Tartan designer and kilt-maker serenaded

Southern Lakes tartan designer Shona Johnstone is surrounded by members of the Queenstown and Southern Lakes Highland Pipe Band at her home in Wanaka yesterday. They are (from left) Keith Cameron, Duncan Mathers, Jenny Browne, Sheena Michie, Rodd Maxwell, Clifford Hiscokc, John Reid, Angus Buchanan and Ayaka Cameron.

The band was paying tribute to Shona Johnstone, who not only donated kilts to the band, but also designed the tartan they are made from.

Mrs Johnstone has a long history of weaving and working with textiles.

Her daughter, Hilary Johnstone, told the Otago Daily Times the Southern Lakes tartan began as something for family members but had grown into a small family business.

Yesterday was the first occasion on which the band had worn the new tartan and it played for Mrs Johnstone such well-known tunes as Flower of Scotland, Scotland the Brave and the Skye Boat Song.

Band member Roddy Maxwell said both the band and the tartan  would make their international  debut in Shanghai later this year when the band attended a Chinese music festival that would have a television audience of 50 million.