Forres Highland Games’ 2025 chieftain will be stalwart volunteer Sandra Maclennan
A woman who has dedicated more than 30 years to keeping a much-loved park blooming has been given the honour of being chieftain at a sporting event held in the same venue.
Sandra Maclennan, well known for her committment to Forres In Bloom, has accepted the role of being the 2025 chieftain at the town’s Highland Games on July 5.
Sandra has been involved with voluntary organisation Forres In Bloom, which aims to enhance the beauty of the town, since it was founded in 1990.
She has played a key role in obtaining Gold medals in Beautiful Scotland and Britain in Bloom campaigns, the highlights being the award of The Rose Bowl for Scotland’s best town in 2023 and The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the equivalent to an MBE for volunteering.
Sandra has been a judge for Beautiful Scotland for 20 years and has been awarded Community Champion by Britain in Bloom and the Dr Andrew Duncan Medal for Horticultural Education by The Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society.
Speaking of becoming Chieftain at what will be the 97th Forres Highland Games, she said: “I was overwhelmed when I received the letter, particularly when I looked at all the other people who have been given this honour.
“My grandfather was a master stonemason in Forres and my father started his career as a clerk at Forres Station, played for Forres Mechanics but died young after his service throughout World War II.
“Both ordinary working men and proud Forresians. I accept this role in their memory. They would be astounded. I am delighted and I am really looking forward to the day.”
Mrs Maclennan is no stranger to the Forres Highland Games and for a few years has volunteered by serving refreshments in the cricket pavilion to guests. This year, she will be the guest of honour.
It wasn’t just for Sandra’s commitment to Forres In Bloom that she was asked to be Chieftain by the Games’ committee.
Over the years, Sandra has been involved in many local groups including, Forres Area Community Trust, Forres Area Forum. Forres Area Tourism Network Group and Forres Rotary to name but a few.
Sandra said: “I love Forres. It is an amazing community, so vibrant and active.
“It is rewarding and a delight to be involved in helping groups and doing what I can to sustain activities.”
She is a former teacher and began her teaching career at Hythehill Primary in Lossiemouth and then became head teacher at Portknockie Primary.
In 1981 she began 25 years as a head teacher in Forres, first at Pilmuir Primary, when it opened, and at Applegrove Primary from 1990.
Mrs Maclennan who has also been a judge for Beautiful Scotland for 20 years will attend the Forres Highland Games with her husband Ian.
Fred Davidson, president of the Games said: “We are delighted that Sandra has accepted our invitation to be the 2025 Chieftain of the Forres Highland Games.
“Sandra has volunteered for decades throughout the town and whilst the Highland Games does not incorporate the floral gardens in Grant Park, we know that visitors enjoy leaving our arena to enjoy a stroll around the beautiful area that the Forres In Bloom team creates every year.
“A huge thank you to Sandra for all that she has done and we look forward to hosting her and Ian on July 5.”
Last year’s Forres Highland Games attracted an audience of thousands and was even featured in a French documentary Voyage au Bout de L’effort, and streamed on popular French channel Canal+.
The programme this year will include track and field events, the 10K road race, Highland dancing, piping and field events such as tossing the caber and the hammer throw.
A recent introduction has been the solo drumming competition which will return for 2025 and one of the most popular spectacles is the massed pipe bands.
Last year, the Forres Highland Games successfully introduced four ladies’ heavies events and this year, the caber toss will be added too that.
Unique to the Forres Highland Games is the message boys bike race where spectators can become competitors.
