Young Grace is ready to lead the way La Mirage

the northern times, August 16, 2013
10
www.northern-times.co.uk
Remember Helmsdale
Highland Games
Saturday 17th August, 2013
Adopted son honoured
to take Chieftain’s role
A CAITHNESS man who has
become one of Sutherland’s
favourite adopted sons after living
in the county for 35 years, will be
Chieftain of this year’s Helmsdale
Highland Games at Coupar Park
tomorrow (Saturday).
The honour of being this year’s
Chieftain has gone to Ian Sinclair
who has lived in the picturesque
Sutherland village for a total
of 35 years over two different
periods, and is a very well known,
popular, kenspeckle figure in both
Caithness and Sutherland.
Ian, 66, was a founder member
of the committee which revived
the Helmsdale Highland
Games in 1980 – now firmly
established as one of the main
events on the North Highlands
social and sporting calender.
He was chairman of the Games
Committee from 2006 to 2009 and
is currently vice chairman.
A tall, well-built, gregarious
Highlander, Ian was born on
a croft called “The Laid” at
Occumster, near Lybster. His
father, John, was born there and
his mother, Mary belonged to
Armadale, North Sutherland. He
was one of a family of three – with
Ronnie and Margaret, his older
brother and sister.
He attended Newlands
Primary School and then Lybster
Secondary School which he
left when he was 15. Back then
further education at university
or college was not as easily
accessible as it was today, and,
as Ian explains: “In those days, in
my home, the attitude was ‘out to
work and pay your way’.”
The young Caithnessian had a
hankering for crofting and his first
job was with a local dairy farm.
However, while he much enjoyed
the work, the wages were poor,
and after two years he opted for a
new career in the hotel business.
Over the next 15 years he
worked in various hotels
across Scotland – from the
Burnbank Hotel in Twnholm, in
Kircudbright, to the Culag Hotel,
Lochinver, and the Royal and
Holburn Hotels, and latterly the
Park Hotel in Thurso, where he
was manager.
And it was in Thurso he met
and fell in love with a Helmsdale
lass, and Ian wed Janice Miller in
Bunillidh Church, Helmsdale, in
1976.
The couple have two children,
Laura, 29, who works in the
nursing profession in Thurso, and
Martin, 27, has his own joinery
business in Helmsdale. Laura is
married to Mark O’Brian and the
couple live in Portskerra.
Ian left the hotel trade in 1978
and moved to Helmsdale to take
up a post with British Rail on the
maintenance side – a position he
held for the next 26 years.
In 1998, fate decreed that
the Sinclair family return to
Helmsdale. BR decided to reopen their maintenance office in
the village and Ian was handed
the job of organising the reopening and taking charge of
BR maintenance from Kildary to
Wick and Thurso.
Simultaneously, Ian and Janice
took over the Bannockburn
Inn in Helmsdale which they
successfully operated for seven
years – subsequently running a
popular Bed and Breakfast in the
village.
Although he took early
retirement from BR several years
ago, Ian believes in keeping
himself busy and enjoys fishing
and gardening; travels every
now and then to watch Wick
Academy and Brora Rangers;
and occasionally goes on goldpanning excursions in Kildonan
– but has yet to strike gold!
Said Ian: “It is a great honour
to be chosen as Games Chieftain
and I am very much looking
forward to this years event. I have
always enjoyed my contribution
to the Helmsdale Highland
Games Committee and I am
delighted that it is growing and
really going from strength to
strength. Long may it prosper.”
This year’s Chieftain, Ian Sinclair.
Young Grace is ready
to lead the way
Traditional pipe bands provide the perfect
soundtrack for Helmsdale Highland Games.
Welcome home
The helmsdale highland Games Committee
say they would like to wish a warm welcome
to all who faithfully return home every year
to enjoy the Games.
A special welcome this year goes to our
Canadian friends from the Red River Area –
visiting helmsdale as part of the bi-centennial anniversary of the Kildonan Clearances.
The committee hope everyone enjoys the
visit of The Royal Burgh of Tain Pipe Band
who will play alongside the sutherland
schools Pipe Band and the suherland
Caledoniann Pipbe Band during the day.
Last year’s ‘Splat the Rat’ stall proved popular.
LINDSAY GORDON Advertising Feature
ALL TYPES OF JOINER
WORK UNDERTAKEN
La Mirage
Tel: 01431 821487 Mobile: 07836 669727
Dunrobin St, Helmsdale, Sutherland
CARPENTER & JOINER
ESTABLISHED 1996
Email: Lindsay.gordon@virgin.net
The North’s Premiere Restaurant
Wishing the Games Committee all the best
Visit the
famous La Mirage
and make your
choice from our
extensive menu.
