This morning I walked in Nairn
which is a town and former burgh in the Highland council area of Scotland.
Nairn is an ancient fishing port and market town about 16 miles east of
Inverness. It was the county town of the wider county of Nairn also known as
Nairnshire. It is a Lord Lieutenancy county and I was delighted to be hosted by
the Lord Lieutenant, Ewen Brodie of Lethen who introduced me to young pipers,
organisers of the Highland Games and personalities within the Nairn community.
It was an absolute pleasure to meet the Lord Lieutenant and I am grateful for
the time he gave to look after me and show me the many elements of the Nairn
Highland Games.
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| With the Lord Lieutenant of Nairn, Ewen Brodie of Lethen - it was an absolute pleasure to spend time with such a gentle and kind man |
Nairn is now best known as a seaside resort with two golf courses.
King James VI of Scotland visited the town in 1589 and is said to have
later remarked that the High Street was so long that the people at either end
spoke different languages to one another – English and Gaelic. The landward
farmers generally spoke English and the fishing families at the harbour end,
Gaelic. Nairn, formerly split into Scottish Gaelic and Scots-speaking communities,
was a town of two halves in other ways. The narrow-streeted fishertown
surrounds a harbour built by Thomas Telford while Victorian villas stand in the
‘West End’. It is believed that the Duke of Cumberland stayed in Nairn the
night before the Battle of Culloden.
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| A stunning view of The Links in Nairn where The 135th Macallan Nairn Highland Games took place on Day 209 of my BRIT 2012 mile walk |
It is believed that the very
first Highland Games were held more than 1000 years ago. Clan chiefs and kings
encouraged events as a way of finding the best and strongest men in their
communities to fill various roles such as messengers, bodyguards and
entertainers.
Many of the events are still used
in today’s games of skill, endurance and strength – such as hammer-throwing,
stone-throwing, weights and piping.
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| The Macallan massed pipes and drums procession on The Links at the Macallan 135th Nairn Highland Games on Day 209 of my BRIT 2012 mile walk |
The games also united communities
as villagers would turn out in force to watch their best men compete against
each other. Today, the tradition of Highland Games is as strong as ever with
scores of exciting events taking place across Scotland throughout the summer.
They are ideal for a family day out.
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| Lord Cawdor, Chieftan of the Macallan Nairn Highland Games Committee, opening the Macallan 135th Nairn Highland Games |
It was a pleasure for me to
listen to young people piping in their competitions this morning and then to
watch the massed pipes and drums process around The Links in Nairn. The
Chieftain of The Macallan Nairn Highland Games Committee, Lord Cawdor, opened
the games and it was a pleasure to meet Lord Cawdor and his wife, Lady Isabella
following his speech.
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| A young piper taking part in the Nairn Open Junior Piping Competition in the Under 15s category |
The atmosphere was tremendous as
the pipes and drums marched and I left the games just after lunch to head off
to Elgin in Moray to meet the Cubs and Scouts who were walking with me.
Moray is one of 32 council areas
of Scotland. It lies in the north-east of Scotland with a coastline on the
Moray Firth and borders the council areas of Aberdeenshire and Highland. Elgin
is a former Royal Burgh in Moray and is the administrative and commercial
centre for Moray. Elgin is first
documented in the Cartulary of Moray in 1190. It was created a Royal Burgh in
the 12th century by King David I of Scotland.
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| Some of the Cubs, Scouts and Scout Leaders from Elgin, Moray in front of the remains of the Elgin Cathedral on Day 209 of the BRIT 2012 mile walk |
On 19 July 1224, the foundation stone of the new Elgin Cathedral was
ceremoniously laid. The cathedral was completed sometime after 1242 but was
completely destroyed by fire in 1270. The reasons for this are unrecorded. The
buildings which now remain as ruins date from the reconstruction following that
fire.
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| With the Deputy Lord Lieutenant, Beavers, Cubs and Scouts at Elgin in Moray on the afternoon of Day 209 of my BRIT 2012 mile walk |
I was delighted to meet the
Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Moray, Group Captain Phil Dacre MBE QVRM DL, who
greeted me in Elgin and it was super to meet so many young cubs, scouts and
their Scout Leaders. Many thanks to Jeanette from the Elgin Scouts who
coordinated the walk and thank you to everyone for making me feel so welcome.
I am finishing Day 209 with 672
miles to go.
With best wishes,
Phil