Lover of local Highland Games to be remembered at Stirling event
A Stirling-born lover of Highland dancing who died just hours before she could fulfil her final wish of attending Bridge of Allan Highland Games is to be remembered at this year's event.
Helen Currie's family had planned to take her to the 2024 Games - but she passed away that morning.
At this year's Games, however, they will see The Helen Currie Memorial Cup presented for Junior Overall Premier Winner in Highland Dancing.
Helen's daughter Kate Leeke told the Observer: 'My mother had strong ties to Stirling, and the new trophy is being awarded in her memory at this year's Bridge of Allan Highland Games.
'My mum was born in Stirling, married at St Mark's Church in the Raploch, and raised four children who were all educated locally.
'Although she later moved to Essex for work and lived there for over 40 years, her heart remained in Scotland. She was a frequent visitor back home, staying closely connected to family, friends, and heritage.
'In December 2023, we brought Mum to Scotland for Christmas. Sadly, during her visit she became very unwell and was admitted to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. She never recovered enough to return to England, but she told us she felt she had 'come home'.
'After time in hospital and a rehabilitation centre, she eventually moved into Oakeshott Care Home in Stirling.
'Mum had a deep love for Scottish culture. She adored the sound of the pipes and always looked forward to the Edinburgh Tattoo.
'When we were young, both my brother and I were Highland dancers – something she was immensely proud of.
'One of her final wishes was to attend the Bridge of Allan Highland Games to see the dancers and the pipe bands once again.
'We had planned to take her on Sunday August 4, 2024.
'Heartbreakingly, she passed away that very morning.'
Helen's family contacted the Games organisers and arranged for a new trophy to be presented in her memory - The Helen Currie Memorial Cup – to be awarded annually.
'They generously agreed,' said Kate, 'and my family will have the honour of presenting the cup this August, the anniversary of her passing.
'It's a tribute not only to our Mum but to her lifelong love of Scottish traditions and community.'
There are currently several Premier sections divided into the following ages: 10 yrs and Under; 12 years and Under; 14 years and Under; 6 years and Under; 17-19yrs; 20 years and Over.
Each of these sections have overall awards, but this new trophy will be won by the dancer with the most points across the youngest three sections, so 14 years; junior overall premier winner.
World champion curler Bruce Mouat has been announced as the chieftain of this year's Bridge of Allan Highland Games, which this year take place on Sunday August 3.
Events on the schedule include the heavyweights, athletics, cycling, wrestling, Highland Dancing and pipe bands events plus much more.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Scottish pool ace's home wrecked as US tornado forces family to flee
'My wife and kids were inside the house with me when it all happened. It was scary." Scottish pool star Jayson Shaw feared for his and his family's lives after a tornado ravaged his house. Glaswegian Shaw lives in Connecticut with his wife and two children but crazy storms, relentless rain and falling trees hammered his home so badly, he and the family were forced into an emergency evacuation. And they've been living in a hotel since as Shaw looks to salvage what's left of his family home. 'It's been a nightmare, I've never known anything like it,' admitted Shaw. 'This was a mini-tornado or a cyclone, it was literally the most insane rain and wind you could imagine. 'My wife and kids were inside the house with me when it all happened. It was scary. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. 'The floor filled up to a foot high of water in about 15 minute. I've had to get special machines in to get all the water out. 'Thankfully, I've got insurance to cover it but the house is such a mess.' A seven-time Mosconi Cup winner and current captain of the European team, 36-year-old Shaw admitted he was relieved to have been able to rescue some prized memorabilia. 'I was lucky I could get downstairs and get a few things but 95 per cent of the stuff in the house has just been wrecked,' he added.
The Herald Scotland
2 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Games budget of £150m is 'direct investment into city'
Here, he outlines the passion and purpose behind the games in our Q&A. Name: Phil Batty OBE What is your business called? Glasgow 2026 Where is it based? Glasgow, Scotland What does it do? Next year, the Commonwealth Games return to Glasgow and it's great to be back. Taking place from July 23 to August 2, the Games will feature 10 sports, six para sports, with over 3,000 athletes from 74 nations and territories set to compete. Led by Chair George Black CBE, an independent Board and Chief Executive Officer, and myself, Glasgow 2026 Limited is the Organising Company (OC) which will deliver the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow next summer. Agile, innovative and embracing a new delivery model, the OC is working in partnership with Commonwealth Sport and Commonwealth Games Scotland to stage the Games. The company, based in the city centre, will directly employ around 160 people and, at its heart, is a team of specialists with world-leading major event experience and sporting expertise, coupled with in-depth city knowledge. The OC will work with an ecosystem of experienced suppliers to deliver the Games safely and in record time. The OC is privately funded, securing its income through Commonwealth Sport, corporate sponsorship, broadcast rights, global partnerships and ticket sales. READ MORE: To whom does it sell? Building on the success of 2014, Glasgow 2026 is set to reimagine the Games you know and love – with a different, and altogether unique, 'Clyde-built' experience that embodies the city's vibrant spirit, ingenuity and passion. A new model that combines world-class sport with a future-focused, sustainable, accessible and inclusive vision, setting a new standard for major sporting events – flexible and forward-thinking, whilst deeply connected to the place and the people hosting. Glasgow 2026 will bring fans closer to the action – immersing athletes, spectators and locals in the city, the competition and the celebrations. Maximising economic and social benefits to create a new legacy for both Glasgow and the Commonwealth. There will be 500,000 tickets available, which will go on sale later this year. We will also start recruitment for more than 3,000 Games volunteers in September. As an OC our role is to create an electric atmosphere across four sports venues packed with athletes and spectators, of sporting fans and new Games audiences, to secure public support for the Games through inspiring engagement programmes, powered by the people who make Glasgow, and to showcase a city that is