Hi,

I am a 73 year old senior citizen. I play the pipes, I wear a cilt (Welsh). I was born an Englishman (Liverpool), have a Welsh name (Jenkins) For years I wore the Johnstone tartan with permission of The Earl Of Allendale. My kilt took me to visit over 100 war graves locations until at last it brought me 'home' to Wales. There I played at the graves of the Canadians who lay at rest in Bodelwyddan but tha;s another story .....
I suppose my claim to fame must have been in Kathmandu, Nepal in 2004. There I was an Englishman with a Welsh name wearing a Kilt. I actually overstepped the last step in an Irish pub and must admit that only a 'Scouse' would get away with that.
Now before any come charging over Hadrians Wall full of battle let us see why I wear my kily (cilt). I wear it becuase I chose it and not becuase my father happened to be in in the right bed at the wrong time. I wear it with pride and few will cross my path with impunity. That is the facts - now for the history. The cilt (kilt) was worn by the ancient Greeks. The tartans were used thousands of years ago to depict Turkish family ties and the pipes were brought here by the Romans.
So if you see me in any part of the world - just leave me be and the fact that I now wear my own (Jenkins) tartan bears no disrespect to the Johnson tartan I wore worldwide.
Bill Jenkins
Liiverpool