision and showmanship is enthralling for the audience. The event is also a Highland Gathering, with athletes competing in Highland Games such as tossing the caber, putting the stone, hammer throws, and tug-o-war. There will also be demonstrations of Scottish Country Dancing and stall holders for Clan genealogical societies and Scottish arts and crafts.
Sounds of bagpipes and drums
At the end of the afternoon, all competing bands will form a massed band that marches to the pavilion for the announcement of prize winners. The massed band is a goosebump moment, creating an exciting spectacle for the crowds.
Chair of Pipe Bands WA, Stuart Bradford, has been working for years to convince bands based on the east coast to make the journey west. The big sell is Perth’s record for being the sunniest capital city in Australia, and the chance for traveling bands to holiday in WA. Another drawcard is the stunning venue. Subiaco Oval was once Perth’s home of AFL Football in Western Australia, but the hallowed ground will now come alive to the sounds of bagpipes and drums rather than umpire whistles and final sirens! The old stadiums have been removed to transform the oval into a community events space for the City of Subiaco.
Subiaco is a vibrant precinct buzzing with bars, restaurants, entertainment and shopping. Visitors to the Championships can explore, dine and play their way around Perth’s most charming inner-city destination.
The 2026 Australian Pipe Bands Championships are on Saturday 11 April 2026 at Subiaco Oval. Visit: www.pipebandsaustralia.com.au
Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication and website visit: The Scottish Banner
Scotland offers some spectacular and dramatic railway journeys. It’s especially true in the Highlands, where the journeys from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh and Glasgow to Oban, Fort William and Mallaig are unforgettable – even if most of the trains are rather basic.
Then there’s the coastal stretch of the East Coast Main Line (ECML) between Edinburgh and Berwick-upon-Tweed, with its magnificent cliff scenery and much better trains. In the UK there has been a spate of TV series where a lucky celebrity gets to explore and praise these journeys. I wish I could get a job like that.
Scotland’s railway
Dundee waterfront.
I’m going to describe a less obvious rail journey that is uniquely sensational and exciting, and I’ll also try to suggest how to enjoy it for maximum comfort. Now, if I offer Dundee to Edinburgh by the ECML as a lesser-known Great Railway Journey you might think it a bit odd. After all, thousands of commuters, business travellers, trippers and tourists use it every day. What’s so special about it? Well, it combines two of the great features of Scotland’s railway right at the beginning, and right at the end of the journey.
To help appreciate how remarkable the trip really is, imagine making the same journey in 1726, not 2026. As soon as you leave Dundee, you’re faced with crossing the huge expanse of the Firth of Tay, over three kilometres, over to Fife. And even if you manage to procure a ferry – and you’ll probably want a ferry big enough to take your horse with you – once you’ve crossed Fife there’s another broad stretch of water, the Firth of Forth, to get over. Probably best to divert to the lowest bridging points of the Tay (Perth) and the Forth (Stirling), making a long journey that will probably take several days. If you were rich, you’d just take ship from Dundee to Leith.
How different now. Shortly after you leave Dundee, your train starts to curve onto the Tay Bridge, which runs for 3.2km, and rumbles across the firth. The bridge feels quite low above the water. Downriver the 1965 road bridge rises gently towards the Fife coast while upstream the gleaming waters of the firth reach towards the distant Perthshire hills. On my most recent visit I’d arrived over the road bridge by bus, and so crossing southbound on the train squared matters nicely.
It’s spectacular stuff but, of course, the history of rail crossings of the Firth of Tay includes tragedy. The first bridge, designed by Sir Thomas Bouch, was built between 1873 and 1878. When opened, it was then the longest bridge in the world. Queen Victoria crossed it on her way to Balmoral. But it didn’t last long. On 28th December 1879, a night of gales and rain, part of the bridge collapsed and a train was lost in the Tay, killing all 75 passengers and crew. A damning report said the bridge was ‘badly designed, badly constructed and badly maintained’; Bouch had not fully considered the effects of wind. We all know William McGonagall’s unintentionally hilarious verse in memory of the bridge, but it’s important to remember the real tragedy it represented. Its replacement was opened in 1887 and, if the new bridge isn’t the most imposing structure, it’s still doing a grand job nearly 140 years on. It was substantially refurbished and strengthened in 2003.
After your train makes landfall again, you can enjoy an hour or so of pleasant, green Fife countryside, with the Firth of Forth coming into view at Kirkcaldy and the sandy beaches of Kinghorn, Burntisland and Aberdour looking tempting. Your train swings south through Inverkeithing and North Queensferry before coming to the most spectacular two-and-a-half kilometres on the Scottish rail system.
The Forth Bridge
The Forth Bridge.
In the 1870s, Sir Thomas Bouch was involved in work to create a rail crossing of the Firth of Forth. He was, naturally, dropped after the Tay Bridge Disaster and it was John Fowler and Benjamin Baker who came up with the concept of a cantilever bridge made of steel; it was the first major project in the UK to focus on steel. The Forth Bridge (and it is the Forth Bridge – the two neighbouring bridges, the 1964 Forth Road Bridge and the 2017 Queensferry Crossing are pretty much like many other road bridges) is famously over-engineered but as such it’s utterly solid and of such spectacular design that it’s one of the most recognisable of Scottish landmarks. I’ve heard it described as Scotland’s Eiffel Tower and I wouldn’t argue. It was a target for the Luftwaffe in the Second World War, has featured on pound coins and banknotes, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016 and was voted as Scotland most spectacular man-made structure. Scotland is proud of the Forth Bridge and so we should be.
Yet it has a dark side: it’s estimated that more workers were killed during its construction than died in the Tay Bridge Disaster. In recent years historians have tried to identify those who died, tell their stories and memorialise them.
No matter how often I go across the Forth Bridge I never tire of it, peering out of the window like a 10-year-old seeing it for the first time. Oddly, I’ve been on trains where people are rather fazed by the bridge, perhaps by the height and the exposure. There’s no need for that. If there’s anything certain in Scotland, it’s that you’re safe on the Forth Bridge. Once you’re over you’ll be in Edinburgh in a quarter of an hour, but you’ll have crossed two mighty firths that used to be enormous barriers to travel, and have done so effortlessly.
ScotRail run two trains an hour for most of the day between Dundee and Edinburgh but I’d recommend checking timetables and trying to find a train operated by LNER. They run four return journeys a day linking Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh with England on big, comfortable trains. If you book in advance, there may be good deals in First Class. So, you can sit in a comfy seat, be plied with food and drink, and speed across two giant firths in a way unimaginable to our distant ancestors.
By: David McVey.
Main photo: The Scottish Banner.
Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication and website visit: The Scottish Banner
Fans of the internationally renowned Irish music phenomenon, Celtic Thunder, are in for a special treat as the group announces their brand-new show, An Intimate Evening with Celtic Thunder – touring Australia in March 2026. This unique production will bring audiences a heartfelt celebration of the group’s most beloved songs while reuniting past and present members for an unforgettable evening of music, memories, and camaraderie.
An Intimate Evening with Celtic Thunder is more than just a concert—it’s a journey through the group’s incredible legacy. Featuring a carefully curated setlist of their greatest hits, this show will showcase the powerful harmonies, soaring ballads, and electrifying performances that have made Celtic Thunder a household name. From classic Irish folk songs to contemporary favorites, audiences can expect to hear the anthems that have defined Celtic Thunder’s illustrious career.
