Prince Charles has praised the extraordinary work of a 99-year-old war hero who is celebrating seven decades at the helm of a historic north-east event.
Next month’s Ballater Highland Games will be the 70th presided over by Chieftain Alwyne Farquharson.
While he now lives in Norfolk, he makes the journey up to Aberdeenshire every summer for a series of engagements including the Braemar Gathering and his annual clan dinner.
To mark the occasion, the Duke of Rothesay has penned a heartfelt tribute to Captain Farquharson, which has been printed in the programme for the event on August 9.
Games secretary Ron Drever said: “Prince Charles has been to Ballater a couple of times in just the last four or five years.
“We invite him any time he would like to come.
“He knows Captain Farquharson in various ways, so I asked if he would like to say something about him for the programme and he was delighted to do so.
“It was a very nice thing that he wrote, so we are very pleased to have it and I hope he enjoys seeing it.”
Captain Farquharson was educated at Eton and Oxford and was commissioned into the Royal Scots Greys during the Second World War.
He was awarded the Military Cross for the part in played in the Normandy Landings.
A series of special tributes have been planned for this year’s games, which are held on the second Thursday of August in Monaltrie Park.
The games have gone ahead almost every year since 1864, with breaks only during the wars.
Mr Drever said: “Captain Farquharson has been Chieftain for all of my time and most of the committee’s time as well.
“He is an integral part of the Ballater Highland Games and he is an incredible person.
“He enjoys himself and we love having him here.
He added: “Captain Farquharson is now approaching his century, which is quite incredible, and he’s still making the trip up from Norfolk every year.”
