DOCSLIB.ORG

The Gathering 2009’

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Gathering 2009’ Item no 7.4 + + EDI N BVRG H THE CITY OF EDINBURGH COUNCIL Report no cq3I \lO-ll\ 9s Implications of Audit Scotland’s Report on ‘The Gathering 2009’ The City of Edinburgh Council 16 September 2010 Purpose of Report 1 To refer to the Council the attached report by the Chief Executive on Audit Scotland’s review report on ‘The Gathering 2009’. Main Report 2 On 31 August 201 0, the Policy and Strategy Committee considered the attached report by the Chief Executive detailing the implications for the Council of Audit Scotland’s review report on ‘The Gathering 2009’. 3 The Committee agreed to refer the report to the Council without recommendation. Recommendation 4 That the Council considers the attached report by the Chief Executive on the implications of Audit Scotland’s report on ‘The Gathering 2009’. AI astair Maclean Head of Legal and Administrative Services Appendix Report no PS/50/10-11/CE by the Chief Executive Contactltel Rhona Sinclair lit 529 4238; €3 [email protected] Wards affected All Background None Papers Item no EDIN BVRGH Report no THE CITY OF EDINBURGH COUNCIL Implications of Audit Scotland’s report on ‘The Gathering 2009’ Policy & Strategy Committee 31 August 2010 1 Purpose of report 1.I On the 23 June 2010 Audit Scotland published its review report on the Gathering ‘2009. On that date, the Council Leader requested that I provide within two cycles :- e a report on Audit Scotland’s review; e the implications for this Council of Audit Scotland’s recommendations; and 0 an explanation of why this Council agreed to settle one of The Gathering 2009 Ltd’s debts to a creditor. 2 Background 2.1 The Gathering 2009 Ltd has been the subject of considerable scrutiny, primarily by MSP’s in the Scottish Parliament. Initially this matter was raised in Parliamentary question and answer sessions and latterly in the Public Audit Committee where the Auditor General for Scotland’s report on the Gathering was considered on 23 June 2010. The report was commissioned by the Auditor General and undertaken by Audit Scotland following media coverage of the Gathering 2009 company’s financial situation and enquires from MSPs. 2.2 The full report is available at www.audit-scotland.gov.uk but for ease of reference i have attached a copy of the Summary and Recommendations as Appendix 1. 3 Audit Scotland’s Review 3.1 The key objectives of Audit Scotland’s review were to: 0 review the governance arrangements of the Gathering event; 0 evaluate the event’s financial management arrangements; and 1 0 review the basis of the decision to write off the public sector monies owed by the Gathering 2009 Ltd including both monies to fund the event and the services provided. 3.2 The report explains that the idea to establish 2009 as a year of celebration was originally initiated by the Scottish Executive in 2003 with a commitment to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns. The years celebration was branded as Homecoming Scotland 2009. 3.3 In February 2007 a private company, The Gathering 2009 Ltd was established to design, organise and develop what became a signature event in the Homecoming Scotland 2009 programme. On 13 March 2007 the Executive of the Council approved the recommendation of a mernber/officer working group, chaired by the then Council Leader (Councillor Anderson), in support for Homecoming Scotland 2009. 3.4 The Gathering 2009 Ltd immediately approached Events Scotland, Scottish Enterprise, Edinburgh and Lothians (now Scottish Enterprise) and the City of Edinburgh Council to seek funding support for the event. In June 2007 a business plan was submitted seeking a f300k grant split equally between the bodies and phased over two years. The first payment was made by Events Scotland in October 2007. 3.5 It is the Council's normal practice to work closely with partner agencies on major projects such as this. The collaborative approach is mutually beneficial; it secures efficiency through sharing due diligence responsibilities wherever possible and enables funders to reach agreement on what projects to support, the level of that support and the associated terms and conditions of support. 3.6 The three public sector funders formed a Steering Group to work alongside Homecomeing Scotland and the Company's Directors and this group first met in February 2008. The role of the Group was advisory only but it provided a forum through which funders were able to receive information on developments and to ask questions about the decisions which were being taken by the Company Directors. 3.7 This was an effective way of maintaining an oversight of the development of the event and enabled partners to offer advice and, where necessary, challenge the Company Directors. 3.8 In June 2008 the Company submitted a business plan for further funding from the Scottish Government towards improving the content of the event. An additional €1OOK was awarded by them to the Company at that time. 3.9 Part of the additional grant was awarded to support an education programme (f20K) and the Council, in support of that programme, applied to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for further funding, This bid was successful and the HLF awarded E10.5K. The Council forwarded the grant payment to the Company. This brought the total public sector funding to f410.5k. 3.10 In April 2009 the Company Directors reported to the Scottish Government that they were encountering cash flow problems. 