The sounds of France come to the Game Fair

TRADITIONAL musicians from Scotland and France formed an Auld Alliance yesterday to herald the start of the Scottish Game Fair at Scone Palace.

• Pipe Major Alastair Duthie gets into tune with the Trompes de la Cottencinire, the elite equipe of French sonneurs, at Scone Palace

Organisers of the event, which runs from today until Sunday, are hoping for another record attendance, after 36,000 people came through the gates last year.

Topping the bill are members of the visiting Trompes de la Cottencinire, the elite equipe of French sonneurs.

In full hunting kit, boots, dress coats and hats, the 12-strong horn-blowing equipe, which comprises champions from several different French hunting groups, met retired Pipe Major Alastair Duthie, pipe major of 1st Battalion The Black Watch from 2000 until 2006 for a musical exchange.

More than 400 stand-holders have set up for this year's event. Hugo Straker, chairman of the fair's organising committee, said: "We have an exciting line-up for our 2010 event.

We bill the fair as a great family day out,"