On Tuesday 26th July Hands Up for Trad headed up to Skye to present Alasdair Fraser’s Skye Fiddle Camp with a Landmark Award for an amazing 30 years. Read about the amazing work of the Gaithering here. We broadcast the presentation live and you can watch a video of the presentation here. Below is my speech.

30 years ago Alasdair Fraser had a casual blether with Gaelic singer Christine Primrose who suggested it might be a good idea to start a gathering of fiddlers in Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. There were other fiddle schools in Scotland at the time however Alasdair felt this would be a beautiful place to be. I think he was proved right! Musicians love this fiddle camp. Sabhal Mòr Ostaig gives amazing support. It sells out immediately and so many fiddlers have graduated from its ranks some who are teaching this week.

This fiddle camp doesn’t sell out though because of the location. It sells out because of Alasdair Fraser’s wonderful vision and teaching. He is a true Scottish hero! I read the other day that Alasdair actually left Scotland in 1981 to become a petrophysicist but luckily for us he worked out he was in the wrong job! He has done so much. He has toured so much! He is a true Scottish music missionary and much of Scotland’s musical success is down to him. Nowadays the Skye Fiddle Camp is part of many worldwide gatherings run by Alasdair and it feels great to be a part of it all.

So I am here tonight representing Hands Up for Trad and celebrating the Skye Fiddle Camp’s 30th birthday by presenting the team with our Landmark Award for services delivered to Scotland. Congratulations Alasdair and Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and here’s to the next 30 years.

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