Pipe band helps bid farewell to popular Inverness shop Boarstone Tartans
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A FULL marching band helped mark the end of an era for an Inverness kilt shop in style.
Members from the Northern Constabulary Pipe Band organised a surprise visit to Boarstone Tartans in the Victorian Market as it closed its doors on Hogmanay after 45 years of business.
Shop owner Gordon Grant (64), who started the business with his father in 1974, is retiring.
“Over the last 20 years I have managed to take only three Saturdays off so I decided that I wouldn’t take it to the 46th year, it was time to retire,” he said.
“I will still keep myself busy with some part-time job but won’t rush into starting something else, I’ll take some time to rest and will finally go back to hobbies that I haven’t had time for in the past few years.”
He has supported the police pipe band since its creation in 2002, helping with kilt hiring and his experience in the industry.
Northern Constabulary Pipe Band former secretary Dave Conner said: “We are here because Gordon and Boarstone Tartans have been a great supporter of our band, even when nobody believed we would last.
“He gave us the incentive to keep going and belief that we could do it. He encouraged us, he supplied us and throughout those years we have come to become, hopefully, a half decent band.
“We couldn’t let Gordon’s last day in business pass without marking his contribution.
“We have always taken pride in our appearance, we are one of the smartest bands around at competitions, and this is thanks to Gordon.”
A crowd of locals and tourists stopped in front of the shop to watch and listen to the performance in front of a surprised and moved Mr Grant, who was also given a branded jacket from the pipe band.
“I really wasn’t expecting it,” Mr Grant added. “When I first heard the bagpipes approaching I thought it must have been someone starting off Hogmanay celebrations early.
“They always have been a good bunch of lads and I was keen to help them.”
The premises will be taken over by the heraldry shop Ancestral Name, which will relocate from its current premises in the Market Hall area of the Victorian Market – part of the site which is due to undergo a £1.5 million renovation which is set to start this year.
* Pictures taken by Callum Mackay.