An atmosphere of warmth and nostalgia
What makes this show even more special is the reunion of familiar faces. Over the years, Celtic Thunder has been home to some of the finest vocalists in the world, and An Intimate Evening with Celtic Thunder will see Emmet, Damian, Neil and Ronan perform some of Celtic Thunder’s greatest songs. Longtime fans will be thrilled to see their favorite voices come together, blending their talents in an atmosphere of warmth and nostalgia.
Damian McGinty, longtime Celtic Thunder Principal said: “We wanted to create something truly special for our fans, something that feels personal and celebratory. This show is about reconnecting—with the music, with each other, and with the people who have supported us throughout the years. It’s a chance to relive the magic of Celtic Thunder in a more intimate way, and we couldn’t be more excited to share this experience with our audience.”
Tickets for An Intimate Evening with Celtic Thunder are now available and fans are encouraged to secure their seats early for this once-in-a-lifetime experience at: www.davidroywilliams.com/tours/celticthunder2026
Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication and website visit: The Scottish Banner
Randy ‘Gil’ Waugh is based in Ottawa, Canada and is closely linked to Scottish and Gaelic culture. Gil is an author, musician and Gaelic scholar who takes inspiration from Scotland’s history, music and culture. Randy ‘Gil’ Waugh took the time to speak to the Scottish Banner on his passion for Gaelic, his latest release and what it was like touring with a Celtic rock band.
Randy playing the pipes at Tartan Day Parliament Hill, Ottawa.
Randy you have been a private investigator, an IT architect and a commercial pilot. What drew you to writing, music and Gaelic teaching?
RW: Writing and music have always been integral to who I am. I’ve been writing since I first learned how—it was my way of understanding and interpreting the world. Looking back, not having a television in my early years was a blessing, not a curse. While many of my friends can still recite cartoon dialogue from memory, I spent that time writing plays, which my siblings and I would act out for our parents—or anyone willing to watch. I recently found one of those early scripts, titled The Lost Flight. It was horrendous, of course—but everyone was a good sport about it, and their encouragement meant the world.
Poetry was my first love. I wrote tomes of it—not because I was particularly good at it, but because it felt magical and cathartic. In fact, poetry was the first kind of writing I had published as a teenager, and to this day, each of my books includes an original theme poem. Music was always present in our home. My father performed on radio and television with his country band when I was young. After we moved to Ottawa, he continued to play—right up until the day before he passed in 2013. His passion left a lasting impact on me. I fell in love with the trumpet at a young age and lobbied relentlessly to learn it. Eventually, my parents gave in, and I took it up. After Fiùran folded in 2023, I returned to the trumpet and now play with the Concert Band of Kanata (CBoK), a wonderful local ensemble that brings me great joy.
I’m also a PDQB-certified tutor (Piping and Drumming Qualifications Board, Scotland) and have taught the Great Highland Bagpipe for many years. I had a particularly special group of young students about a decade ago and formed a band with them. We played gigs and competed regularly, and in 2018, we had the incredible honour of competing at the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow.
In 2014, I was invited by Pawl Birt, Chair of Celtic Studies at the University of Ottawa, to become a part-time professor of Scottish Gaelic language and culture. It felt like a dream come true. Eleven years later, I still feel the same way. I continue to teach with passion and love seeing our regular flow of students engaging with the language and the culture—proof that interest in Gaelic remains strong and vibrant. Gaelic has always been part of my heritage, though I only became consciously aware of it in adulthood. When my children were born, I began to explore our family’s roots. That’s when certain things about my maternal grandfather started to make sense—his lilting accent, his expressions, and certain behaviours. I discovered that Scottish Gàidhlig was his first language, though he never passed it on. I used to think this was a rare story, but I’ve since learned it’s far more common than I imagined. Learning about the deliberate and long-standing efforts to suppress our language and culture—both in Scotland and here in Canada—lit a fire in me. I felt compelled to pick up the torch, to do what I could to help reverse the loss, or at the very least, to better understand who we were as a people.
So, to answer your question more succinctly: being a private investigator, IT architect, pilot, and all the other “left-brain” ventures I’ve pursued were primarily to earn a living and support my family. I’ve been fortunate to find success in multiple careers, but those roles, while creative in their own right, never nourished me the way the arts do. Now that I’m retired from working as an IT specialist, I’ve returned to where I began—completely immersed in the creative world. Ironically, those more traditional career paths now provide rich fodder for my writing.
Ar n Òran sings at Diana Gabaldon Outlander launch.
You are not only a Gaelic speaker but also a Professor of Scottish Gaelic Language and Culture, at the University of Ottawa. Can you tell us what drew you to the Gaelic language and any advice for those thinking about learning?
RW: As I mentioned earlier, once I became aware that Scottish Gaelic was part of my family’s heritage—something that had been actively suppressed—it became a passion. I needed to understand why this had happened. What was our story? Where had we come from in Scotland? I’ve since found answers to many of those questions. While it saddens me that our language and culture weren’t deemed valuable enough to pass down, I now understand why that was the case. I’ve spent a great deal of time and energy trying to reclaim that part of our story—not only for myself, but for my children. When it comes to learning the language itself—it’s absolutely achievable. What’s needed is an open mind, a desire to learn, and the tenacity to figure out how you best absorb information—and then to keep going.
The second language I learned was French, which likely won’t surprise anyone from my generation. I was part of Pierre Trudeau Sr.’s era and believed in his dream that every Canadian should speak both official languages (Scottish Gaelic, by the way, almost became Canada’s third official language—but that’s a story for another day.) I didn’t truly learn French until I was immersed in it during stays in northern Québec. Full immersion is, without a doubt, the best way to learn any language. That said, immersion is hard work—and not everyone has the opportunity to live in a Gaelic-speaking region of Scotland or Nova Scotia. Most learners have to find other pathways to the same goal.
For beginners, I often recommend starting with Duolingo. It’s a good introduction and helps users begin forming sentences. Its main drawback is that it doesn’t explain much about why the language works the way it does. I suggest supplementing it with more structured learning—such as courses offered by The Gaelic College in Cape Breton, or by Sabhal Mòr Ostaig on the Isle of Skye (my alma mater). If formal study isn’t possible, there are excellent online resources like LearnGaelic.scot and other organizations devoted to helping learners engage with the language.
Personally, I’m a big believer in a multi-media approach to language learning. Even if you can’t spend time in the Gàidhealtachd, you can still immerse yourself in the language and culture. Listen to Radio nan Gàidheal, watch programming from BBC Alba or MG Alba, read Gaelic books or periodicals (the Gaelic Books Council in Glasgow offers a wide selection), take online classes—and most importantly, practice speaking!
This last point can’t be emphasized enough. In every learning environment I’ve been part of, conversation has been a central focus. I speak weekly with a fluent Gaelic conversation group based at Ionad Chaluim Chille Ìle on Islay. Until recently, I also had weekly chats with my good friend John Morrison, the former CEO of the Royal National Mòd in Scotland. John sadly passed away this past July. I miss him dearly, and the profound connection we shared through our language and culture. Speaking Gaelic regularly—with a group or even a partner—encourages you to think in the language. It pushes you to discuss everyday topics, and gradually, it becomes second nature. That’s the essence of fluency. Yes, it can feel uncomfortable at first—but it’s a vital step on the path to mastering the language.
