Photograph re-created as youngster who opened Culloden Visitor Centre 15 years ago returns as staff member
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A youngster who helped officially open the Culloden Visitor Centre as a schoolboy 15 years ago has returned to the site – as a member of staff.
Philip Nicol (21) has joined the visitor services team at Culloden, cared for by the National Trust for Scotland, where his forebears fought centuries ago.
As a six-year-old, Philip made history in 2008 when he cut the ribbon to declare open the Trust's new visitor centre, along with Scott Hay, aged 11 at the time.
To mark Philip's return, a photograph taken at the time has been recreated.
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Philip, of Inverness, and Scott, of Kincraig, are both descendants of soldiers who took up arms at the Battle of Culloden.
They were chosen to perform the opening ceremony after a family tree tracing competition.
Two years later, Philip and his parents, Trevor and Caroline, were invited to meet the Queen when she officially opened the visitor centre – the first reigning monarch to visit the site since the battle more than 263 years previously.
Philip is again playing a big role at the historic site outside Inverness, by welcoming and engaging with thousands of visitors who come to see where Bonnie Prince Charlie's Jacobite dream ended with the bloody battle in 1746.
To mark him becoming the latest team member with the conservation charity at Culloden, his colleagues recreated a photograph which was taken at the 2008 visitor building opening.
He was joined by Scott (26) for the fun mock-up.
Philip is pictured holding the very same targe that featured in the original photo, but this time Scott's weapon is replaced by his treasured family bagpipes.
Scott appeared on the BBC Antiques Roadshow in June 2022 talking about his great grandfather's pipes which were used on the battlefield in WW1, and which Scott still plays.
Philip recalled performing the opening ceremony back in April 2008, when he was a primary school pupil.
"My memory of the day has faded a bit now, but I remember lots of people making a fuss over me," he said.
"I had memorised the story of my ancestors at Culloden by the end of the day as I had done so many interviews!
"It felt like there were cameras everywhere me and Scott went. All the big media outlets in the area and
across the country were there and it's only recently I've been able to reminisce and appreciate how big a deal it was. "It's really cool looking back at the photos now that I'm working here."
Gail Cleaver, the National Trust for Scotland’s operations manager at Culloden, said: "We had great fun recreating the photograph of that very important day for Culloden and the key role that both Philip and Scott played in it.
"It's fantastic that they are still so engaged and passionate about their history.
"We are now delighted to have Philip as part of the team and are sure he will be a big asset in helping us to share the history and stories of Culloden, all for the love of Scotland."
Culloden Battlefield and its war graves have been in the stewardship of the National Trust for Scotland for more than 80 years.
The clash saw Jacobites under Prince Charles Edward Stewart defeated by government troops led by the Duke of Cumberland on 16th April 1746, the last hand to hand battle on British soil.
