CHIEFTAIN
Assynt Highland Games Committee are delighted
to announce that our Chieftain for 2026 is
David MacAskill
David was born on the 8th May 1967 and has lived in Lochinver all his life.
In his early years he attended Lochinver Primary School then in 1979 he transferred to Ullapool High School; this being the first year that pupils from Lochinver could attend Ullapool High, travelling there and back every day by bus. This was made possible through the efforts of David's father, Donnie, along with some other parents. They didn't want their children having to stay away all week, at Golspie, and only be able to come home for the weekends, which had been the normal up until then.
After leaving high school, in 1983, David went straight to work for Graham Anderson at the local garage where he furthered his already extensive knowledge of all things mechanical, while working on a wide range of machinery, vehicles and boats.
On turning 16, he joined the local volunteer coastguard team and, a couple of years later, he joined the volunteer fire brigade. Then in 1989 he decided to leave the coastguard and joined the volunteer lifeboat crew.
In March of 1995 he married local girl, Rhona Aird, and they have two grown up sons who both still live in the village. The younger, Lachlan, has followed in his father’s footsteps, being a mechanic by trade and a volunteer on the lifeboat.
David continued working at the garage and in his volunteer roles until January of 2000 when he was given the full-time position of mechanic on the lifeboat.
Then when the full time Coxswain, Neil Gudgeon, retired in 2004, he took over that position where he remains today.
Since becoming full time Coxswain, he has been acknowledged with two long service medals but his proudest moment was in 2016 when the lifeboat crew were awarded the Bronze Medal of the RNLI in recognition of the rescue of the vessel Norholm, a fish farm fish carrier, which had broken down in horrendous weather off Cape Wrath.
In December 2023 he was appointed as Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Sutherland, following predecessor David Grant's retirement from the role.
Outside of work, he has a keen interest in Clay Pigeon Shooting and is currently vice president of the local shooting club.
He also likes to collect “scrap”, this being his wife Rhona's description for the latest tractor, land rover or trailer he arrives home with…...... to do up!
He has a love of vintage cars and motorbikes, twice entering an AJS motorbike at the Dunrobin Vintage Rally in Golspie during his teenage years.
Games week is a very busy week, here in Lochinver, and David is a key helper in the preparation of the Games Field, always being one of the first to arrive with his land rover and large trailer ready to help the committee with the set up the park and the moving of the heavy equipment , this being very much appreciated.
(His wife Rhona's steady supply of fresh baking, for the committee and volunteers, is also much appreciated!)
David is someone the local community can depend on in a crisis or when in need of help as he can turn his hand to almost anything, no matter what the situation is.
A very well deserving Chieftain for 2026.
What remains to be seen is will he invest in a kilt for the day or will he have a tailor- made tartan boilersuit!?
Traditionally Highland Games involved clan gatherings where competitors arrived in Highland dress carrying gun, sword, pistol and dirk before proceeding to compete at feats of strength and weaponry, but following the Battle of Culloden, anything relating to Highland culture was prohibited along with the carrying of arms, the playing of bagpipes and wearing of the kilt.
By the mid 19th century the Highland Games were re-established and continue to celebrate Scottish and Gaelic culture. Annual summer games are held as far afield as North America, New Zealand and Australia.
Given the abundance of water - sea, river and loch - it is perhaps no wonder that Fly Casting is featured in the Assynt Games. Our Games are also unique in having their Chieftain brought ashore in a designated barge, complete with official piper.
The Pipe Band then welcomes the Chieftain at Culag Pier where he or she is presented with Cromag or Shepherd's Crook before being led by the pipers onto the Games field.
For many visitors this is one of the most memorable moments of the Games Day - a fitting start to what continues to be an enjoyable event for all concerned.
A new Chieftain is chosen to serve the Games each year. The Chieftain is generally a highly respected member of the community who has made an exemplary contribution to Assynt.
It is no wonder being selected as Assynt Highland Games Chieftain is deemed such a great honour.
1958 B Simpson
1959 F Burden MP
1960 C C McLaren
1961 R A Vestey
1962 H W MacKay
1963 J M Milne
1964 F Wayne
1965 John Macintyre
1966 Frank Ross
1967 George Mackenzie
1968 Sir M Turner
1969 Brig. L C Madleberg CBE
1970 R M White
1971 E H Vestey
1972 George C MacKay
1973 Duncan Sutherland
1975 R J Macleod
1976 J M Crichton
1977 Alister Mackenzie
LIST OF PREVIOUS CHIEFTAINS
1978 W Morrison
1979 W Moffat
1983 N A MacAskill OBE
1984 Wilma MacKay
1985 J F Mackenzie
1986 Roderick Macleod
1987 Keith Roberts
1988 Olive Macleod MBE
1989 David MacBain
1990 Dr S A Nairn
1991 Simon Macleod
1992 H Matheson
1993 Seordag Murray
1995 David Grant MBE
1996 Flossie MacPhail
1997 Ian Smith
1998 Bryan Rowe MBE
1999 Jim Payne
2000 Ian W Macleod
2001 Ian Macleod
2002 Andrew Mackay
2003 Ishbel Macauley
2004 Kenny Mackenzie
2005 Sandy Johnston
2006 William Macleod
2007 Bertie Buchannan
2008 Alex Dickson
2009 Nick Gorton
2010 Neil Gudgeon
2011 Madeline MacPhail
2012 Katherine & Graham Anderson
2013 Aileen Macleod Hall
2014 Roddie Kerr
2015 Ronald Fleming
2016 Jessie Ross
2017 Bill (William Maclean) Smith
2018 Dr John & Mrs Grace Vine
2019 Duncan Hutchison
2020 Cancelled (CV-19)
2021 Cancelled (CV-19)
2022 Jess Thomas
2023 Dr David Slator
2024 Anne Macleod
2025 Annella Bulch