Should anyone be interested in getting started with their Gàidhlig language learning journey, I would encourage them to reach out. I would be happy to share my thoughts.
Scottish Gaelic has enjoyed a revival in recent years with platforms such as Duolingo, as well as a number of initiatives being supported by the Scottish Government in Scotland. As an active member of the international Gaelic community what would like to see available to international Scots who are interested in the language?
RW: There have been tremendous initiatives supported by the Scottish Government to promote the Gaelic language, including several that are accessible to the diaspora and learners around the world. One standout is LearnGaelic.net, launched in Stornoway at MG Alba in 2011—a fantastic resource for beginners and advanced learners alike. However, one of the greatest missed opportunities, in my view, is the lack of access to Scottish Gaelic programming on BBC Alba for those of us outside the UK. Due to licensing agreements and broadcasting rights, much of this rich content is geo-blocked. For learners, ex-pats, and members of the diaspora, this is a real frustration.
People are creative, of course—and many find workarounds. But rather than relying on that, why not develop a mutually beneficial streaming agreement? BBC knows we’re out here, and I would hazard a guess that most of us would gladly pay a subscription fee to access this content legally. Not only would that generate revenue, but it would also help expand the reach and impact of the language globally. This isn’t just a matter of convenience—it’s about connection. BBC Alba programming is a wonderful learning resource, and restricting access to it limits one of the most engaging and immersive tools available to language learners and cultural advocates abroad.
Your latest book The Piper’s Lullaby: Òran Tàlaidh a’ Phìobaire involves murder and bagpipes and is set on the Isle of Islay. Can you tell us more and why you have chosen Islay as the setting for this historical thriller?
RW: Well, let me tell you a story. Twenty-five years ago, when I wrote my second novel, Evening Song – Òran Feasgair, I did only light research before choosing Islay as the setting for the Gaelic portions of the story and the climax of the thriller—specifically, Rhinns Lighthouse on Orsay. At the time, I chose it almost at random. I had no idea that this was, in fact, the very place my ancestors had come from. The real twist? Evening Song is a story about genetic memory—about messages passed through generations via poetry, story, and song. So, you can imagine the shiver that ran up my spine when I later discovered that I had instinctively set the novel in the land of my forebears. I had, quite literally, lived the very theme I had written about.
Now I know that Islay was the primary origin of my maternal ancestors—the Gaels of Gartnatra and Corrary farm, who eventually emigrated to Canada near Burnstown, Ontario, under a crooked land scheme orchestrated by Alexander McNabb. Many from that line are now buried in Goshen Cemetery, just minutes from Burnstown. This discovery left me with an undeniable urge—to read more, to learn more, to write more about the land of my ancestors. It felt like a return to the origin, as if reconnecting to that place might somehow offer a kind of reset—a re-grounding of identity.
And of course, the kinds of twists and turns I write about would likely never happen on Islay—but maybe that’s all the more reason to set them there. Perhaps it adds a little extra spice to go along with the island’s legendary malt whisky.
John Morrison and Randy in Stornoway.
Are there any plans to release any of your books in a Scottish Gaelic edition?
RW: In short—yes, absolutely. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I wrote a short story in Gaelic to entertain my online students. It centred around a mysterious pen and evolved into a creative twist on traditional Scottish folklore. I hadn’t originally intended to publish it, but it soon became clear that it could stand alone—either as a resource for learners or, as it was recently released, in English for young adults. The Gaelic version is currently being edited and will be published in the near future. As for the Sandalwood Investigation Agency series—translating the books into Scottish Gaelic would be an absolute dream.
My late friend John Morrison and I spoke at length about this. He believed the series would make a valuable contribution to existing Gaelic literature and thought it could be an excellent project for translation students at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig or through Bòrd na Gàidhlig. I agreed wholeheartedly and would still be willing to offer the books royalty-free for such an initiative—perhaps under a limited-time licensing agreement, with proceeds supporting a Gaelic organization in either Canada or Scotland, and rights reverting back to me later. My only stipulation would be the preservation of intellectual property and author credit. John and I also discussed the possibility of securing grants for translators. I’m not sure how to move that idea forward, but I remain very open to conversations with anyone who might help bring this to fruition. And once the translations are complete and edited, if any Gaelic publishers were interested, I would ensure they are published. So yes—bringing The Sandalwood Series into Scottish Gaelic is more than a hope. It’s a long-standing dream.
Fiùran.
You were also involved with the Celtic rock band Fiùran. How does it feel to have been able to create and share Celtic stories musically with audiences?
RW: To understand how fulfilling Fiùran was, it’s helpful to share a bit of the backstory. In 2009—roughly twelve years into my Gaelic learning journey—I founded Comunn Gàidhlig Ottawa (The Ottawa Gaelic Society) and organized and ran Mòd Chanada (A Scottish Gaelic event modelled after The Royal National Mòd in Scotland). To help raise awareness and support for our activities, I also formed and directed the award-winning Gaelic choir Ar n-Òran, as well as a children’s choir, Na Cuileagan-lasrach (The Dragonflies). Both groups saw many successes, performing and competing across Canada, the United States, and Scotland. Ar n-Òran was especially popular and helped build a vibrant Gaelic cultural presence in Ottawa.
As Ar n-Òran began to wind down, I felt myself being drawn back to something I had done in my youth—writing and performing in a rock band. That pull became Fiùran, a Celtic rock project I hoped would be well received by fans. Krista, the lead tenor from Ar n-Òran, stepped in as our lead vocalist, and I reached out to former musical colleagues to round out the lineup. I never imagined we’d go on to record four studio albums, or that our music would eventually be heard around the world. Fiùran became a wonderful platform for sharing both original songs and reimagined Celtic stories through music. We started gaining momentum late in life, but the response was exciting—we won a fan favourite indie award in the heavy metal category in New York City and were lining up promising gigs and tours. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
A Japanese tour was in the works, but priority understandably went to more established acts whose tours had also been delayed. One by one, opportunities dried up. In 2023, after countless setbacks, Fiùran quietly folded—death by a thousand cuts. It was heartbreaking, and I mourned that loss deeply. Even so, I remain proud of what we achieved. Our music is still being played around the globe. I still hold onto the hope that the phone might ring someday, and we’ll hit the road again—but if not, I have countless good memories, and a deep sense of gratitude for what we created.
Just recently, I watched Zach Stuckey—our youngest member and Fiùran’s original guitarist—absolutely light up the stage on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. The band he’s currently playing with is selling out arenas around the world. Maybe it’s time for the next generation to take the torch. I believe Fiùran has left a formidable legacy that will stand the test of time.
Your books have blended Scottish language, history and music within the characters and storylines. What is it about Scotland’s setting and Scottish stories and themes that you feel make for such great reading?
RW: It’s certainly not a new idea to use the setting, history, language, and culture of Scotland as the backdrop for historical mysteries or thrillers. But it endures for a reason—Scotland is a land of breathtaking scenery and a rich, complex heritage shaped by thousands of years of folklore, legend, and lived experience. These elements offer storytellers an incredibly vivid and versatile palette to work with. If one takes a look at pop culture, music, art, and literature consumed around the world, it’s clear there’s an enduring global appetite for Scottish themes and settings. But for me, it goes much deeper than trend or aesthetics.
