Grant Park has been the scene of bustling activity all week getting ready for the first Forres Highland Games tomorrow [July 2] after two years of Covid cancellations.
The Forres Games are now in their 94th year, set up in 1928.
They grew from the formation of Forres Amateur Athletic Association in the post World War One years, with the early games known as the Forres Sports, before transitioning down the years to become the Forres Highland Games.
Fred Davidson is the current president of the games.
He said: “The games were formed by a body of men in Forres who came up with the idea of giving the townspeople of Forres and the surrounding area, and visitors , something to cheer them up after the war years, a day out in the summer, a bit of a boost and a lift.
“Those are still the principles that we stage the games on to this day.
“We still do it to give people something to look forward to and a great day out- hopefully in the sunshine.”
A look back in the P&J archives reveals mixed fortunes weather-wise, but one year stands out for its white heat.
Fred said: “In 2018 the grass was brown, so much so that we used extra fresh water drinking points just to make sure that the spectators were kept hale and hearty.”
Grant Park had hosted the European Pipe Band Championships not long before.
Royal visit 40 years ago
This Platinum Jubilee year is a special one for Forres, marking 40 years since the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh attended the games.
Fred thinks they might have been up for a special event at Gordonstoun.
“They flew up to Kinloss, attended our games and stayed about an hour.”
Here, Moray District Councillor for Forres, Councillor Albert Slorach, is introduced to the Queen on her arrival at Grant Park.
Below, a well-kent face of the time, president of Forres Amateur Athletic Association solicitor William Taylor is pictured escorting Her Majesty to the Royal pavilion.
The games have a unique feature
Unique to the Forres Games is the Message Bike Race, taking place on the grass track.
Fred said: “Back in the early years of the games, it was still the age of the message boy, lads who would cycle around the town delivering ladies the messages, shopping, they’d bought during the day and left in the shop for later delivery.
“The lads rode purpose built message bikes fitted with front carriers in which the goods were carried.
“They were black bikes with the shop name in front.
“On Games Day the message boys would hurriedly cycle their delivery rounds and when finished would congregate in the park waiting for their chance to compete in the Message Bike Race.
“Winning was a matter of pride, and a prize.”
When motor vehicles replaced the need for message bikes, the demand for the race diminished and was eventually dropped.
But in the late 80s it was revived, and remains a popular fixture to this day.
Volunteer racers
While there are no message boys, spectator volunteers come enthusiastically forward to climb aboard specially sourced vintage message bikes to compete for the Grant Dawson Memorial Trophy.
Fred said: “Whereas the bikes of the old days had the name of the shop in their sides, this year we’re selling sponsorship for businesses to have their names on the bikes.”
In other cycling news at the Forres Games, there was a bit of a stooshie in 1980 when racing cyclists threatened to boycott the games.
They wanted the traditional gift prizes scrapped, and replaced by cash or vouchers, in line with other games and athletic gatherings in the country.
The Forres committee agreed, with Alastair Bisset declaring: “This argument has been going on for several years and we are delighted that an acceptable compromise has been reached.
“Cyclists have to spend a lot of money on equipment and clothes, and a lot of them were not happy to have to accept the usual crystal glass or bathroom scales as prizes.”
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