Pitlochry Highland Games is in the bag for pipe band family

Nine members of the same piping family will open Pitlochry Highland Games at the weekend.

The Vale of Atholl Pipe Band counts a number of McNab family members among their ranks.

The band will lead the march on to the recreation ground on Saturday to herald the official opening of the 2019 games.

Matriarch of the group, which spans three generations, is Gillie McNab, whose first association with the band was selling programmes in 1966. However, a year later she was in the band.

“I had watched the pipers and it looked quite challenging – and I like a challenge,” said Gillie.

“I was also the first female piper.”

Another year later in 1968, Gillie won the ladies gold and silver second place medal at the ladies championship in St Andrews.

Earlier this year she was awarded the British Empire Medal for services to the Vale of Atholl Pipe Band.

Gillie’s other introduction to the games was via her father Gideon Scott May who, although not a piper or drummer, was president of the band for many years and was the regular compere of the weekly Highland Nights, which the band still run.

This is the 54th year of Highland Nights and Gillie has been present every year.

Joining Gillie in the parade will be her children, Alan, Kevin, Alistair (known as Bongo) and Iralee as well as grandchildren Millie, Archie, Flora and Logan.

Being with the pipe band is something the children have experienced since birth.

“I dragged them along to rehearsals and events and they all seemed quite keen to sit and listen,” said Gillie.

The band will parade down Atholl Road from 11.45am and will take part in the pipe band competition, alongside 16 other bands from 1pm.

There will be a grand finale of massed bands playing at the end of the day.

The Pitlochry Highland Games is the last competition of the season.