Walk For Wallace Pix

[An t-Ileach]

I don't know why these came out so large,... and a bit blurry.

[Graham]

Thanks David, I really wanted to see piccies of the event, they give a bit of an idea of what it was like. Wish I could have been there.

[GMan]

Thank you David, they were wonderful pictures.

[An t-Ileach]

As you can see, they're mostly of the beginnings of the gathering outside the Houses of Parliament (you can just see the statue of Cromwell in one), and the tail end of it at Smithfield outside St Bartholomew's Hospital with David Ross giving his speech under the Wallace plaque, and Clann an Dromma doing what they do inimitably and best.

I didn't get any of the March itself, because by some fluke I ended up at the front, but by my estimate - looking back down the March - there must have been around 25,000 people.

I think if it had been more widely advertised it would have attracted a lot more people - many Scots I've come across down in the south east didn't know about it. I think that if one didn't read Ross's book, or doesn't subscribe to web-forums like Siol-nan-Gaidheal or The Blood Is Strong or the Clan Donald Society for example it was a bit difficult to find out about it.

[highlander_Daz]

The piper on the pic is Im sure a part of the "clan Wallace" band?? am I right?? if so they are really good

[Graham]

The band looks like Clann an Drumma to me, although the lineup seems to have changed, they had a couple of members leave.

why wasn't I there?

[Ranald]

David, thankyou for sharing these fine pictures.I was in fact the chap in the Red Robertson picture 23082005002.jpg.!!(You got my worst side!)
And i think it goes to show what a small world it really is, we must have passed each other. Also on the march with the coffin I was right behind it by about a couple of meters but as yet haven't seen any pictures to that effect.(I wasn't that drunk!)
To all those that couldn't be there the band Clann An Drumma was simple excellent and I highly recommend getting one of their cds.They played a tune called When the clans unite, very appropriate for the day.

[An t-Ileach]

The piper on the pic is Im sure a part of the "clan Wallace" band?? am I right?? if so they are really good

There're two pipers in my pix - there's the Clann an Dromma one, and the one in pic 001 (wearing Black Watch tartan kilt) who was one of two leading the March (is this the one you meant?). There actually were several pipers on the March - including one from Oregon, who entertained people in the pub in Smithfield Square.

[Hamish]

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I think if it had been more widely advertised it would have attracted a lot more people - many Scots I've come across down in the south east didn't know about it. .................................................. .................................................. ..................

Well, I certainly knew nothing of this event and, if I had, I would most certainly have been up there in London for it. London is only just over an hour away - I can easily get there. Does it happen every year, David?

Also, I have never heard, let alone seen, 'Clann an Drumma' before. What energy and what passion! Thank you for the links. I'll keep an eye (and an ear) open for them in future.

Take care,
Ham.
(PS: Can anyone advise me on how to save that wonderful video clip? I thought I had saved it but I can find no trace of it!! )

[An t-Ileach]

... Does it happen every year, David?...

Well it ought, at least until Scotland gets its Independence; but actually this might turn out to have abeen a "one off" as it was the 700 anniversary of the murder of Sir William Wallace of Elderslie, Custodian of Scotland, at the hands of Mad Edward, and David Ross hit on the idea of walking to London following the route taken by Wallace in captivity, and then from Parliament Square to Smithfield. I think that at least the last part should turn into an annual event.