Ashbourne

**Rhino** · 27th May 04, 04:17 AM

Ashbourne Highland Gathering in Derbyshire will be taking place on the 18th July if anyone can get there. Theres a parade, pipe bands, and games.
Cheers Rhino

**Rhino** · 18th July 04, 03:40 PM

Well, I can tell from the overwhelming response no one knows where Ashbourne is, let alone wants to go there

I did attend the gathering today and was amazed by the amount of people who came, from as far afield as Scotland and in the other direction Essex.
It was fantastic, I loved it. For those who don't know me I'm not very keen on tartans, and I'm left cold about the heritage thing.... except, when I saw about 30 different clan tartans and heard 80 odd pipers together I suddenly felt differently. The tartans came alive when made into kilts and looked gorgeous, I've already seen a few I might consider, especially Pride of Scotland, fanbl**dytastic.
The dancers were great, little kids jigging about like duracell rabbits, marvellous.
My favourite, the heavy athletics, absoluteley rivetting. A bit of hero worship due to Geoff Capes, being judge, on my part but I couldn't tear myself away. One of the athletes, aghh bless, told me his 'kilt' was his mum's dog blanket which he'd wrapped round himself and then belted. It looked ok, so why did mine cost so much???
I was mistaken for a 'heavy' by a couple of lovely young ladies, so imagine the ashes in my throat as I said 'no I'm just a fat man in a kilt.'

I was talking to some of the athletes during a break, I'm 6' and 18 stone, and I felt a bit short and somewhat frail for the first time ever.
All in all I know what the traditionalists bang on about, the tartans were a sea of colour, the pipes made my cynical heart swell, break, then swell again, and it's with no shame I can say I left the arena with a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye. I LOVED IT.
OK I do like tartans now but I had to see them in the flesh to appreciate them, and I must have seen about 30 different tartans today.
Shame I didn't have a tartan to wear, eh Bear (that was a hint BTW).
What a great day, it's opened up another avenue of experience

Cheers Rhino

**Hamish** · 18th July 04, 05:52 PM

Rhino,

Thanks for that report. Wow! You certainly appear to have been won over.

I'd really have liked to have been there, but it would have been a hell of a journey for me and would have involved two nights of stop-over. (Just imagine how much of another kilt I can now afford by not going this year!)

Perhaps, if I reduce my kilt intake, I will be able to make it next year. Would you be up for a return visit then? (I suspect I know the answer to that one!

)

**Rhino** · 19th July 04, 12:43 AM

I think Ashbourne's a bit out of the way for most Hamish, you'll have to cadge a lift with one of the pipe bands next year.
There were a couple of defining moments yesterday, one was an old piper, I didn't see him play, he was just standing, talking to some others and as I walked past him I saw his kilt was darned in various places. Evidence of a life of wear and tear, probably as old as the piper and still going strong, and it still looked smart.
The other was a young athlete, Colin Bryce, for me the star of the show, as he walked to the throwing area with a hammer was busy rubbing the handle with his kilt apron to clean the mud and blood off it.
Just sort of drives it home about the kilt being a garment, and not being too concerned about it getting ripped or dirty, although I suspect if a pair of trousers were as ripped as the pipers kilt they'd be thrown.
Whetever next, me into tartan, Graham buying plain kilts, rainbow kilt anyone???
Cheers Rhino

**Rob** · 19th July 04, 07:25 AM

Rhino,

Were there many kilt wearers among the non-partcipants, apart from you of course?

Rob (who has never been to a Highland Gathering)

**Kiltedmusiclover** · 19th July 04, 08:10 AM

Rhino,
Now you know what stirred in my blood the first time I went to a Highland gathering.
(Still does 10 years later)
Add about another 50 clans represented with about 20,000 people with around 12,000 of them kilted.
A huge massed band made up
of 15 bands, some 300 pipers, and another 100 drummers.
It awoke a spirit in me that felt ancient.
A connection that made my soul dance with excitement.
I love your description of how the tartans “came alive”.

**Rufus** · 19th July 04, 08:24 AM

Originally Posted by Rhino

All in all I know what the traditionalists bang on about, the tartans were a sea of colour, the pipes made my cynical heart swell, break, then swell again, and it's with no shame I can say I left the arena with a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye. I LOVED IT.
OK I do like tartans now but I had to see them in the flesh to appreciate them, and I must have seen about 30 different tartans today.

See Rhino, I tried to help you discover the joys of tartan months ago with the tartan bulldog pic I put up, and now you finally come to an appreciation of it.

After the Bear Kilt comes, I can see you going on a tartan bender. Walking past Howie and TFCK saying, "No thanks Howie, I'm going to Geoffrey T's to look at the luscious tartans." After all, when you're on a bender, you'll say odd things like "luscious" and "supple".

Okay, maybe not.

All in all, the event sounds like a great time. I'm glad you had such a great experience.

**Martin** · 19th July 04, 11:13 AM

Originally Posted by Rhino

Well, I can tell from the overwhelming response no one knows where Ashbourne is, let alone wants to go there

Sorry Rhino, I hadn't seen your post. I'd have made an effort to get there otherwise. I'm in warwickshire, not too far away. I've been scouring the web for highland gatherings in England with no luck. I don't know how I missed this one.

Next year!!!

**Hamish** · 19th July 04, 11:35 AM

Originally Posted by Rhino

.................................................. Whetever next, me into tartan, Graham buying plain kilts, rainbow kilt anyone???
Cheers Rhino

Yup! I have one on order!!!

8)

I may never wear it** (I done a deal, pricewise!) but the important thing is that it will represent yet another type of kilt in my "Kilt Kollection" - similar to the football supporters' kilt I already have.

**Actually, I have been dared to wear it to the Brighton Pride event next month - which I might well do. The kiltmaker is going to be there wearing one also!