US man 'thrilled' as mystery of 181-year-old Scottish brooch solved

An American man has told of his delight after a Highland Games expert in Scotland helped to solve the mystery of his 181-year-old family heirloom.

Bruce Cameron Williams, 77, was gifted the silver plaid brooch by a distant relative during a visit to Inverness in 1983.

The front of the brooch is engraved with thistles, the initials D.C.H.F.S., and the date 1845, while the other side has the words "to Jas. McPherson" and "for Pibrochs", with pibroch being music played on the bagpipes.

The relative told Mr Williams, who lives in New York state and also plays the bagpipes, she was happy to pass it on to him to keep it in the family and in the hands of a piper.

Mr Williams has displayed the brooch for more than four decades and was able to solve the mystery behind the initials after contacting the Royal Scottish Highland Games Association (RSHGA).

The association's Alasdair MacDonald quickly identified and confirmed the initials stood for awarding body Dunkeld Caledonian Highland Friendly Society.

An association spokesperson said: "Alasdair was also able to point to a press article from the Perthshire Advertiser of 10 July 1845 which reported that at the meeting of that society, a 'handsome silver brooch' was presented for 'Pibroch to J. McPherson, Fonab'.

"In a twist to the tale, it was also reported that he was judged to be the 'best attired Highlander' and awarded 'a silver-mounted snuff mull'."

A snuff mull is a container used to hold the powdered tobacco.

Further research revealed Jas McPherson was one of the pipers to Lord Glenlyon of Blair Atholl.

Mr Williams said: "I have displayed the silver Pibroch prize brooch for over 40 years, always wondering what the initials were trying to tell me.

"I wrote to everyone I could think of for information, and in later years Googled again and again, but was never successful.

"Then one recent day, I located online the Royal Scottish Highland Games Association, sent an email requesting help, and in less than 24 hours had the most remarkable response from one of their members, Alasdair MacDonald."

Mr Williams said he had been convinced the brooch must have been a prize awarded at a Highland Games as it was clearly not regimental, and said he is "thrilled" to finally know its origins.

He added: "I have always treasured this brooch because of what it is, and the way it was given to me from the most distant of Inverness relatives on that exceedingly moving Remembrance Day Sunday along the banks of the River Ness.

"Now, over 40 years later, I am enjoying it all the more thanks to the helpful people at the Royal Scottish Highland Games Association, and in particular to their scholarly, professional and friendly expert, Alasdair MacDonald.

"To say that I am grateful is inadequate: I am thrilled with the information, and overwhelmed by the responsiveness of Mr MacDonald and the RSHGA."

Mr MacDonald said he was happy to help identify the brooch's inscription.

"As soon as I saw it, within a minute I had the results because I knew what it stood for," he said.

"I've got the history of 1,616 different Highland Games so anybody who wants to know the history of Highland Games, I can spit it out instantly because I've got all the history."

Iain Watt, director of RSHGA, added: "It's nice to be able to help people out with these queries which reach back to another time - times change but the Highland Games carry on."

(c) Sky News 2026: US man 'thrilled' as mystery of 181-year-old Scottish brooch solved