Great Scottish Events | 1968 - 2023

Over fifty years of Fundraising – Running-Walking-Strolling & Toddling

How it all began

Founder & Organiser of Great Scottish Events

Terry during his twelve years’ service as a Royal Navy Physical Training Instructor Terry spent his time on various ships and shore bases. From destroyers to aircraft carriers his job was to encourage the crew to participate in sports and keep fit. He also spent some time at HMS Raleigh, the Royal Naval new entry base in Cornwall getting new recruits fit for service in the Royal Navy.

Terry also participated in the world famous Royal Navy Field Gun Competition at the Royal Tournament Earls Court London. Described as the toughest sport in the world .Terry had the honour of running twice for the Portsmouth Field Gun ‘A’ Crew.

Sadly 1999 was the last time the Royal Tournament was held due to defence cuts.
YouTube has many videos of this exciting competition.

Terry was attached to the 1st Frigate Squadron on board HMS Dido visiting South Africa when he decided to enter a ships team into the Cape Town Big Walk . Walking 22.50 miles from Simonstown to Cape Town that was November 1967.

Terry left the Royal Navy in 1968 and settled in Edinburgh. He approached the Edinburgh Evening News about sponsorship of a walk. The Edinburgh Evening News agreed and was main sponsor from the inaugural walk in Edinburgh in December 1968 until 1996.

The Great Scottish Walk & Run Festival

After the Edinburgh Evening News’ sponsorship of the event ended in 1997 (due to a takeover of The Scotsman Publications) Terry took his first year off from the Walk, but he was still busy making preparations for the re-launch of the event. The Walk, now called The Great Scottish Walk was launched by the Princess Royal in January 1999 at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Over the next few years, this event went from strength to strength and became what is now the annual Great Scottish Walk & Run Festival.

The Edinburgh Christmas Festival

In 2007 a second event was added, The Edinburgh Christmas Festival. This event has become a big part of the Edinburgh Christmas calendar with the very popular Santa Parade, Festival Marquee, Santa’s Grotto and the Edinburgh Christmas Runs.

The Great Scottish Tattie Run & The Great Perthshire Tattie Run

Over the past eight years, two novel events have been growing in popularity The Great Scottish Tattie Run & The Great Perthshire Tattie Run (Tattie is a Scottish word for potatoes). In 2019 over 1700 tattie runners took part in these events. See this website for full details for the 2024 Tattie Runs.

Fundraising

Over the lifetime of Great Scottish Events an estimated £15m pounds has been raised by the charities and good causes.