Best ever Tartan Day in prospect
01/08/07
Saturday’s Tartan Day celebrations promise to be the best ever with an exciting range of events in the city centre.
The special day will be heralded at noon with a massed pipe band marching from Albyn Place to Castlegate, with Lord Provost Peter Stephen taking the salute at the Town House.
Bands forming the Royal Scottish Pipe Bands will take part and will later join the celebrations, playing at venues across the city centre throughout the afternoon.
River City star Joyce Falconer is also returning home to take part for the second year running.
“Torry Quine” Joyce - who plays Roisin in the BBCTV soap - is among a host of entertainers taking part in Tartan Day at the Terrace, a celebration of the music, dance, comedy and spoken word of Aberdeen City and Shire.
Joining Joyce at Union Terrace Gardens between 1.30pm and 3.30pm will be music and dance act The Trybe, battle re-enactment group Crann Tara, Aberdeen Strathspey and Reel Society, musicians from Scottish Culture and Tradition (SCAT) and - back by popular demand - traditional Scottish drums group Albannach. The afternoon’s entertainment will be compered by Robert Aitken.
Pageant
Another attraction will be the colourful historic parade led by King James and Queen Margaret on horseback from Back Wynd to the Castlegate, organised by historical re-enactment group Schiltron.
The royal couple will be accompanied by an impressive entourage of heralds, standard bearers, soldiers, musicians and noblemen, noble ladies and children.
And knights in full plate armour will add power and presence to the exciting parade.
Allan Muir from Schiltron said: “We have had great interest in this event from both Aberdeen and further afield and so our pageant this year is much bigger and even more colourful. And we have the continued support of Aberdeen City Council to make this a very special occasion.
“King James’s personal bravery was renowned and when he visited the city of Aberdeen in 1507 he was a leader at his peak as a popular and well-loved king. This will certainly be a day to remember.”
This year’s pageant features more than 50 performers and for the first time includes a medieval market at the Castlegate, which will include candlemakers, wood turners, a tarot reader and entertainers.
The pageant will parade down Union Street at around 12.30pm, culminating in a performance at the Castlegate.
Tolbooth Events
During a re-enactment at the imposing Tolbooth Museum visitors can meet the rebels locked up in the 17th century gaol after the battle of Culloden in 1746.
Aberdeen was an important centre of sympathy and support for the rebels and many city men had fought at Culloden.
On Saturday there will be the chance to meet two Aberdonian Jacobite prisoners - James Allan, who fought at Culloden and was brought back to be imprisoned in the Tolbooth, and James Irvine, a city shoemaker who guarded arms and gunpowder for the rebels.
The pair will be interrogated by the Tolbooth gaoler and a young captain from the victorious Redcoat army.
No booking is required for the events at 11am, 12 noon, 1.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm.
St Nicholas Kirk/Provost Skene’s House
Assistant Keeper Chris Croly will be taking tours around the historic St Nicholas Kirk exploring the landmark’s rich and varied history.
The tours will trace the history of the building from the 12th century up to the present.
Chris Croly said: “The tours will take in such wonderful historical relics as the 17th century embroidered hangings in the West Church as well as the stone effigies in the church. St Nicholas has the largest group of 15th century stone effigies in Scotland – including one said to be of Robert Davidson, the only provost of Aberdeen ever to have died in a battle, who was killed at the Battle of Harlaw in 1411.
“He was also a notorious pirate, who at one time was charged with pirating goods belonging to Richard Whittington, then Mayor of London and of future pantomime fame.”
Tours run at 11.30am, 12.30pm, 2pm and 3pm.
Refreshments will be available and there will be free traditional Scottish music performances in the kirkyard throughout the afternoon.
Last year archaeologists excavated inside the east Church of St Nicholas in what has been to date the most important excavation in a burgh church.
The excavation revealed much more of the fascinating, varied and complex history of the church, including more than 900 burials.
Some of the artefacts recovered during the excavation are on display in the exhibition ‘Early Glimpses’ on the top floor of Provost Skene’s House.
On Saturday Alison Cameron, Assistant Archaeologist with Aberdeen City Council’s Archaeology Unit will take tours of the exhibition at 12.30pm, 1.30pm, 3pm and 4pm.
Provost Skene's House can be found in Guestrow, just off Broad Street. Admission is free.
Local History Fair
There will also be an opportunity to delve into your past at the Aberdeen Local History Fair at Aberdeen Town House on Saturday, 10am-4pm.
The event aims to encourage the increasingly popular hobby and to promote local history.
Experts from various local groups will be on hand to offer help and advice.
