Aboyne Highland Games

Captain L C Jackson MC
Louis Charles Jackson was born on 30 September 1922, in what was then British India, to a military family with strong Aboyne connections dating back to the middle of the nineteenth century, when his great grandfather, Colonel Sir David Davidson, the inventor of the telescopic rifle sight, settled at Alltdinnie. His grandfather, Lieutenant Colonel Charles Davidson, was a member of the Aboyne Games Committee and his father, Brigadier Cecil Jackson, was Vice Chairman. Brigadier Jackson was an expert on Highland Games and wrote the entry on the subject in the Encyclopedia Britannica.
During the Second World War, Louis served with the the 4th Hussars in North Africa, Cyprus, Italy and Austria. He liked Cyprus for its pleasant climate and pretty girls. Memories of the fierce fighting in Italy, where he was wounded, were less agreeable. He was awarded an immediate Military Cross while serving there, which his obituary in the Daily Telegraph described as ‘as good as any won in the war’. After completing his studies at Oxford University, he went out to India as an east india merchant. In 1951, he married Sylvia Kerr in Madras, who survives him, as do his daughter and two sons. In 1970, he retired from India and began a new career as a lecturer at the Aberdeen College of Commerce. Shortly thereafter, he succeeded his mother Jean as a Patron of the Games. Some readers will remember his article ‘Some Thoughts on the Garb of Old Gaul’ in the 1985 Games programme. He died at home on 10th October 2009.

Gordon Dinnie
It is with sadness that the Committee of Management of the Aboyne Games reports the passing of Gordon Dinnie of Gardenhall East Kilbride, Lanarkshire on 12th January 2010.

Capt. Colin Farquharson of Whitehouse
AHG were saddened to hear of the death of one of their patrons – A former Lord Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire; Capt. Colin Farquharson of Whitehouse – on the 13th March 2010. He was a popular figure at Aboyne through the years.

Walter Drysdale
Walter Drysdale, Methil, piping judge, died on 27 November 2009 aged 83. Walter was a highly respected piper, teacher and judge who gave more than 50 years of service to Aboyne Games. He will be remembered for his enthusiasm, his incisiveness, his ear for detail and his love of piping. Many famous pipers have Walter to thank for his encouragement and his freeness in passing on what he knew.

John Stewart
John Stewart, Aberdeen, piping judge, died on January 8th 2010 aged 75. He was born in Aviemore and one of his teachers was J P Grant of Rothiemurchus, a respected piobaireachd authority. John settled in Aberdeen where he was pipe major of the Police Pipe Band and where he taught many pupils, young and old, able and less able. John’s ready wit and his provision of soup and scones for his pupils surely made lessons more than just education in piping. His piping style was brisk and clean, and he was intolerant of sloppy playing.

Gordon Lindsay
Dr Gordon Lindsay who was a much loved GP in Aboyne for 32 years until 1982 died on 17 December 2009. Gordon was on the piping and dancing committee and was also field doctor. A quiet, respectful and calm man, Gordon would have gone about his duties in a methodical and ordered way. If any dancing mother had stepped out of line, Gordon would have shown little outwardly but a slight narrowing of the eyes and a direct stare would certainly be enough to restore order. His widow Mary seldom got to the Games because she had to stay at home to answer the telephone.

Marchioness of Aberdeen
“June, Marchioness of Aberdeen died on 22nd June 2009 at the age of ninety six having been a Patron of the games since 1975. She had been a regular attendee of the City of Aberdeen Highland Games (where she was Chieftain), the Braemar Gathering and at Aboyne. The latter gave her much enjoyment as it enabled her to meet the many visitors from far and wide who came to the House of Gordon tent. In the late 1990s increasing frailty put an end to her visits which was something she greatly regretted.
These many visits had been made in the company of her husband, David, the 4th Marquess of Aberdeen who died in 1974. The following year she travelled to America as guest of honour at Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina where the world’s largest highland games and clan gathering takes place. It is reported that she put in an attendance to each of the 120 clan tents during her visit.
Lady Aberdeen came to the North East of Scotland in 1945 and made her home at Haddo House near Old Meldrum. She and her husband founded the Haddo House Choral and Operatic Society using a Canadian Style community hall next to the house as it’s headquarters. Over the years numerous plays, operas, concerts and other artistic events have taken place there and has launched a number of successful careers and has brought much pleasure to many people both as performers and spectators. The Society continues today and this year celebrates it’s 65th birthday.
I was delighted and, indeed, honoured when the secretary of the committee for the games invited me to become a patron in succeeding her and thereby continuing a long and happy relationship between my family and the Aboyne Highland Games.”
-  Alexander, 7th Marquess of Aberdeen