Our ChiEftain

In 2021 the role of Games Chieftain was handed over to Alwyne Farquharson's great nephew Philip Farquharson 17th of Invercauld. To mark the changeover from Alwyne after 73 years as Chieftain, the Games pipers played at the Memorial Stone at Monaltrie Park in 2021.

Philip was born and educated in London, eldest son of James Compton and Rebecca Wigan, with five younger siblings and half-siblings. In 2007 he married Lilibeth, his Venezuelan wife, and they have two daughters, Heather and Iona. Throughout University years Philip travelled extensively, and lived and worked in both Yemen and Venezuela, learning their respective languages and continuing his hobby of amateur ornithology. In his free time he also enjoys painting, particularly Scottish landscapes but also scenes from countries he has travelled around. 

For the last six years Philip has moved away from his career as an archivist and into local governance, where he works as a Parish Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer for a Council in Milton Keynes, a new town in the south of England. He has gradually taken on the roles of Chieftain of the Ballater Highland Games, Vice-patron of the Braemar Royal Highland Gathering, laird and trustee of Invercauld and Chief of the Clan Farquharson, positions he values greatly.  

Our Former Chieftain

At the grand old age of 102 our former Chieftain Captain Alwyne A. C. Farquharson M.C. of Invercauld. Captain and Madam Farquharson died in October 2021.

Until recently Captain Alwyne as the Chieftain of the Ballater Highland Games personally attended the Games and took a deep interest in the success of this important event in the Royal Deeside calendar.

His appointment was duly confirmed at a Public Meeting of the Games held on 24th November 1948.

Captain Farquharson was the 16th Chief of the Clan Farquharson and can trace his lineage back to Farquhar, 4th Son of Alexander Ciar (Shaw) Mackintosh of Rothiemurcus (1411 – 1492), his Aberdeenshire descendants calling themselves Farquharson.

The Clan Farquharson Society maintains a strong connection with our Games where they welcome Clan members from all over the world.

Further information on the Clan Farquharson website is available from their webpage.