Scotland is where my ancestors came from. On my mother’s side—from the Isles of Islay and Tiree, and from Alloa in Clackmannanshire. On my father’s side—from South Queensferry, Cramond and Linlithgow. Though I was born in Canada, am most definitely Canadian and can’t call myself a Scot, I was raised with strong Scottish cultural mores and values. And over the years, one thing has become abundantly clear to me: I come from a long line of Gaels. I am a Gael.
For many years, I was a Gael with no Gaelic. But now, after much effort and discovery, I can say with conviction: ‘S e Gàidheal a th’ annam! I am a Gael.
The President and Committee of the Bundanoon Highland Gathering Inc. are delighted to announce that that Frank McGregor, High Commissioner and Chiefs Lieutenant for Clan Gregor Australia and the Honorary Consul for the United Kingdom in Tasmania has accepted their offer to be the Chieftain of the Day in 2026
High Commissioner and Chiefs Lieutenant for Clan Gregor Australia
Frank and Fiona McGregor.
Frank is the High Commissioner and Chiefs Lieutenant for Clan Gregor Australia and the Honorary Consul for the United Kingdom in Tasmania. In 2015, Frank McGregor was elected on to the Council of the Clan Gregor Society in Scotland as the Overseas Representative for Australasia. The Clan Gregor Society SCIO is one of the oldest clan societies in the world being established in 1822. In 2016, Frank helped co-ordinate a documentary on the Clan Gregor Society with Charles Wooley from Sixty Minutes called No Surrender.
Also in 2016, Frank became the Honorary Consul for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Tasmania and continues in this role. He says it’s an incredible honour to work for the British Consulate. Then in 2018, Clan Chief Sir Malcolm MacGregor awarded Frank with the title of High Commissioner for Clan Gregor in the Commonwealth of Australia and Chiefs Lieutenant with the approval and official documentation from the Lord Lyon Court of Scotland enabling Frank to wear the feathers of the position.
In October 2025, Frank was appointed as the new Dean of the Consular Corps of Tasmania with the ceremony taking place at Government House. Frank is a passionate historian for the Clan Gregor Society and enjoys travelling around Australia representing the clan at various Scottish related gatherings. He is the Patron of the annual Tasmanian Highlands Gathering held in June each year. Frank is married to Fiona McGregor and has two sons, William and Angus McGregor and enjoys getting out in his classic cars when he gets time.
Clan Gregor
Clan Grego at Brigadoon.
Clan Gregor are one of the most ancient and famous of all the highland clans in Scotland. Historians believe Clan Gregor to be the purest branch of the ancient Gael of Scotland now in existence – true descendants in short, of the native stock of the country. Known as Clan Alpine or Race of Alpine, they descended from the first known inhabitants of Scotland and were the first people to boil water and create smoke in their ancient lands of Glenorchy. The Clan claims descent from Griogar, son of King Alpin who was the first united King of Scotland. It was from this that derived the Clan Motto of “Royal is our Race”
In 1589, King James VI, issued an edict proclaiming the name MacGregor “altogidder abolished,” meaning that those who bore the name must renounce it or suffer death. MacGregor’s were ordered to take on different names or to continue using the name MacGregor openly was to invite an immediate execution. It was practically the genocide of a Scottish Clan. To hide from their persecutors, they became known as the Children of the Mist. Famous MacGregor’s include Scottish rogue Rob Roy MacGregor, John McGregor the Piper at the Alamo and another John MacGregor was Bonnie Prince Charlies personal Piper during his campaign.
In Australia, the clan are proud of the fact that they have had representation at every Bundanoon Highland Gathering since its inception. Since Frank has been involved with the Society, the MacGregor’s have outnumbered every other clan at Bundanoon, sometimes having as many as seventy MacGregor kinfolk in the march or in front of the clan tent for our annual photo. The current Clan Chief is Sir Malcolm MacGregor of MacGregor Bt.
The Bundanoon Highland Gathering is being held in Bundanoon, NSW in the beautiful Southern Highlands on Saturday, April 18th. For more details visit: www.brigadoon.org.au
Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication and website visit: The Scottish Banner
Looking for some inspiration for Valentine’s Day? Here are some great ideas for romantic Scottish getaways and days out for your next visit to Scotland.
The Pineapple.
Depending on where you’re from, and how far back through history you look, you might enjoy all sorts of Valentine’s Day traditions. In England it was once said that if you put bay leaves at each corner of your pillow, you would have sweet dreams and visions of your future spouse. In Wales, at the end of January, they also celebrate St Dwynwen’s Day, when they give each other intricately carved wooden ‘lovespoons’.
The most popular date for getting married in the Philippines is 14 February – every year mass weddings take place across the country, with hundreds of couples tying the knot simultaneously (and hopefully being careful where they throw the bouquet!).
Scotland tends to celebrate Valentine’s Day in a more traditional way, with flowers, cards and chocolates. Of course, people are always looking for new ways to celebrate the life romantic, and here are some great getaway ideas for your next visit to Scotland.
Romantic places in Scotland
Beautiful Iona.
We’re not short on romantic scenery here in Scotland, but what about those places you might not think of (and which might be a little less crowded than Edinburgh or Glasgow city centre)? Few places compare to Iona – an island steeped in spiritual history – for a sense of tranquillity and romantic atmosphere, plus a trip here can include a quest to find the Well of Eternal Youth.
Further south, in Dumfries & Galloway, Rockcliffe is part of a National Scenic Area. It has some of the prettiest coastal landscapes anywhere in Scotland, and we’ve even got a wonderful holiday cottage here too, so you can stay the night.
Craigievar Castle.
For anyone in Aberdeenshire, or for those who fancy venturing north from Edinburgh and Glasgow, Craigievar Castle feels like a magical fairytale tower, not just because of its pink hue but also because the interiors are free from artificial lighting. Then there’s The Pineapple near Stirling, a unique historic building bringing a touch of the exotic to a chilly February day.
Romantic walks
Ben Lomond.
To make your Valentine’s Day a memorable one, why not bag a Munro? A short drive north from Glasgow will bring you to the foot of Ben Lomond, Scotland’s most southerly Munro, and you can reach the peak with a 5-hour ‘couple’s climb’ (we’re going to make it a thing). From there you’ll enjoy soaring, soul-stirring views over Loch Lomond and the Trossachs.
There are more Munros at Mar Lodge Estate National Nature Reserve – 15 of them, in fact – as well as a vast number of treks and hikes that take in the spectacular pinewoods and heather-clad moorland. Pack a picnic and stay out for the whole day, just like Queen Victoria used to do.
Of course, it’s not only our countryside properties that are great for walks – our castles all come complete with beautiful grounds, each filled with loads of things to see and do. Among the woods, beaches and parkland of Culzean Castle & Country Park you’ll find hidden caves, glasshouses and the stunning Swan Pond, while at Kellie Castle you can meander your way through an exquisitely colourful and rose-scented Arts & Crafts garden.
Scotland’s snowdrops
Did you know that in Denmark people often send pressed snowdrops to their beloved instead of roses? We have lots of places where you can see snowdrops in bloom, with some of them taking part in the Scottish Snowdrop Festival At Branklyn Garden near Perth you’ll find some stunning snowdrops with unique heart markings, while at Threave Garden the spectacular snowdrop displays are accompanied by hellebores that provide an extra pop of complimentary colour.
