Scotland's Premier Highland Games
Sunday 18th August 2024
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2024 Chieftain announced as Ron Clark
An inspired choice! Excellent choice! Fantastic choice! These are the comments from members of the public about our new Chieftain for 2024 Ron Clark.
You can hear from Ron who said he was bowled over when he was asked and what an honour it was to be asked, to listen to Ron Click Here.
Ron, an award-winning piper, taught at Crieff High School for 22 years, latterly as deputy head, before retiring in 2004.
He said: “I was bowled over when I was asked to become chieftain. It is a great honour.”
Mr Clark was born in Strathdon, Aberdeenshire, before moving to Perthshire when he was a young boy, living near Aberfeldy. He attended school at Breadalbane Academy where he met his future wife, Maureen.
He was educated at Edinburgh University, Jordanhill College and Heriot Watt University and taught in Kirkcaldy, West Lothian, Aberdeenshire and his former school at Breadalbane before moving to Crieff in the 1980s. His association with Crieff Highland Gathering began in 1991 and he became its solo piping convenor. He was a director of the Gathering until 2006. Piping runs in his family – his father was a member of both Lonach Highlanders Pipe Band and Aberfeldy Pipe Band, and Ronald would later win the Pibroch at Lonach Gathering, Aboyne and Perth, before judging solo piping at various Highland Games for many years.
Wife Maureen, daughters Vicki, Rachel and Shona and his three grandchildren will support him on Games Day, August 18th.
The Chieftain is an honorary position given to a person considered worthy of this position. He is present throughout the day to meet with attendees and take part in the activities. In his role as chieftain, Ronald will follow in the footsteps of such luminaries as actor Ewan McGregor and the Lord Lieutenant of Perthshire, Stephen Leckie. In recent years up to 7,000 people from around the world have attended the Market Park event and organisers are hopeful that this figure could be matched or even exceeded in 2024. Competitors traditionally come from near and far to attend the games, and athletes and dancers mingle with musical performers and the general public.
Crieff Highland Gathering is Scotland's Premier Highland Games and events include Running, Youth Running, Cycling, Highland Dancing, Heavyweights, Light Field, and Tug o’ War. It also showcases several Piping Performances throughout the day, including the salute to the Chieftain and the customary Massed Pipe Bands finale. A unique aspect of the Crieff Highland Gathering is its Music Arena, where the annual and hugely successful Celtic-themed music festival takes place in tandem with the Games.
