Kiltie Pleasures -

Cause We Can

Ages ago I remember liking the film Tunes of Glory, so when it popped up on my Amazon subscription I started to watch it thinking it would be as well made as I remember. The cast would have been stellar back in 1960 when it was made. There was Alec Guinness as Major Jock Sinclair, John Mills as Lieutenant Colonel Basil Barrow, Dennis Price as Major Charlie Scott, and Kay Walsh as a bit of a strumpet. All of them English and no Scots at all until John Fraser appears as the love interest for Susanna York, an English actress. Basically it was an English film about a Scots regiment. It couldn’t happen now. I’m afraid I couldn’t get to the end of the film or ‘fillum’ as the wonderful Duncan MacRae would say it. These days awareness of heritage is much more prevalent.  As evidenced when some 13,000 people strided, walked and ambled the streets of Glasgow in a fundraising event that is expected to raise more than £3.5 million for charities.

Tartan Army

This was the marvellous Glasgow Kiltwalk which began at Glasgow Green with three levels of perambulation to be had.  About 6,500 took part in a 23-mile walk, bet there were a few blisters there.  Then another 3,700 made the 15-mile “big stroll” and 2,800 did a six-mile “wee wander”. A local philanthropist has added 40 per cent to all funds raised by the walkers so the final total amounted to some £3.5 million.  Some 740 charities benefitted. Among those taking part was the mother of my hero Andy, Judy Murray the tennis pundit and coach, plus BBC Scotland’s Jackie Bird and Big Bob AKA Tom Urie. And if you didn’t get your chance to clap on the tartan in Glasgow there are more Kiltwalks taking place in Aberdeen, St Andrews to Dundee and Edinburgh in the coming months.

 Let Your Mouse Do the Walking

Well here at James Pirie we are partial to a bit of tartan and of course we sell the very best of Scottish products from Caithness Glass, Just Slate and Harris Tweed and Royal Scot Crystal. Artist Gillian Kyle has created some cracking stuff like this Mug Tartan Stag Mug. She’s fused large-scale pen and ink illustrations of a Scottish stag on abstract tartan backgrounds, creating a thoroughly modern Scottish gift.

https://www.jamespirie.com/tartan-stag-mug.html

Then more traditionally we have the lovely Royal Scot Crystal - Tartan Crystal Ice Bucket in hand cut crystal Ice bucket is a stylish addition to your Vintage Home Bar collection.

https://www.jamespirie.com/tartan-crystal-ice-bucket-gift-boxed.html