Andy set to toast Peebles Highland Games

Saturday's celebration of everything Scottish will yet again take place at Hay Lodge Park.

And principal guest for the day of competition and fun will be a long-time supporter of the Games.

Mr Currie, who comes from Glasgow, has been a regular visitor to Peebles for decades.

Following his retirement from Strathclyde Regional Council in 1996, Andy became involved in coaching athletics, particularly focussing on working with adults with learning difficulties.

Many of the athletes Andy coached went on to represent Scotland in the Paralympics.

His involvement in coaching led to him becoming an international level athletics official, participating at the Edinburgh Commonwealth Games in 1996.

As well as athletics, Andy has officiated at many Highland Games heavy events over the past two decades, although he acknowledges that Peebles Highland Games has always been his favourite event.

He and his wife Janell presented the Peebles Highland Games with the Mark Hunter Memorial Cup for the Weight for Height discipline following Mark’s untimely death in 2014.

Andy’s wife, Janell, sadly passed away last November.

The Chieftain’s Parade will leave the Tontine Hotel for Hay Lodge Park at 10:45am with the Games scheduled to start at 11am.

Throughout the day at Hay Lodge Park, the Pipe Band, Heavy Events and Highland Dancing competitions will all take place.

There will also be the well-established Whisky and Scottish Gin tasting experience, Haggis Hurling, the Peeblesshire Primary Schools Picture Competition, various stalls, a beer tent, several children’s fairground rides andplenty more to keep the whole family entertained.

The presentation of prizes will take place around 4.30pm.

Over 1800 tickets are being distributed through the region's nine local primary schools for free child entry when accompanied by a paying adult.

Entry is £6 for adults and £4 for concessions with children under five going free.