Wishing Helmsdale Highland Games
every success
The Bannockburn Inn /
The Tartan Lounge Bar & Restaurant
Helmsdale
Congratulations to
Ian Sinclair
Games Chieftain 2013
from Gerry, Alison
& Emily
A. R. McLEOD & SONS
General Ironmongers • Ironmongery Goods
in great variety
HELMSDALE TAXIS
Agents for Calor Gas
Best Wishes to the Games
Tel: 01431 821338
also
Our popular
Fish Teas
are a must!
the harboUr, Shore Street,
helmSdale
Wide range of quality gifts and
Tel. 01431 821615
Best Wishes for a successful day
Tel: 01431 821402
www.helmsdale.org
THE HElmsdalE COmPaNY
Your one stop shop for
sporting Goods in the North
Full range of fishing gear and our
famous Salmon Flies
2 Sutherland Street, Helmsdale
Best Wishes
to the Games Committee
and Competitors
for a successful Games
All types of plumbing and heating undertaken
and oil boiler commissioning, servicing and
repairs
Helmsdale
01431 821386
Tel/Fax: 01431 821473
24-Hour Emergency Service
Wishing the Highland Games every success
Grace attends helmsdale Primary school
and she is a cheery and friendly youngster with
lots of friends. Grace also attends highland
Dancing Classes at the school and she is
always prepared to show everyone her new
steps. hopefully it won’t be too long before she
is competing at the highland Games herself.
HelmsdAle And district
HigHlAnd gAmes
saturday 17th August 2013
Games Chieftain – Ian Sinclair
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This year’s helmsdale Games Flower Girl is
local girl six-year-old Grace MacConnach.
Grace lives in helmsdale and has two older
sisters, Nicole and Kirsty, who for a number of
years have competed in the highland Dancing
at helmsdale and many other highland
Games.
locally produced craft items
SIMPLY THE BEST TakE-awaY
GORDON
Julia Jappy DAVID
PLUMBING & HEATING
Tailor & Kiltmaker
Strath Ullie CraftS
&
ViSitor Centre
Your Games Day entertainment
10.00am - Confined Heavy and Piping Events commence.
11.00am - Confined Dancing commences.
11.45 – Massed Pipe Band and Chieftain’s Parade departs
from Bridge Hotel Car Park.
12.00noon – Official Opening of Games
ROYAL BURGH OF TAIN PIPE BAND
SUTHERLAND SCHOOLS PIPE BAND
SUTHERLAND CALEDONIAN PIPE BAND
––––––
FULL AFTERNOON PROGRAMME OF OPEN HEAVY,
TRACK AND FIELD, CYCLING EVENTS, HIGHLAND DANCING
 S.G.A. SCOTTISH HILL RACE 
CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT
Also incorporating
Helmsdale Post Office
15-17 dunrobin street, Helmsdale
enquiries@helmsdalecompany.com
www.helmsdalecompany.com
01431 821372
Rapsons Helmsdale
24 Hour recovery SpecialiStS
HAULAGE CONTRACTORS
All Car and Commercial Repairs
Mechanical and Bodywork
Wishing the Games Committee and
Competitors a successful day
Class 4,5,7 MOT Centre
Computer Diagnostics Car & Commercial
01431 821208
mail@emtrapson.co.uk
(Open, Confined and Ladies Sections)
Competitors must be over 17yrs of age
Junior Hill Race – commences 12.15
FLY CASTING COMPETITION
NOVELTY EVENTS AND CHILDRENS RACES
Side Shows • Trade Stands • Bubbles the Clown
• Free Face Painting • Craft Tent
DRINKS AND REFRESHMENTS ARE AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE DAY
LIVE MUSIC IN THE MARqUEE BAR FROM 5.00PM – 8.00PM
Admission Prices: Adults £6.00 Concessions £2.00
Cars
£2.00 Camper Vans £6.00
Games NIGHT
maRQUee
DaNCe
to
“ToRRIDoN”
Admission – £10.00
No under 16s - ID may be requested - R.O.A.R.
Raising
the games
standard
POdI Plass, who is
the year’s Standard
Bearer at the Helmsdale
Highland Games, went
to Helmsdale Primary
School and now attends
Golspie High School
where he leads a busy
life.
Podi has been
involved with several youth projects at
Timespan, has helped
organise the Youth
Club, and has been a
hill race marshall at the
Highland Games for the
past number of years.
Podi was selected to
attend a Rotary Youth
Leadership course
and three part Youth
Leaders’ course with the
Highland Council.
Podi has been on
the Scottish Rugby
Pathways squad and
is training hard for
the Scottish Athletics
Championship as a
400m hurdler.
The committee say
they are delighted
to have Podi as their
standard bearer for 2013
– and wish him future
success in his sporting
achievements.