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CHIEFTAIN
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Assynt Highland Games Committee are delighted to announce that our Chieftain for 2025 is Annella Bulch!

​Annella was born on the 30th of March 1952 in The Pope Maternity Hospital, Helmsdale.

 

Annella and her brother, George, who was born in 1954, initially lived in the family-owned hotel in Inchnadamph. Then in 1955 Annella and George moved with their parents, Willie and Anna, to the recently vacated local schoolhouse.

 

Annella attended Assynt Primary School and then, at the age of 12, transferred to Dornoch Academy, staying in the Ross House Hostel along with another 42 girls from the north and west of the county. She was educated at the Academy for the next 5 years, not only academically, but on how to cope with life. She was homesick to begin with but her time there left her with a great affection for Dornoch.

 

After leaving higher education, Annella studied computer operating at Aberdeen College of Commerce. A computer in those days half-filled a room and was operated by programmes, accumulators, card readers and punch cards, a far cry from today’s laptops, ipads and smartphones. She says she is now a ‘techy dinosaur’ and that she had learned a lot more about Aberdeen’s social life than any significant computer knowledge!!

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After completing her 4-year computer course, Annella returned home to work in the family business for a couple of years before moving on to The Royal Hotel in Ullapool, for one season, and then to The Laichmoray Hotel in Elgin. In 1977 Annella left Elgin and returned to Inchnadamph, due to her being needed at home.

 

Her father Willie was the Games Chieftain in 1978. Her mother, Anna, sadly passed away in 1979.

 

Annella met Joe, her husband to be, when he came to the Inchnadamph Hotel on a fishing holiday. She moved to Newcastle-upon-Tyne, with Joe, and lived there for two years before they were married in May 1987.

 

After Joe retired from Northumbria Police, they moved north and lived in a static caravan, in Inchnadamph, while their new home was being built in Culkein Stoer. On the 12th of August 1990, while still living in the caravan, Annella went into labour. Her son Matthew was born the following day in Raigmore Hospital, Inverness (her life’s greatest achievement). A week later, Joe collected them from the hospital, and they moved into their new home. They weren’t totally organised and they only had one bowl which was used for their porridge, soup, pudding ………… and to hold the water to wash the baby’s bum!! They all survived!!

 

When Matthew was 3, Annella started working for the Highland Council, transferring school meals from the Lochinver Primary School canteen to Stoer Primary School, where she served them, and then washed up. She did that for 14 years, during which time Annella was also the school cleaner and driver of the school minibus. She also home-helped, conveyed meals on wheels and joined the Stoer Hall Committee, participating in many events held there.

 

Sadly, Joe passed away in 2005.

 

In 2007, after Matthew completed his schooling, Annella began driving for Rapson’s Coaches, Inverness. She has now been driving buses for 19 years and although she has cut down to 2 days a week, she says “I can’t quite give it up altogether …………. well, not yet anyway. Maybe when I’m old!!”

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Annella's passions in life are Country Music and photography, very often combining the two. She says she might give her cowboy boots an airing on Games Day, there may be sequins, and a Stetson is very likely. As for her photography - well - who is going to take the (unofficial) photos??

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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