The curtain came down on another spectacular Highland Military Tattoo last night, with organisers hailing the show but admitting their disappointment over poor ticket sales.
The annual spectacle at Fort George returned to the barracks on Friday for the third year in succession – and last night it closed with a spectacular Typhoon fly-past and fireworks display.
Audiences were delighted over the weekend by a host of military bands, Gaelic singers, Highland dancers, the Inverness and Lossiemouth military wives choirs and historic vignettes, which this year included commemorations of the Battle of the Somme and Jutland.
Tattoo director, Major General Seymour Monro, said a special moment was meeting the grand-daughters of drummer Walter Ritchie, who was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery at the Somme for repeatedly playing on top of the trenches while exposed to enemy fire and rallying his unit, the Seaforth Highlanders, to advance.
Margaret MacDonald and Jean Foster travelled from Glasgow and Dumfries respectively, to witness a depiction of their grandfather’s act of valour by Inverness Sergeant Brian Taylor, of 4 Scots (The Highlanders).
On Friday, both Sergeant Taylor and Major Monro presented the women with a book each of a history of the Queens Own Highlanders, including details of their grandfather’s act, as well as two regimental broaches and the bugle played by their grandfather in 1916.
Major Monro added: “The show itself has been fantastic, even better than last year, and the audiences have been telling us what a super show it has been.
“It’s been filled with wonderful acts and performers who have been magnificent. We’re just disappointed that all the seats have not been filled.
“There have been quite a number of empty seats. I would love to have seen it filled because this is a unique show north of Edinburgh and it’s a pity.
“On Friday night it was less than half full, and it was the same for the matinee.
“On Saturday night there were nearly 2,000 people (capacity is 2,500), which was great.”
When asked why he thought the attendance was low, Major Monro said: “I have not the foggiest idea. I really don’t know why people don’t come as the prices are reasonable, the show is fantastic and we have been marketing it well.
“It may be the weather forecast but apart from a heavy downpour on Friday we have had very good weather.
“We will obviously be trying to understand why there have been quite a few seats empty.”
