TV presenter Neil Oliver will join an illustrious line of big names from the world of entertainment and sports when he joins us a Chieftain for the historic 2014 Bridge of Allan Highland Games.
Over the past 30 years we’ve seen our share of politicians and business people. From the entertainment world we’ve been luck to welcome well known actors like Diana Rigg, laughs galore from Andy Cameron, Ben Gunn and Fred MacAulay and musicians like the legendary Jim MacLeod. TV and radio presenters who’ve taken the salute of the massed bands at the Games include Jimmy MacGregor, the Beechgrove Garden’s Bill Torrance, news reader and current Desert Island Discs presenter Kirsty Young and last year’s Chieftain, Real Radio’s Ewan Cameron.
The country’s top sportsmen have been represented too. They’ve ranged from international rugby star, Ally Hogg to Scotland football heroes like Derek Johnstone, Richard Gough and local boy Gary Caldwell. For one reason or another, Ally McCoist’s appearance seemed to please men and ladies alike and helped draw a bumper crowd (he was 20-odd years younger, mind). We’ve even had something of an ‘international’ flavour with England football captain and big Terry Butcher and even World Cup winner Berti Vogts, during his tenure as Scotland football coach (will we ever forget?).
Check out 30 years worth of Chieftains below. And why not get in touch if you have any favourites you’d like to see in our starring role in the years ahead!
| Past Chieftains of Bridge of Allan Highland Games | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Mrs E. McLean | Author |
| 1975 | Provost McAulay | The last Provost of the Burgh of Bridge of Allan |
| 1976 | Mr James Anderson | Convenor Central Regional Council |
| 1977 | Mr Joseph F. Walker OBE | Past President of SAAA |
| 1978 | Mr J. L. Bell | Past President of Clack. County Cricket Club |
| 1979 | Mr G. N. S. Neave | Senior Governor of S.P.S. |
| 1980 | Mr H. L. Duncan | Duncan Soft Drinks (Stirling) |
| 1981 | Mr Iain Mathieson | Former Army Major 1st Bn Seaforth Highlanders |
| 1982 | Mr Alasdair MacCallum | Former Managing Director of Devro Ltd. |
| 1983 | Mr George Todd Esq. | Former Managing Director of Todd Donald &Ptns Ltd |
| 1984 | Mr W. N. MacDougall | Former Managing Director of House of Travel Ltd |
| 1985 | Mr Peter Mallan | Scottish Musician |
| 1986 | Mr H. F. R. MacLennan | Former Regional Director, Ballantine Whisky |
| 1987 | Mr Jim MacLeod M.B.E. | Leader of Jim MacLeod Scottish Dance Band |
| 1988 | Mr Terry Butcher | Former Captain of England and Rangers |
| 1989 | Mr Andy Cameron | Scottish Comedian and Actor |
| 1990 | Mr John Cairney | Classical Scottish Actor |
| 1991 | Mr Jimmie MacGregor | Scottish Folk Singer |
| 1992 | Dame Diana Rigg | Film & TV Actress |
| 1993 | Mr Ally McCoist | International Football Player and TV Presenter |
| 1994 | Mr Bill Torrance | Singer and Co-presenter of TV’s Beechgrove Garden |
| 1995 | Mr Ben Gunn | Scottish Comedian |
| 1996 | Mr Richard Gough | Former Captain of Scotland and Rangers |
| 1997 | Mr John Stahl | Scottish Actor of stage, screen, TV and radio |
| 1998 | Ms Kirsty Young | National TV news presenter |
| 1999 | Mr Bob Shields | Chief Writer and Columnist, Daily Record |
| 2000 | Russell Hunter & Una McLean | Scottish Actors of stage, screen, TV and radio |
| 2001 | Fred MacAulay | Media Personality |
| 2002 | Cancelled due to weather | |
| 2003 | Jonathan Watson | Actor |
| 2004 | Bertie Vogts | Manager, Scotland Football Team |
| 2005 | Sir William Wallace | Lars Cook – Historian |
| 2006 | Andy Gray | Actor, Stage, Screen and TV |
| 2007 | Rt. Hon. George Reid | Former Presiding Officer Scottish Parliament |
| 2008 | Allister Hogg | Edinburgh Rugby Club and Scottish Internationalist |
| 2009 | Gary Caldwell | Celtic and Scottish International Footballer |
| 2010 | Sean Batty | STV Weather Forecaster |
| 2011 | Derek Johnstone | International Footballer & Sports Broadcaster |
| 2012 | Cancelled due to weather | |
| 2013 | Ewen Cameron | Media Personality & Breakfast Presenter for Real Radio |
