History

Excerpt from the Victoria Daily Times July 30, 1962 (cost .10 – week-end .14)

Eager Scots Started Early with their Jigs and Reels.

Dancing, Piping and Track and Field Events Included on Day-long Program

Long before the official opening at 2 p.m., more than 300 pipers and drummers were strathspeying and reeling in every corner of McDonald Park on Saturday for the 25th Annual Highland Games.

Highlanders, or those of Highland descent, began competition in the nearly 80 classes of events at 9 a.m.. Many were still competing at 5 p.m.

Largest crowd of 2500 was on hand for the opening in which the pipes and drums of the Canadian Scottish Regitment Princess Mary’s led to the field Ald. J.L.W. McLean, representing Mayor R.B. Wilson, Maj. M.W.E. Allen, secondin-command of the Canadian Scottish; Ed. McFayden, representing Mayor Harris, and the city’s centenary, and various official of Highland Games Associations.

McBRIDE TRIBUTE:
During the opening ceremony, Ald. McLean paid tribute to the first president of the games, Duncan McBride, who died on the eve of this years’ gathering. All stood silently while a lone piper played the Flowers of the Forest in his memory.

Happier atmosphere was restored by the Adeline Duncan dancers in scarlet tunics and tartan trews performing the precision drill of the “Salute to the Victoria Centenary”

Competitors then scattered to every corner to continue competition in sports events, dancing, including the recently created “Flora Macdonald’s Fancy” and amateur and professional piping.

NO “A’ CLASS
Many spectators were disappointed that there was no “A” class pipe band competition as in years past.

“B” Class competition with seven bands entered, was won by the Seaforth Highlanders Cadet Pipe Band from Vancouver.

Complete results of all but sporting events follow. All contestants are from Victoria unless otherwise indicated.

Band competition: 1. Seaforth Cadets Vancouver, 2. Royal Canadian Engineers, Vancouver, 3. Vancouver Ladies Pipe Band, 4. Seattle Pipe Band.

Just for interest – this paper went down to New Zealand in Sept. 1962 at the bottom of a trunk and lately “discovered”!!