BLAIR’SBIG WEEKEND ISAWINNER
Hundreds flock to Braemar Day and Games
The biggest weekend in Blairgowrie and Rattray’s calendar returned to the east Perthshire town, with Braemar Day on Saturday and Blairgowrie and Rattray Highland Games on Sunday.
Hundreds of people attended the events, which were held for the first time since 2019 after restrictions imposed as part of efforts to tackle the global coronavirus pandemic saw them both cancelled in 2020 and 2021.
Both events have been hailed by organisers as a great success, with the Highland Games going ahead despite heavy rain overnight on Saturday and into Sunday morning.
And there was a packed programme of entertainment at the 69th annual Braemar Day celebrations in Blairgowrie all day on Saturday, organised by the Blairgowrie and Rattray Braemar Association and culminating in a spectacular fireworks display over the River Ericht.
The 69th annual Braemar Day celebrations in Blairgowrie on Saturday have been hailed as a huge success.
Hundreds of people attended the all-day event in the Wellmeadow, which is organised by the Blairgowrie and Rattray Braemar Association.
It was the first time the event has been held since 2019 due to the global coronavirus pandemic.
There was a packed programme of entertainment including the opening procession led by the Pleasanton fire engine, which was donated to the community by Blairgowrie’s twin town in California.
Dancers from the Linda Grant School of Dance, the Linda Tosh School of Dance, the Strathmore School of Dance – as well as the Northern Lites Baton Twirlers – all performed for the delighted crowds, while singers Hannah
Galloway and Karen Arnold also impressed.
There were lots of stalls from local crafters, producers and clubs and organisations, firebreathing and LED displays from Verity Powers, and music from local duos Blair and Snare, Coast, Fox and McHoul and John and Luke Cunningham.
The massed pipe band parade in the evening featured six bands – Coupar Angus Pipe Band, Alyth Pipe Band, Dundee City Pipe Band, Forfar and District Pipe Band, Mains of Fintry Pipe Band and Deeside Caledonia Pipe Band – which organisers say was the most pipe bands to have played at Bramar Night.
Committee member Hayley Nicoll said: “It was an absolutely fantastic day with a great crowd, wonderful atmosphere, immense fireworks from Blast Designs and mainly dry weather.
“We hope everyone had a great day and would like to thank everyone for coming out and supporting us.
“We would also like to say a massive thank you to everyone who supported us throughout the year and who helped us on the day - we could not have done it without you, especially Alan Clarke, Ian Grant, Da Higgins, Luke Clarke and Neil Gardiner for their wonderful help on the barbecue stall.
“Also a big shout out to lan Grant for his help with the electric supply around the Wellmeadow.
“Thanks to Alan Clarke, our first aider.
“A massive thank you to Billy Neilson and Mike Hogg for being our compères for the day, they did great job.
“Thanks to Lily Barker for her help throughout the day, to John Breen and Regan Gordon for their support in the run-up to the event and help on the day, to Vic and Chris from Mantalk for all their help setting up in the morning, and to our fab face painters Michelle Hogg and Arryann Duncan and nail artist Leigh Thow.
“Thank you to all the local businesses for their continuous support and sponsorship, without which this event simply wouldn’t happen.
“Thanks also to TJB Landscapes for their continuous support, Castle Water for use of their car parks, Tesco for donations for our stalls, Rattray Bowling Club for their tables, John Cunningham for kindly donating 10 new gazebos, Irvine’s and Mitchell’s for supplies for the barbecue, Number 31s for our breakfast rolls, Clare Damodaran from the Blairie, Deborah Crole for her fantastic work designing our programmes this year,
Wood Leisure Holiday Parks for donating a fantastic raffle prize, Perthshire Sound and Light Hire for their stages and sound, SCYD Events, Blair in Bloom for keeping the Wellmeadow so beautiful, Drew Ramsay for bringing the 1969 fire engine from Pleasanton, California, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service firefighters from Blairgowrie for bringing their fire engine, John Kettles and his team at Blast Design for the superb fireworks display, Police Scotland, and Perth and Kinross Council.
“A big thank you also to all of our stall-holders, the shows in the Wellmeadow, the pipe bands and Callum Douglas for all his efforts, and all the entertainment acts, without whom the day would not go ahead.
“And congratulations to our committee member Claire Speirs on the arrival of baby Amelia – our newest and youngest member of our team!’’