At House of Dun & Montrose Basin Nature Reserve the floor of the ancient woodlands are carpeted with snowdrops as far as the eye can see.
Outlander spots
Royal Burgh of Culross.
Claire and Jamie’s epic love story has had audiences all aflutter since 2014. You can spend Valentine’s Day tracing their footsteps at one of the Outlander linked places and re-enacting their fiery time-travelling romance.
Keen fans of the show might recognise the Royal Burgh of Culross from certain scenes, and both the inside of Culross Palace and the palace garden were used in the series. The winding, cobbled streets of this authentic 17th and 18th century burgh are wonderfully atmospheric, and it’s one of the easiest places to get to for anyone staying in and around Edinburgh. You could even squeeze two Outlander sites into one day with a visit to tranquil Preston Mill in East Lothian, which was used both as a mill on the Fraser estate and as a court for a witchcraft trial.
Text and images are courtesy of the National Trust for Scotland. For more information on the Trust or to help them protect Scotland’s heritage see: www.nts.org.uk
Main photo: Exploring the natural beauty of the Isle of Arran with your special someone. Photo: VisitScotland/Allan Myles.
Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication and website visit: The Scottish Banner
Ministerial approval has been granted to introduce an entry fee at Calanais Standing Stones to help conserve the site, improve visitor experience and deliver community benefits, while retaining free access for local residents. Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has received ministerial approval to introduce an admission charge at Calanais Standing Stones on the Isle of Lewis.
The introduction of an entry fee will support the long-term sustainable future of the monument, an enhanced visitor experience, and help care for heritage across the Outer Hebrides. This new model unites the Calanais Standing Stones and Visitor Centre, creating a world-class experience that brings to life over 5,000 years of history. This model is possible through a collaboration between HES and Urras nan Tursachan (UnT). HES will continue to manage, conserve and care for the Stones while UnT, an independent notfor- profit charity, will operate the redeveloped Visitor Centre at the site.
Plans to develop an integrated approach and improve the visitor experience have been in discussion over the past few years, leading to a public consultation in 2024. Feedback on proposals was used to further develop plans and final proposals were submitted to Scottish Government for approval in 2025. Responses to the consultation also highlighted the need to provide access to the stones for a number of groups and individuals who visit for spiritual purposes. To address this, a process will be established to consider requests for cultural or spiritual visits.
One of Europe’s most significant prehistoric monuments
“We know how special Calanais is to the people of Lewis and to visitors from across the world,” said Katey Boal, Head of North Region at HES. “Our plans will help enhance the visitor experience and allow us to invest in the wider cultural and economic future of the Outer Hebrides. Our approach balances the need to protect one of Europe’s most significant prehistoric monuments while ensuring local residents can continue to enjoy free access to their local heritage. By working closely with Urras nan Tursachan, we can create a world-class visitor experience that supports conservation, the local community, and heritage projects across the Outer Hebrides.”
In addition, Historic Environment Scotland has also applied for planning permission to reinstate a path around the Callanish Standing Stones, lower a section of boundary wall and relocate fencing at the Lewis site. A 2020 erosion survey commissioned by HES found that increased visitor numbers is now causing physical damage to the monument, with the bases of the standing stones and central cairn especially impacted.
Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication and website visit: The Scottish Banner
The vibrant sights, sounds and traditions of Scotland and the wider Celtic world will come alive once again when the Melbourne Highland Games and Celtic Festival returns to Eastfield Park Reserve, Croydon, on Saturday, 29 March.
This year’s festival proudly hosts the Victorian Pipe Band Championships, a prestigious competition that will bring together pipe bands from across Victoria to compete for the State title. Audiences will be treated not only to championship performances but also to the stirring spectacle of the Massed Bands Parade, where pipers and drummers unite in a powerful and unforgettable display of sound and pageantry.
A celebration of history, culture and community
The day will also feature a rich program of Scottish and Irish dance, including traditional Highland dancing, Irish dance, and inclusive folk dancing, where members of the public are encouraged to join in and experience this welcoming, community-based form of dance. A major highlight of the festival will be the return of the Heavy Games, with elite athletes competing in traditional events such as hammer throwing, stone lifting, and other feats of strength that have been part of Highland Games for centuries.
Designed as a true family-friendly event, the Melbourne Highland Games and Celtic Festival offers something for all ages. Visitors are invited to relax, enjoy the atmosphere, wear their tartan colours with pride, and explore opportunities to learn more about their Scottish and Celtic heritage through cultural displays and community organisations.
The Melbourne Highland Games and Celtic Festival is a celebration of history, culture and community, delivered in a relaxed and welcoming setting and remains one of Victoria’s premier cultural events.
February is the month of love, marking as it does St Valentine’s Day on the 14th. And Scotland has strong connections to the Italian patron saint of lovers – his forearm is kept at a church in Glasgow. The saint’s relic arrived in Scotland in 1868 when a wealthy French family donated it to St Francis’s Church in the Gorbals area of the city – in 1999 it moved to the nearby Blessed John Duns Scotus Catholic Church.
However, his heart – after all the part of the body most associated with love – is in Ireland. But Scotland has claim to many other hearts, both real and symbolic.
Robert the Bruce
Robert the Bruce statue at Edinburgh Castle. Photo: Ad Meskens, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
The Braveheart of the Mel Gibson movie might have been William Wallace, but it was his sometime compatriot in arms, Robert the Bruce, whose actual physical heart has a story to tell well beyond the death of its owner. Bruce, the hero of Bannockburn and one of Scotland’s most revered kings, died in 1329, his promise to go on Crusade unfulfilled. His loyal knight, Sir James Douglas – The Black Douglas – promised to carry out his dying wish and take his heart to the Holy Land.
As there was no Crusade to the Holy Land in the offing, Douglas and his men instead headed to Spain where Alfonso XI of Castile was battling against the Moorish kingdom of Granada. Sir James and most of his men were wiped out at the siege of the castle of Teba in 1330 but amazingly the casket containing the Bruce’s heart, which Douglas was wearing around his neck, was recovered.
Melrose Abbey. Photo: Holger Uwe Schmitt, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
The heart was taken to Melrose Abbey in the Scottish Borders where it was buried. But that is not the end of the story of Bruce’s unquiet heart. In 1921, archaeologists found a casket within the abbey; it was opened, found to contain the remains of a human heart and reburied – but the location was again lost. In 1996, the casket was rediscovered and the presence of a “small, prune-like” shrivelled heart inside was confirmed by endoscope to prevent any further damage.
Donald Dewar, the Secretary of State for Scotland at the time, said the discovery was “one of great significance and symbolism for the people of Scotland” but archaeologists have warned that there is no way of knowing for certain that it is Bruce’s heart. That said, the heart was reburied at the abbey as per the mighty king’s final wishes. One of the reasons it’s tricky to confirm the authenticity of the heart at Melrose is that hearts were often removed from bodies during the Middle Ages – when John Balliol died in 1268, his widow Lady Dervorguilla of Galloway had his embalmed heart put into an ivory casket which she carried with her.
When she died in 1289, she was buried in the religious institution she had founded, holding her husband’s heart. And the name of that religious institution? Sweetheart Abbey is located eight miles south of Dumfries.
