Burntisland Games marks 358th year
Fife exiles from as far afield as Australia and New Zealand were welcomed home at the start of the town’s 358th Highland games.
The Burntisland and District Pipe band open the games.
- By Aileen Robertson
- Published in the Courier : 20.07.10
- Published online : 20.07.10 @ 07.34am
About half a dozen former Burntisland residents turned up to the burgh chambers for the annual reunion.
Among them was Doris Fotheringham who had come all the way from Carnarvon, Western Australia, and 23-year-old Scott Birrell who, having started out with Burntisland and District Pipe Band, now teaches drumming in Southland, New Zealand.
Mr Birrell left Burntisland when he went to study music in Glasgow but he still has family staying in the town, including his grandfather Alex Birrell, who encouraged him to start playing drums when he was just six years old.
He said, "There's a huge amount of heritage in New Zealand because of the English, Scottish and Irish moving over. A lot of parents and grandparents encourage their children to get involved in pipe bands because of family history. There are 150 bands across New Zealand."
During his time back in Scotland, Mr Birrell will be competing with the Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia Pipe Band and is hoping to help them win the World Pipe Band Championship, being held in Glasgow next month. The band competes in the top grade and has finished second at two major championships already this year.
Meanwhile, Catherine Fiddes was back in Fife to escape the heat of Abu Dhabi, where she works in the financial industry. Mrs Fiddes moved to the United Arab Emirates with her husband Alastair two years ago but was back to visit family and enjoy Scotland's cooler climate.
She said, "It's too hot to be in Abu Dhabi during July and August. The temperature gets to 50C so I have to leave."
The exiles' reception also welcomed a familiar face — Ray Keane (43), from Spennymoor, County Durham. Mr Keane has been coming back for the games since he left Burntisland in 1989.
Burntisland and District Pipe Band donned waterproofs and braved the elements outside ahead of the day's activities at the Links where hardy competitors took part in events including running, cycling and field events. As the games kicked off at the same time as the downpour, highland games chieftain Bobby Jeffrey said it would take more than the weather to dampen spirits.
"It'll be a good day despite the weather," he added. However, the rain saw afternoon dancing cancelled because of the wet stage.
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