GALLERY: 14 snaps of the Lonach Gathering through the decades

The Lonach Highland Gathering and Games was founded in 1823 by Sir Charles Forbes and is held on the fourth Saturday of August every year.

The annual event, known as the friendliest games in Scotland, includes Highland dancing, heavy events, hill races, a march and a pipe band.

After two years of holding the gathering virtually during the pandemic, the 179th event was held in person this weekend. To celebrate the game’s return, we’ve collected 14 photos of the event through the years from our archives.

Do you recognise any of the familiar faces in any of these photos? Have you ever attended the Lonach Gathering? Please let us know in the comments.

An older man and a young man sharing a drink at the lonach gathering in 1990 — 1990 – The oldest man in the Lonach march, 78-year-old Forbes Clark, of Lumsden, takes a drink with the youngest – Bruce Casely, 18, from Aberdeen.

Men of Lonach marching in kilts and traditional clothing. — 1994 – Banners, beards and best feet forward as the Men of Lonach, led by the pipe band, stride out.

An older man sharing a drink with a young boy who has a glass of orange juice — 1988 – Drum Major Ian Morrison has a dram while young piper Michael Laing, of Kildrummy, prefers a glass of orange on one of the stops.

A man fixing another mans broom on his balmoral — 1981 – Australian Ian Bremner, from New South Wales, has the broom adjusted on his Balmoral by Gordon McCombie, from Tarland, before setting off.

A drum major helps with a boys plaid — 1980 – Drum Major Bert Summers, of Turriff, helps arrange the plaid of 14-year-old John Petrie, of Corgarff, before they set out.

A young boy fills up a mans glass during a break — 1978 – Crispin Biggs, 6, of Cookney, tops up the glass of George Gordon during a break in the march.

A woman and man sitting and talking at the Lonach Gathering — 1957 – Admiral Sir Rhoderick McGrigor speaks to Mrs Wallace Candacraig at the Lonach Gathering.

A man taking part in the hammer event at the Lonach Gathering — 1951 – J McLellan, of Kildary, who won the 16lb hammer event, demonstrates his skills.

Lonach Highlanders marching down a road — 1953 – Lonach Highlanders embarking on their famous march in 1953.

Two women raising glasses with a Drum Major — 1985 – Drum Major Ian Morrison with Fiona Beaton, left, of Forres, and Caroline Wallace, of Strathdon.

A man in tradition plaid with his young son and daughter — 1989 – Stuart Milne, of Strathdon, with son Andrew, 2, and daughter Michelle, 4.

The oldest clansman in the group speaks to the Highlanders through a large megaphone at the Lonach Gathering — 1929 – Duncan MacPherson, the oldest clansman of the time, addresses the Lonach Highlanders by megaphone in this photograph, thought to be from 1929.

A man throwing the heavy stone a the Lonach Games — 1956 – J Scott throwing the heavy stone at the Lonach Games in 1956.

GALLERY: 14 snaps of the Lonach Gathering through the decades

Conversation

Breaking