Sweetheart Abbey. Photo: Billy McCrorie, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Four hundred years later, James Graham, the Marquess of Montrose, the dashing Royalist commander, lost his heart shortly after losing his life in a public hanging at the Mercat Cross in Edinburgh in 1650. He had been condemned to death for treason and, flamboyant to the last, appeared on the scaffold in a bright red coat and fur hat.
Denied the usual nobleman’s privilege of the swifter death of a beheading, he was hanged and his body dismembered, with his head placed on a spike near the Tolbooth and one limb each sent to Inverness, St Andrews, Stirling and Aberdeen, to be displayed above their city gates. His torso was buried in consecrated ground at Burghmuir but his niece had managed to remove his heart beforehand which was placed in a box made from the blade of his sword and taken to France for safekeeping.
Marker stone for the burial place of Robert the Bruce’s heart, Melrose Abbey. Photo: Stephencdickson, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Sadly, however, his heart was lost during the French Revolution whereas ironically most of his limbs, his head and his torso were reunited when political fortunes changed and Charles II came to the throne and entombed at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh.
Heart of Midlothian
The Heart of Midlothian. Photo: Visions of Domino, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Not all the hearts in Scotland with a tale behind them are physical hearts. The Tinker’s Heart at Loch Fyne in Argyll is the only permanent memorial to Scotland’s traveller community. Located at the junction of three roads, the memorial is made up of white quartz pebbles formed in the shape of a heart and is said to have been first created to commemorate the travellers who died at Culloden.
For years afterwards, travellers’ weddings and christenings were celebrated there – now a scheduled monument, the heart has become a popular place for proposals.
The Old Tolbooth and St Giles’ Cathedral by Henry Gibson Duguid. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
The Heart of Midlothian is an 1818 novel by the famous Scots writer and nationalist Sir Walter Scott – the heart in question referring to the location of the Old Tolbooth in Edinburgh, which was then in the county of Midlothian. The Old Tolbooth was a prison, and the story revolves around a young woman, Effie Deans, locked up in the Tollbooth awaiting execution for the alleged murder of her baby and her sister’s attempts to free her.
The tollbooth was demolished in 1817 but a mosaic heart was set into the Royal Mile, just outside St Giles’ Cathedral, marking the place where it stood. Locals often spit on it for good luck! And the name of Heart of Midlothian, one of the city’s football teams formed in 1874, usually known as Hearts, derives from the novel and the mosaic.
And where is the heart of the whole of Scotland? Not including the islands, the Ordnance Survey shows it as being close to Schiehallion – with islands included it is above Loch Garry, near the Pass of Drumochter.
Main photo: The Heart of Midlothian. Credit – Rafael Tello, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
By: Judy Vickers
Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication and website visit: The Scottish Banner
Honoring Scottish Heritage, Supporting Community, and Shaping the Future.
Founded to celebrate and preserve the rich traditions of Scotland, the St. Andrew’s Society of Oregon marked a historic milestone in 2025: its 150th anniversary. For a century and a half, the Society has been a beacon for Scottish culture, community, and support in Oregon and neighboring regions. Established in 1875, the St. Andrew’s Society of Oregon stands as one of the oldest Scottish cultural organizations in the Pacific Northwest.
As a nonprofit, the Society is dedicated to perpetuating Scottish heritage, traditions, and arts. Through outreach, events, and educational programs, the Society seeks to foster a welcoming community for Scots and those interested in Scottish culture, regardless of background. Our mission is to celebrate the enduring spirit of Scotland and to ensure its culture thrives across generations.
Scholarship Program
A core part of the Society’s commitment to the community is its annual scholarship program, designed for high school seniors in Oregon and Clark County, Washington. The program encourages youth to engage with Scottish heritage and the arts, supporting their educational and cultural journeys.
Eligibility Criteria:
Applicants must be graduating high school seniors residing in Oregon or Clark County, Washington.
Applicants should demonstrate an interest or involvement in Scottish heritage, arts, music, dance, or related cultural activities.
Scholarships are awarded annually and may be renewed based on continued involvement with Scottish culture or arts, as well as academic performance. Recipients are honored at the Annual Banquet and Scholarship Awards Evening each November.
Annual events
The Society hosts a variety of events throughout the year, with the November Banquet being the cornerstone celebration. This festive evening brings together members, friends, and the Scottish community for dining, entertainment, and cultural exchange.
November Banquet Highlights
Traditional Scottish fare and hospitality
Live performances of bagpipes, Highland dancing, and Scottish music
Scholarship awards and recognition of outstanding students
Opportunities to learn about membership and get involved
The event is open to all who wish to experience the warmth and vibrancy of Scottish culture.
Membership and Donations
Membership in the St. Andrew’s Society of Oregon is open to anyone interested in Scottish heritage and culture. Members enjoy exclusive access to events, networking opportunities, and the chance to make a positive impact on the community.
How to Join
Visit the Society’s official website and navigate to the Membership page.
Complete the online membership form and submit annual dues.
New members are welcomed at the Annual Banquet and other Society events.
Donations to the scholarship fund are vital to sustaining future generations of Scottish culture and arts. To contribute, please visit the Scholarship Donations page on the website. Your generosity helps students pursue their passions and keeps Scottish heritage alive.
On Tuesday, August 12, 2025, Chief Philip Farquharson, 17th of Invercauld and Monaltrie, Chief of Clan Farquharson and Chieftain of the Ballater Highland Games, welcomed His Majesty King Charles III to Station Square in Ballater. The King inspected the Laird’s banner, which displayed his new Coat of Arms, with explanations provided by Gordon Casley of the Heraldry Society of Scotland. The Arms were presented on banners by Clan Farquharson UK committee members, Colonels of the Invercauld Highlanders, Gary Humphries and Randall Finlay.
His Majesty then received a royal salute from Captain Fraser (Honorary Vice President, Ballater Highland Games), before inspecting the Highlanders on parade, which included troops from Invercauld, Monaltrie, Atholl, Lonach, Duff, and the Balaklava Company, 5 SCOTS. Music was provided by Scots College, Sydney, Australia.
Following the formal proceedings, the Chief and His Majesty mingled with large groups of guests and members of the public, both outside in Station Square and inside at a reception hosted by Clan Farquharson UK in Victoria Hall. Just days before retreating to Balmoral for his annual summer holiday, King Charles III made a quiet but meaningful appearance in Ballater, Scotland — and most people nearly missed it. The monarch, 77, visited the village to inspect the new banner of Clan Farquharson, the family who originally sold Balmoral to the royals in 1852.
The King’s visit came ahead of last summer’s Ballater Highland Games, a beloved Scottish tradition featuring piping competitions, Highland dancing, and the famed Hill Race. While there, he also met members of the Invercauld Highlanders and the Pipes and Drums of the Scots College, Sydney. This stop wasn’t just ceremonial — it tied directly to Balmoral’s royal history and Charles’s personal love for Scotland’s heritage and conservation.
Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication and website visit: The Scottish Banner
The Centre for Robert Burns Studies is calling on people worldwide to help create a crowdsourced archive of Burns Night events, viewable through an interactive global map launching in July 2026 on the 225th anniversary of the first Burns Supper. They could never have imagined the outcome of a small gathering of friends and admirers in July 1801 in memory of Scotland’s national bard. That intimate memorial to mark the 5th anniversary of the death of Robert Burns has since grown into one of the world’s most enduring cultural and literary rituals – the Burns Supper.
