Something tells me I’m into some-fling good!
Members, guests and friends of Shotts Highland Games enjoyed a highland fling in the Iron Works Bowling Club.
Around 80 people danced the night away at the annual Highland Ball to welcome Douglas McLean as the 2018 Chieftain.
Douglas received the Ravenscraig Cromach which is the Chieftain’s badge of office, from the outgoing Chieftain Ronnie Miles.
Former Chieftains present were James Robertson, Robert Williams, Gavin Whitefield, Tom Hyslop, and George Scott.
Chairman Robert Williams introduced and welcomed the guests and intimated apologies from former chieftains Ian Livingstone, council leader Jim Logue and Paul Jukes.
Ronnie Miles spoke of his pride at being the 2017 Chieftain and recalled the enjoyment of the Games with his wife Amy. He handed over the Cromach to Douglas McLean.
Douglas is a retired marine engineer, and has lived in Shotts all his life.
His father was one of the founding members of the Highland Games Association and Douglas attended his first Shotts Highland Games 60 years ago.
He was educated at Stane Primary and at Brandon High in Motherwell.
He is married to Tina, they have two daughters Julie and Alison and, to date, one grandson Lewis.
After leaving school he served a five year apprenticeship as a toolmaker with Smiths Industries at the Gowkthrapple factory. Douglas decided he wanted to see the world and joined the British Tanker Company, the shipping arm of British Petroleum (BP) as a Junior Engineer.
He retired 44 years later as a Chief Engineer. He served in every engineering rank at sea, a number of superintendent rolls ashore, building ships in Korea, taking them apart in Amsterdam, Dubai and Singapore and sailing around the world a number of times, visiting many countries and working with lots of wonderful people.
Douglas is the third member of the McLean family to be Chieftain.
His father Duncan was Chieftain in 1982 and Duncan’s brother Robert was Chieftain in 1992.
The chairman expressed thanks to sponsors who had contributed to the 2017 Games, and to everyone who helped with preparatory work and on the day of the Games.
Provost Jean Jones spoke on behalf of the sponsors North Lanarkshire Council, Bells Food Group, North Lanarkshire Bank, Shotts Rotary Club.
Provost Jones said: “As well as the major sponsors, and I know there is a long list of people who support the Games with donations and in kind, including the willing workers who help at the Park in the run-up to the Games and on the day. Their contributions are invaluable.
“Shotts Highland Games is not just a community event, which is important, but these Games are the only ones in North Lanarkshire, attracting people from all over Scotland and England as well as from many overseas countries. So their worth to our economy and to culture and friendship is beyond measure.
“The sponsors willingly make their contributions and, on their behalf, I would wish to congratulate the hard working committee for making these Games happen each year and thank you.”
Pipers Craig Peters and Cameron Cleland led the traditional Grand March and the evening finished with ceilidh dancing to the music of John Carmichael’s Scottish Dance Band.
The Highland Games will take place this year on Saturday, June 2, in Hannah Park.