From the famous marquee dance to celebrity guests and traditional events, Meldrum Sports has brought fun and games to the heart of Aberdeenshire for 93 years.
Meldrum Sports has run almost continuously since 1930 – thwarted only by the typhoid epidemic in 1964 and the Covid pandemic in 2020 and 2021.
Fondly known as the ‘sunshine sports’ due to the usually favourable weather, it was said a run of wet years began after someone washed the event banner.
But every June, come rain or shine, Oldmeldrum rings out with the stirring skirl of bagpipes and the beat of massed pipebands in the showfield.
Now in its tenth decade, the sports and Highland Games still commands crowds who love a good dose of nostalgia and tradition.
By day the marquee hosts bonnie babies and homebakes, by night it transforms into a lively disco with drinks and dancing.
And of course the games has had its fair share of famous faces to declare the event open each year.
Roy Walker, Jamie Theakston, Linda Lusardi, Keith Chegwin, Selina Scott and Diana Dors have all been guests of honour.
With the 93rd Meldrum Sports imminent, we open the archives on the sunshine sports of days gone by.
1978: Diana Dors arrived in style for Meldrum Sports
Blonde bombshell Diana Dors was the star attraction at Meldrum Sports in June 1978 as hoards of admirers queued up for her autograph.
Bringing the glamour to Grampian, Diana turned heads before she even arrived, when she was spotted driving through the countryside in an open-top Rolls Royce.
Wearing a blue and white floral dress, she her car then toured the arena before Diana addressed the crowd of 8000 spectators.
But there was another girl who also received lots of attention.
Two-month-old baby Michelle Dunbar from Inverurie won the under-six-months category in that year’s bonnie baby show – but slept through the whole contest.
1980: Rain didn’t stop Meldrum Sports’ 50th anniversary
The sun didn’t stick around for Meldrum Sports in 1980, and it was a rather drookit day all round for the games’ 50th anniversary.
In fact, it was one of the wettest weekends of that summer in the north-east with many events affected.
But Highland games competitors are a hardy bunch, and Meldrum Sports still went ahead.
The games were opened by Dr Maitland Mackie, then Lord Lieutenant of Aberdeen, who arrived in a small crop-spraying helicopter.
Marking Meldrum Sports’ milestone 50 years was a ‘nostalgia’ exhibition where visitors could compare prices of goods from 1930, alongside displays of vintage farm machinery.
The prize for that year’s furthest-travelled visitor went to a lady from New Zealand.
1985: Cheggers drew in the crowds
In 1985, popular TV personality Keith Chegwin drew the crowds to Meldrum to officially open the games.
It was Keith’s first Highland games experience, and delighted the adults and children alike with his gusto and infectious enthusiasm.
Speaking at the end of the games he said: “It’s been just great. This is the first sports I’ve been to in Scotland and I’ve had a lot of fun.”
Games secretary Robert Forsyth praised Keith’s “spontaneity”, and said the children were “thrilled to bits with Cheggers” who took time to speak to everyone.
Two Australian couples – Don and Lorna Walker, and Peter and Liz Blizzard – won the prize for the furthest travelled of 6000 visitors that year.
1988: A record-breaking athlete
The 1988 games marked the end of an era for heavy athlete Bill Anderson who retired from the games circuit.
The new top competitor that year was Geoff Capes, of Spalding in England, who swept the board in the heavy events.
In an incredible show of strength, he won all but the light and heavy hammer contests – and broke one of his own records.
Impressionist Allan Stewart did the honour of opening the games, while weel-kent broadcasting legend Robbie Shepherd was compere.
A star attraction on the day was the Golden Lions Freefall Parachute Team who dramatically dropped into the area.
1991: Rodd Hull and Emu make mischief
1991 was the year to pay tribute to the ‘behind-the-scenes stalwarts’ at Meldrum Sports.
Volunteers with an incredible combined 300 years’ service were honoured for their contributions over 40 years.
Meanwhile, heavy athlete Francis Brebner put on a record-breaking show and drew cheers from the crowd when he tossed a straight caber.
Revealing the secret to his strength, he said he ate “a dozen eggs a day” for protein.
And putting on a distracting show was comedian Rod Hull and Emu who arrived by horse and carriage to open the event.
The pesky emu was determined to find out what was under a Scotsman’s kilt.
Poor Gibbie McIntosh, secretary of the Lonach Gathering, had to put up with the flapping emu at his side for the duration of the games.
1993: Linda Lusardi wowed the crowds
Hundreds of people braved the torrential downpours to welcome actress and pin-up Linda Lusardi to open Meldrum Sports in 1993.
It was Linda’s first Highland games – an experience she said was “exciting” to be part of in real life.
Games regular and Peterhead heavyweight Francis Brebner made light work of lifting the TV star aloft for the camera.
Another big attraction on the day was the 74-strong HMS Sultan window ladder display team from Portsmouth.
Their daring acrobatics thrilled the crowd who enjoyed themselves, despite the drizzle.
- The 93rd Oldmeldrum Sports and Highland Games takes place on Saturday June 17 2023 at the Pleasure Park with the usual events, massed pipe bands, wrestling and races.
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