A GROUP of passionate musicians and athletics leaders are hurling themselves into a campaign to revive the Elgin Highland Games.
Moray’s capital last staged a Highland Games in 2004, and after a gap of eight years, a concerted push is now being made to resurrect the traditional event which once attracted in excess of 3,000 spectators.
Forres Pipe Band member George McPhee, who lives on Muirfield Place in Elgin, admitted it will now be a race against time to get the sporting spectacular organised in time for next summer.
However, with a sizable group of people already on board, he is hopeful the event will again be on Moray’s Highland Games calendar for the summer of 2013.
Mr McPhee said he was inspired to start the campaign after playing at Highland Games events throughout each summer.
He told ‘The Northern Scot’ that his vision is to have a massed pipe band parade starting on Elgin’s High Street, close to the Poundland shop beside the Plainstones.
He said the eight to 10 bands would then march down High Street, past the Moray Council buildings, and across the A96 into Cooper Park.
Mr McPhee said Cooper Park would be the ideal venue for the games, and far more suitable than the event’s most recent home at the Morriston playing fields.
"I play with the Forres Pipe Band and go to events in Nairn, Forres, Dufftown . . . but people are always mentioning that there is not a Highland Games in Elgin," he said.
"I see what’s happening in these towns and it is great for them."
For the full story, see this week's 'Northern Scot'
