Celtic Jewellery New Zealand

Monty Python fans from all over the world are preparing to make a special pilgrimage to Doune Castle in September for the 35^th anniversary of cult comedy film, ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail’.

Fans of the spoof movie based of the legend of King Arthur have been visiting Doune Castle since it was filmed there; it’s estimated they account for around a third of the 25,000 annual visitors to the 14^th century stronghold.

On Sunday 12 September, Historic Scotland’s ‘First Farewell Monty Python Day’ will be the latest special event staged at Doune Castle for Python fans since the first in 2004. 

Events manager Nick Finnigan said: “For this year’s Python day, we’re returning to the less structured, more spontaneous format of our early events, and of course, loads of fun and games.   We’ve got some of the most popular comic sketches being recreated, prizes for the best costumes, a trail -  ‘Monty Python and the Holy Trail’ – highlighting the various filming locations of scenes from the film, a quiz with prizes, singing, and of course, lots of coconut shells!”

Coconut shells have been a fixture at Doune since the Holy Grail film became a cult hit.  Visitors use them to mimic horses’ hooves, just as King Arthur (Graham Chapman) and his faithful servant, Patsy (Terry Gilliam) did in the film’s opening scene.

In addition to Gilliam and Chapman, who died in 1989, five years after the Pythons made their last film, the other Pythons who starred in the film were Michael Palin, Eric Idle, John Cleese and Terry Jones.  Jones made a return to Doune – at least in voice – last year when he recorded the castle’s new audio guide.  The tape begins: “Welcome to Doune Castle. I’m Terry Jones, and in 1974 some friends and myself made a very silly film here called Monty Python and the Holy Grail.”

The Monty Python event on 12^th September takes place from 4pm to 7pm.  Tickets are in great demand so – with numbers restricted to 500 due to space limitations – fans who don’t want to miss the event need to secure their tickets without delay.

Priced £10 for adults, £8 for concessions and £6 for children –with a 10% discount for Historic Scotland members – tickets can be purchased from www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/shop.  For further details, call 0131 668 8885.

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August 10th, 2010

A hero bagpiper who played soldiers into battle during World War II has died. Bill Millin, 88, died after a short illness in a nursing home in Devon where he lived after suffering a stroke several years ago, his family said. Mr Millin was immortalised in the film The Longest Day.

see the full story here

incredible really. although my father was a Navy man he talked a lot about  the `Lovat Scouts` . and the famous piper, that maybe even encouraged me to play more and I am coming up my own 50 years playing the pipes.But I am glad i never had to face what he had to.

worth a trawl for those who have time to look up Lord lovat, and the wartime commando`s.

I took my tour group last year last year to Spean bridge to see the famous `Commando memorial where most of the training took place

http://www.tayfm.co.uk/Article.asp?id=1921713&spid=25211

St. Laurence O’Toole Pipe Band, 2010 World Champions!

Isn`t this fab. Celtic Connexions loaned a doublet type jacket to young Kinnon here

This very smart young man joined  others in kilts  his Dad and big brother, and the piper as well. The pic was by .
 
Within the photographers blog: (I like the one of the piper) !
http://www.jessicajones.co.nz/site/blog/
 
 
Thanks again for you cheerful, enthusiastic nature in helping us make this a memorable event where Kinnon was warm in his jacket!
sent in by his mum
 
Janine Broekhuizen

ok i had of fun last night `and early  this morning`sceaming aroon the Clan wallace site again and also led me onto facebook.

Check it out

http://www.clanwallace.org/index-2.html

see the facebook logo and sign up please

the see the links to clan wallace band

more to come there

here another story from Scottie newsletter i get frae hame.Whats exciting is I HAVE JUST planned next yeasr trip to scotland awesome. and we will stay in this broch for 2 nights under  the  midnight sun.

A Broch is an Iron Age drystone (no mortar or cement holding the stones together) tower with the outer stonework formed from two walls with space between to allow for a stairway, which also helps to tie the two walls together. Structures of this type are found only in Scotland. They include some of the most sophisticated examples of drystone architecture ever created.  So get in early This is a dream tour.Please ask for brochure

Pride and joy of the Distillery since 1997, Prince William’s Cask of Arran Malt (given as a present from his Grand-mother Her Majesty the Queen) was sadly involved in a tragic accident and left everyone at the Arran Distillery crushed…

http://www.youtube.com/user/arranwhisky?feature=mhw5#p/a/u/0/c_pC2REuZ9A

This is so sad, the drains were fu o paralytic, but happy,  wee beasties for weeks

This is always a hard time for me coz its `summer tyme` in Scotland and you want to be on the beach, well ok with the family.But its also Piping Live tyme in glasgow, an extravaganza of music and what a show they have lined up this year

http://www.pipinglive.co.uk/

I know a few people going. so what am i doing. yeha next year from 2011 Celtic Connexions Tours start. yeha last year was a big success so I have all planned next years trip and guess what , it will coincide with Piping live week

watxh this space

but have a look at that webby site above and even not if you are a piper or drummer.man its awesome

bob the celtic connexions boy

My good friend Beccy Dove is over in Scotland July 2010 and been here.to the people Centre.  I must add to my itinery next year.

Anyone wishing to explore the fascinating world of Scottish family history can access digitised sources – birth, marriage and death records, wills, census records and coats of arms – going back almost 500 years.

This link should take you there:

The team at Celtic Connexions

http://www.scotlandspeoplehub.gov.uk/index.html

happy hunting

Dont forget our plans are trips to Scotpand and Ireland next year 2011 and every year therafter, we hope