connected, energised and ready to gather the world. What is its turnover? The OC is privately funded, securing our income through Commonwealth Sport, corporate sponsorship, broadcast rights, global partnerships and ticket sales. Our budget for the delivery of the Games is projected to be £150 million which is direct investment into the city of Glasgow. How many employees? We currently employ 68 people in our city centre office on Bothwell Street. We will grow to nearly 200 employees and then will be joined by a workforce of thousands for Games time. Why did you take the plunge? We are building on the huge success of Glasgow's time hosting the Games in 2014. I was fortunate to be part of the organisation responsible for organising the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and when I heard the news that the Games were coming back to the UK, I just had to be part of it. Having seen first-hand the powerful role of sport in bringing communities together and strengthening international collaboration across the Commonwealth, I saw this as an incredible opportunity to get involved. Glasgow is world-leading the major events industry and I was excited to learn from all that experience and become part of an incredible moment for Scotland. What were you doing before? Following my time in Birmingham, I joined a pioneering drone light show company called SKYMAGIC. We staged spectacular aerial displays all over the world. My career has always been in major events, from the UK City of Culture project in Hull to being part of the Women of the World festivals movement. This is a hugely inspiring industry, where no two days are the same and nothing is impossible. What do you least enjoy? Major events only happen every few years, so in this role you have to be open-minded to adapting and turning your hand to a wide range of events. Each project is unique and there are different challenges to be tackled. I am lucky to be working on my second Commonwealth Games, which is allowing me to apply the learning from Birmingham to the project this time around. What are your ambitions for the firm? I am keen to create an Organising Company that is inclusive, prioritises sustainability and that also can work at incredible pace to deliver this large-scale event. My ambition is to do the city of Glasgow and the people of Scotland proud in staging a Commonwealth Games that everyone can be a part of. What single thing would most help? Major events can only be delivered in partnership. We are already working with incredible venues run by the SEC and Glasgow Life, we have incredible suppliers, but we will always need more partners. Whether that is to deliver the Games or to sponsor and support the project. What is the most valuable lesson you have learned? That nothing is impossible with the right people around you. Hire a team of individuals who challenge you to think differently, who are brave enough to solve the difficult tasks and who you enjoy working with. Work should interrupt play and play should interrupt work. We are part of major events because they are fun, they make us smile and we have a great time doing it. What was your best moment? Seeing Ozzy Osbourne perform in his hometown at the Closing Ceremony of Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games was a hugely inspirational moment. The sadness of hearing of his passing last week reminded me of the huge joy and passion he brought to thousands of people that night and the millions watching across the world. It is moments like this that live on in your memory, and events have the power to create those magical moments. What was your worst moment? For a show last January, I had to shut down an international airport runway in the early hours of the morning to create an aerial display with 1,750 drones. Being stood on the tarmac with planes moving around me, in the dead night, having to navigate global air traffic was terrifying. However, we had faith and worked with all our partners and minutes later we had the runway clear and a show in the air. How do you relax? I enjoy going to discover new places in a city, from the bars and restaurants to the galleries and parks. The world is full of hidden gems, and I enjoy the adventure of finding something new.
Rhyl Journal
4 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Jack Conan reveals video from Katie Taylor inspired Lions before second Test win
Taylor, an Olympic gold medal winner and current undisputed world super lightweight champion, sent the good luck message to Andy Farrell's squad in the build-up to Saturday's second Test at Melbourne Cricket Club. The 39-year-old's words on the ability to dig deep turned out to be prophetic as the Lions emerged 29-26 winners after fighting back from an 18-point deficit. 'The video was unbelievably poignant and powerful. It spoke about being prepared to win with skill, but also being ready to win by will,' said Ireland number eight Conan, who like Taylor hails from Bray in County Wicklow. History made 🦁#Lions2025 — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 26, 2025 'That was something that was massively summed up in the game because we were not at our best at all. 'It's huge because she comes from the town I'm from. I'm incredibly proud of where I come from and I know Katie is as well. 'She's gone on to achieve incredible feats in the boxing world. To be such a superstar, incredibly humble and driven is something that we leant on as well because we knew that Australia are a hugely proud nation and they showed it in spades. 'Everyone loved it, even the English and the Scottish boys and the Welsh boy – it resonated with everyone. It was unbelievably poignant, it was class. It really hit home for us.' It took a beautifully-taken try by Hugo Keenan with 51 seconds remaining to separate the rivals in one of the greatest Lions matches ever played. Remarkably, Keenan's touchdown was the first time they led in the match. Conan admits that victory tastes all the sweeter for having been taken to the wire as Australia raised their game to a whole new level a week after starting the series with a whimper in Brisbane. 'We were not at our best by any measure, but physically the lads dug in unbelievably well,' he said. Full time scenes in Melbourne 🥹🦁#Lions2025 — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 26, 2025 'It was disappointing how we played, but we played for 80 minutes. Hugo getting over the line in the last minute was just unbelievable. 'It wasn't my best game. A lot of us weren't at the races at all, but we stuck in there. You can't fault the effort. I thought the defensive sets we put in, just whacking people and just staying in there, was unbelievable. 'It's something that will go down in history. They won't be writing the history books about how s*** we were, but they'll say that we won and that's all that matters. 'Everyone's over the moon. To be part of a Lions winning series team is incredibly special. The celebrations in the changing room wouldn't have been the same if we'd won by 20.'