Now, the Centre for Robert Burns Studies (CRBS) at the University of Glasgow is launching a new campaign, The Burns Supper at 225 Years: Scottish Tradition, Global Reinvention. Building on nearly six years of pioneering research, the CRBS is calling on people worldwide to help create a crowdsourced archive of Burns Suppers events, viewable through an interactive global map to be launched in July on the 225th anniversary of the first Burns Supper. It is hoped the new archive will feature poems and songs performed at Burns Suppers around the world as well as videos, photographs, recipes and clothing worn. This new crowdsourced archive of global Burns celebrations will also form the basis of a submission to a UK wide search for traditions to be recognised as UK living heritage following ratification of the UNESCO Convention on Intangible Cultural Heritage.
A modern phenomenon
Left to right: Professor Pauline Mackay and Dr Cleo O’Callaghan Yeoman. Photo: Martin Shields.
Professor Pauline Mackay, Director of the Centre for Robert Burns Studies (CRBS), said: “The Burns Supper is not just a historic ritual, it’s a modern phenomenon and one of the most wide-reaching and impactful examples of Intangible Cultural Heritage to come out of Scotland and, indeed, the United Kingdom. This celebration is a living tradition that continues to evolve and we want to capture that and link people around the globe celebrating Scotland’s national bard by finding out what foods they eat, what they drink and which Burns poems or songs feature in their celebrations. We are not only interested in who celebrates the Burns Supper and how, but also the ways in which it has been adapted to incorporate different cultures.”
From Ayrshire to Vancouver, from the Arctic Circle to the summit of Kilimanjaro, more than 9.5 million people now celebrate Burns Night each year on 25 January, the poet’s birthday. The CRBS’s interactive Burns Supper map, first launched in 2021, already features over 2500 events across five continents. Now, with the 225th anniversary of the first Burns Supper approaching in July, the Centre has expanded its research to capture the full diversity of this remarkable tradition. The Burns Supper today has become a living and evolving tradition blending heritage, cultural expression and global voices in memory of Scotland’s bard which can be seen in everything from haggis pakora in Scotland to Reggae-infused Burns celebrations in Jamaica.
Scotland’s national bard
Professor Murray Pittock added: “Burns is not only Scotland’s national bard, but he is also one of its greatest economic and cultural assets. His legacy drives tourism, festivals, food and drink and education. The Burns Supper is a key part of that legacy. Its global reach and adaptability show how heritage can be both rooted and responsive, traditional and transformative. Austria has long capitalised on the Mozart brand and the country’s capital Vienna today gains over €10bn earnings from cultural tourism. Compared to that, Burns and the Burns Supper remain an underleveraged resource – a sleeping giant in Scotland’s culture, heritage as well as food and drink industries. This next phase of research will help us understand how Burns continues to shape Scotland’s identity and economy in the modern world.”
Angus Robertson MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, said: “As we approach the 225th anniversary of the very first gathering in honour of Robert Burns, this global tradition of Burns Suppers continues to evolve in remarkable ways. The Scottish Government welcomes the launch of pioneering research by leading academics from the University of Glasgow’s Centre for Robert Burns Studies into how Burns Suppers are celebrated and reimagined around the world. The largest social gathering linked to a single writer in the world, the Burns Supper is a symbol of Scottish friendliness, humanitarianism and internationalism and forms a vital means of developing our Scottish Connections worldwide.”
The Gaelic and Scots languages have gained official status in Scotland. The designation forms part of a range of measures which came into effect on St Andrew’s Day November 30, 2025 through the Scottish Languages Act 2025. These include powers for ministers to commission research into the use of Gaelic and Scots and establish teaching standards for the languages.
Measures of the Act include: empowering parents to ask for a Gaelic school to be established in their area, supporting the creation of areas of linguistic significance in Gaelic communities so that ministers can better target policies to support the language’s growth, enabling parents in every part of Scotland to apply for Gaelic nursery and early years places for their children, ensuring that more qualifications are available in Gaelic and introducing targets on the number of people speaking and learning Gaelic.
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: “St Andrew’s Day is a fitting time to celebrate Scotland’s identity by recognising Gaelic and Scots as official languages. This is a historic milestone which acknowledges the vital place these languages hold in Scotland’s culture and heritage. This has been made possible through the Scottish Languages Bill which received unanimous support from MSPs. To support the continued growth of both languages the Scottish Government has already allocated £35.7 million for Gaelic and Scots initiatives this year, ensuring that this milestone translates into meaningful change for communities across the country.”
Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication and website visit: The Scottish Banner
In 1980 a packed crowd gathered for a gig in the University of Strathclyde’s Student Union, a renowned music venue back then. Tonight, in one of the smaller rooms, it was standing room only. A huge cheer welcomed the main act – a little round man in his late 60s with a beefy face, a prominent red nose and a tiny grey moustache. He didn’t sing or play; he just gave a talk and slide show about his life as mountaineer and naturalist. This was Tom Weir.
I first encountered Weir when he presented short filmed segments about hills, legend and history on STV’s Scotland Today news programme. Later, they were edited into the first series of Weir’s Way, a programme that was a huge hit in Scotland and was picked up by some English ITV regions. Weir was an experienced mountaineer who had climbed in the Himalaya, in Kurdistan and Norway, yet he could find things worth seeing just down the road.
Later, I got to know Weir’s writing; he was a regular in the Glasgow Herald and The Scots Magazine but from his books I learned that Weir, like me, had been born in Springburn in northern Glasgow; like me, he had started his outdoor life in the Campsie Fells, getting there, like me, on the Campsie Glen bus. Mountaineers and explorers were often Old Etonians or ex-Sandhurst types. Tom Weir was one of us.
He was born in 1914. His father died in 1916, a victim of the First World War in Mesopotamia, and in his early teens Weir had to leave school and work as a Co-operative delivery boy. When he found a full-time job in the local Co-op grocery, his mother happily described it as ‘a job for life’. Tom, though, dreaded a lifetime in a shop; ‘born a man,’ he summed up his likely fate, ‘and died a grocer.’
The world was opening up
The incredible panorama of Loch Lomond and the Luss Hills from the summit of Duncryne.
In the 1930s, Weir became part of the first wave of working-class people to discover outdoor leisure. After Saturday’s half-shift, thousands of Glasgow people flocked to the countryside, joining those unemployed people who had already decided to walk the hills rather than the streets. There he met his early outdoor companions including John McNair, a railwayman on the West Highland Line (still the best way to reach the hills from Glasgow), and Matt Forrester, a Glasgow butcher. Matt was a gifted writer who encouraged Tom to take an Art of Writing class and to submit his work to magazines and newspapers. By the outbreak of war, much of his work was being published. ‘The world was opening up,’ he later wrote, ‘just as Hitler was shutting it down.’
During the Second World War Tom served in the Royal Artillery and trained as a gunnery surveyor. This experience helped him to get a job with the Ordnance Survey (OS) in 1946. He left the OS in 1950 to join the Scottish Himalayan Expedition, the first to be allowed into Nepal after the Second World War.
