Hillbillies to Clans to the Knights of Cowal: Dunoon’s Homecoming Parade

This was a community Homecoming Parade that celebrated its past, its present and looked forward to its future. It was colourful, it was fun, it showcased a diversity of groups and organisations, it embraced all ages from two upwards, and it was different from those of past years when competing bands had marched through the town to the stadium.

First came the Argyll Hillbillies on their motorbikes, two of them with Homecoming Scotland flags sailing in the breeze (pictured above). The Cowal Pipe Band blasted off next, kilts swinging and drumsticks jauntily whirling between beats of the drums.

Then there was a sea of azure blue as the Argyll Majorettes (above) twirled into view, the fifty lively, smiling girls from age four to seventeen delighting the crowds of watchers.

Rainbows of international colour were provided by the flags of the nations (right) with bands taking part in the Gathering – Scotland, England, Northern Ireland, Australia, Canada, America, New Zealand, South Africa, Holland, Belgium and Germany, with representatives from Cowal’s main clans following behind. Na Fir Dileas, The Loyal Men (pictured above left), a cultural, historical and heritage awareness group, added further colour with their outfits and outsize flags as they strode in the Parade towards Dunoon Stadium.

The armour of the Knights of Cowal glistened in the sun (pictured top), reflecting the red coats of the Redcoat soldiers of Verias Vincit (above), a re-enactment group that had performed in Argyll Gardens along with the Cowal Pipe Band (an event organised by Dunoon & Cowal Events Association) prior to the Parade.

And everybody watched, sometimes reflectively, taking in the delight of Dunoon en fete.