Dingwall gathering to honour 'Fighting Mac' memory
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PEOPLE will gather in Dingwall today (Saturday) to remember and celebrate a famous Ross-shire soldier.
A memorial service is held on the first Saturday in March to honour Major General Sir Hector Macdonald at his commemorative tower on the town’s Mitchell Hill.
The service was instituted three years ago by the Clan Donald Society of the Highlands and Islands to keep alive the great man’s name and to help promote Dingwall.
The son of a Black Isle crofter, "Fighing Mac" as he was known, rose through the ranks from teenage soldier to become a much-decorated major general of the Victorian era.
He was regarded as an outstanding military strategist and some of his techinques are still taught at the British Army’s Sandhurst military academy today.
Alan Macdonald, chairman of the Clan Donald Society of the Highlands and Islands, said: "We are aiming to make the memorial service bigger and better this year and instead of a single piper we will have the Dingwall Royal British Legion Pipe Band as well as a contingent from Sir Hector’s old regiment, the Gordon Highlanders. It’s going to be an impressive march up the hill."
At the monument, a service of remembrance will be conducted by the Reverend James Munro, of Killearnan Parish Church, and wreaths will be laid by visiting dignitaries, local Highland councillors, the clan society and school pupils.
This year, however, there were doubts if lone piper Sean Mackenzie could take his usual place at the top of the 100ft tower to play a lament because the structure was damaged in January’s storms.
Alan Macdonald explained: "A chunk of the top of the tower was brought down in the recent storm and it has not been possible to get the flagpole up since. The Highland Council was very worried about health and safety."
But after inspection, the council gave the health and safety green light for the piper to play.
"Sean is going to climb the tower and play at the top," said Mr Macdonald. "It’s always a very poignant moment."
Mr Macdonald extended a welcome to all to attend the service, which will take place today at 11am at the Hector Macdonald tower in Mitchell Hill cemetery.
"The more people get to know about Hector the more will come to Dingwall to learn about this man, because his achievements are phenomenal," said Mr Macdonald.
"When the society took up Sir Hector’s cause in 2009 I carried out a survey in Dingwall High Street and I was amazed to find that very few people knew about the monument and who it commemorated - despite it towering over the town.
"Sir Hector is an asset and people should use him to encourage people to come to Dingwall and learn about the county town and its history."