Later, Tom would walk and climb in many countries and expand his writing and photography. He married and settled in Gartocharn, a quiet village near Loch Lomond’s southern shore. He often wrote about Duncryne, a tiny 463ft summit near his home that he climbed every day. For its puny height, Duncryne offers a quite jaw-dropping panorama of Loch Lomond and the surrounding peaks.
Tom’s Statue gains a scarf.
His first book was Highland Days, written during the war and published in 1948. It’s a moving record of his 1930s wanderings in the Highlands and is now a valuable historical document, describing meetings with local families in homes now vanished and trips to glens and straths now flooded by hydro schemes. It also captures the experience of tramping through the Highlands before the domination of the motor car. Weir wasn’t one of those outdoorsmen indifferent to the people of the countryside; he did not want to see the glens become unpopulated wildernesses.
Tom Weir’s Scotland (1980), a collection of previously published articles, is my favourite of his books. His pieces were unlike those you found in climbing magazines. Yes, he wrote about hills and mountaineering, but his enthusiasm carried him over into ornithology, wildlife and history. ‘Taste the History Before the Climb’, is an article in the book (about Criffel, the peak on the Solway shore); he was always true to that advice and demonstrated a welcome curiosity about how the countryside and its people had come to be.
Weir had the writerly knack of evoking a sense of place, but his deeper personality and feelings rarely broke through. In 1994 he published Weir’s World, subtitled ‘an autobiography of sorts’ – apt since it gave little away beyond the mere facts of his life, wandering off instead to celebrate companions, conservation, mountains and wildlife. However, when Weir did write with passion – for example, in the 1990s when railing against a bulldozed track that had despoiled the Loch Lomond shore – the effect was powerful, even devastating.
A yearning for green places that would not be denied
Campsie Glen – where adventures begin.
I never actually met Tom Weir to speak to, but after hearing his talk at Strathclyde Union, I had two more encounters with him. In 1994 The Scots Magazine published Jock, my short story about the working-class Scottish walkers of the 1930s. I was delighted to receive a kind letter from him praising the story. It’s one of the daftest things I’ve ever done, losing that letter…
Then, in 2004, I was waiting for a bus at Balmaha on Loch Lomondside after a day’s walking. Ahead of me in the queue were Weir and his wife Rhona. By now nearly 90 and frail, he could no longer explore the hills, but was still able to enjoy a bus trip along his beloved Loch Lomondside. He was chatting to a West Highland Way walker who was travelling back to his bed and breakfast in Drymen. He was from Germany and couldn’t possibly know how revered a figure he had met.
Tom Weir died in 2006. A plaque commemorates him in Campsie Glen, and in 2014 a statue, sculpted by Sean Hedges-Quinn, was unveiled at Balmaha, barely a hundred yards from the bus stop where I’d seen him a few years earlier. He’s portrayed wearing his trademark bobble hat and it’s becoming a tradition for an actual woolly hat to adorn the statue. Balmaha is a tourist honeypot and the statue no doubt puzzles many overseas visitors, but it has become a place of pilgrimage for outdoor enthusiasts from all over the UK. In inspiring us, Tom Weir pulled off quite a trick: he made TV programmes that encouraged people to go outside and experience fresh air and exercise.
In Highland Days Weir described how, after his first adventure in the Campsie Fells, he returned home; …with a yearning for green places that would not be denied. Mountains and birds seemed the most important things in life. The search for fulfilment in these things is the story of this book.
He inspired many others to do the same.
Words and photos: David McVey.
Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication and website visit: The Scottish Banner
Early in 2024, Wade King an occasional contributor to The Scottish Banner, published his family history, History of the King Family of Scotland, the West Indies and Australia. The book is of 550 pages. It records 42 generations of the King family over 1300 years. All those generations have written evidence to support them, from 778 A.D. which was about the time of the beginning of written history in Scotland. Before that history was recorded orally and memorised by those that undertook that responsibility. As a scientist (a specialist physician), Wade chose to rely only on written evidence, even though the family obviously had earlier ancestors going back into the mists of time well before the 8th century A.D.
The work is considered likely to be the longest family history ever written. At least, it was described as such by Iain Ferguson, recent Director of the National Archives of Scotland, who helped Wade with his research. With his thorough knowledge of the records, Iain was an invaluable helper.
Wade had a “leg-up” in the form of his surname. The surname King was given in the 11th century A.D. to denote membership of the King’s family. The King to whom it referred was Duncan I, King of Scots 1034 to 1040 A.D. King Duncan had a daughter Princess Bethóc (in the Gaelic) who was Wade’s ancestor. The genealogy of King Duncan I was, of course, recorded , so Wade was able to trace his ancestry back to King Kenneth MacAlpine, the first High King of both the Picts and the Scots, who ruled 843 to 858 A.D. and before him to his father Alpin, lived 778 to 843 A.D. (whom Wade designated generation).
A long family history
Wade had another “leg-up” in the form of a family tree stored in the Manuscripts and Archives Section of the University of Aberdeen library. This document showed the generations of the family in Scotland from Princess Bethóc down to the 18th century A.D. From then on it was easy to trace the generations using the website ScotlandsPeople. The family tree showed 14 generations of the family who were lairds of the Barra Estate in the Garioch district of Aberdeenshire and until 1596 lived in Barra Castle (which is still standing and used as a family home). It showed the generations after that who lived in the Ellon district of Aberdeenshire until 1652, when they were forced away from their estates in Ellon by Cromwell, who ravaged Aberdeenshire looking for royalists, Episcopalians and Tories who had supported King Charles I in the British Civil Wars.
The King family moved to Renfrewshire, a Whig area where Cromwell would be unlikely to look for Tories. They settled in Port Glasgow on the River Clyde and developed a shipping company there. The family tree shows Robert King (of generation 33) who led the Atholl Brigade in the last great Highland Charge at the Battle of Culloden in 1746. Robert is the subject of a previous article in the Scottish Banner (Loch Lomond- A story of Culloden, February, 2022).
The tree also shows John King (of generation 36), born in Port Glasgow in 1776. He moved to the West Indies in 1803 to open a branch of the family’s shipping and trading company, based in Port Glasgow on the Clyde. Specifically, John went to the island of St. Thomas in the (then) Danish West Indies and settled in its chief town Charlotte Amalie. St. Thomas is now part of the U.S. Virgin Islands. John’s son Dr. William King lived on the neighbouring island of Tortola, the main island of the British Virgin Islands. In turn, Dr. William’s son James King (of generation 38) travelled from Tortola in the 1880s and settled in Sydney, Australia. The family has lived in Australia for the four generations who followed that James. Wade is of generation 40 and his grandson James (James King the twelfth of his line) is of generation 42.
Of course, having a long family history does nothing special for the individual. Everyone alive has 42 generations of ancestors. The difference is that Wade and his many King cousins know who those ancestors were, where they lived and what they did during their lives. The published family history gives Wade and his cousins a sense of connection with his King forebears and the ability to visit the places in which they lived.
Have you been looking into your family history? How far back can you go? Share your story with us by email, post or at: www.scottishbanner.com/contact-us
Main photo: Robert King leading the Atholl Brigade in the Charge on Culloden Moor, 16th April, 1746. Detail from the historically accurate painting by G.W. Baxter.
Support the Scottish Banner! To donate to assist with production of our publication and website visit: The Scottish Banner
