When ukulele enthusiast Romany Buckwheat opened a brown paper parcel that came in the post, she wasn’t prepared for the contents. It was a 100-year-old, Hawaiian-made ukulele. Not only that, it had belonged to her late father, Ronald Wood Paine, and now Romany’s brother was passing it to his strumming sister to keep it in use. How did it feel, after all these years, when Romany held the heirloom ukulele in her hands? “I was very thrilled to hold this much travelled, much loved uke of Dad’s, with gorgeous memories of the songs he used to teach us - The Plughole Song, Mush Mush, Isa Lei Susi.” The ukulele was acquired in 1924 when Romany’s father was on his way from the UK to Fiji where, as a natural scientist, he was involved in work with moths. His ship went via Hawaii. It is possible that the passengers were gifted the ukuleles or simply that Romany’s father took a shine and bought the instrument as a fine thing to carry around for impromptu entertainment. Romany said: “He ...
What are the chances of getting Peter Moss into a kilt at the 2026 Festival? Well, Peter is a man of impeccable style, so the idea of him stepping out in full Highland dress isn’t entirely far‑fetched. With enough gentle persuasion from the festival team and a bit of crowd enthusiasm, we might just tempt him into swapping his usual stage look for something a little more… Scottish. Watch this space! The Scottish kilt has a long and fascinating history. It began with early Celtic woven cloth and evolved into the great kilt of the 1500s — a huge, versatile wrap that worked as clothing, cloak and blanket for life in the Highlands. Over time it developed into the tailored small kilt, the version we recognise today. What started as practical everyday wear gradually became a powerful symbol of Scottish identity. By the 1800s the kilt was firmly tied to clan tartans, Highland regiments and national pride. Today it’s worn for celebrations, ceremonies, festivals and cultural events all over the ...
Comments
Post a Comment