2 3.1 1 These had arisen as a result of a number of unforeseen difficulties associated with contractual arrangements and with the impact of the recession on sponsorship and supplier credit. 3.1 2 In order to address this situation, the Scottish Government offered the company a short term interest free loan of f180K in June 2009 which was accepted. 3.13 At the same time the Steering Group was becoming increasingly concerned about the evolving financial circumstances of the Company. The Group increased its scrutiny of the financial projections provided by the Company and the frequency of meetings with the Company increased from monthly to weekly. 3.14 Additionally, to assist with the cash flow problem, the public sector funders in the Group agreed to adjust their payment schedules but they were not aware of the loan which had been agreed between the Company and the Scottish Government. 3.1 5 It is self evident that the Governance arrangements associated with this event were compromised to some extent by the absence of a major funder from membership of the Steering Group. Despite this, the Steering Group was able to influence the content of the event and did secure a greater focus on maximising income and keeping costs down. 3.1 6 At about the same time as the Scottish Government approved the loan to the Gathering 2009 Ltd, Events Scotland agreed to provide a further grant of f80K to assist with additional marketing. This reflected the public sector bodies’ concerns with the ticket sales position and brought the overall public sector grant support to f490.5k. 3.1 7 Despite the injection of additional funds for marketing the event, ticket sales remained much lower than had been anticipated and income generally was well short of even the most pessimistic projections. 3.1 8 It should be noted that the Company Directors considered that a loss would be acceptable in the first year of an event which was expected to be repeated and this was understood and accepted by the funders. However, it subsequently became apparent that the financial position of the company was untenable. 3.19 The event generated a much higher than expected economic impact for both Edinburgh and Scotland. The net additional expenditure of f8.8m in Edinburgh and €10.4m in Scotland represented a return on the public sector investment of 1:I8 at the Edinburgh level and 121 at the Scottish level. These figures are significantly better than for most comparable events. 3.20 The Scottish Government was keen to find ways of protecting the reputation of the event to enable it to be repeated, whilst at the same time to protect the interests of the many creditors. State Aid rules and the Companies Act precluded direct intervention by the Scottish Government and this triggered the discussions with the Council and others in October 2009 which are referred to in section four below. 3.21 After lengthy and detailed discussions between the Scottish Government and the Council and despite the recognition that we had common cause, a solution 3 could not be found. On 26 January 2010 the Scottish Government was informed that the Council was unable to take this matter further. The Company was placed in liquidation on the same day. 3.22 The list of creditors stands at f726k. This is made up of f382k owed to six public sector bodies and E 344k owed to 103 private sector organisations. The Council is owed f24k and a claim has been submitted to the liquidator for the amount. However, the debts of the company far exceed the value of any assets and the prospect of ordinary creditors being paid a dividend is remote. Consequently, the debt to the Council has been written off under the approved Scheme of Delegation. 4 Why this Council agreed to settle one of the Gathering 2009 Ltd’s debts 4.1 On 12 October 2009 The First Minister called a meeting with Council members and officers together with representatives of several public bodies to discuss the emerging financial difficulties facing The Gathering 2009 Ltd.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • THE PINNING STONES Culture and Community in Aberdeenshire
    THE PINNING STONES Culture and community in Aberdeenshire When traditional rubble stone masonry walls were originally constructed it was common practice to use a variety of small stones, called pinnings, to make the larger stones secure in the wall. This gave rubble walls distinctively varied appearances across the country depend- ing upon what local practices and materials were used. Historic Scotland, Repointing Rubble First published in 2014 by Aberdeenshire Council Woodhill House, Westburn Road, Aberdeen AB16 5GB Text ©2014 François Matarasso Images ©2014 Anne Murray and Ray Smith The moral rights of the creators have been asserted. ISBN 978-0-9929334-0-1 This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 UK: England & Wales. You are free to copy, distribute, or display the digital version on condition that: you attribute the work to the author; the work is not used for commercial purposes; and you do not alter, transform, or add to it. Designed by Niamh Mooney, Aberdeenshire Council Printed by McKenzie Print THE PINNING STONES Culture and community in Aberdeenshire An essay by François Matarasso With additional research by Fiona Jack woodblock prints by Anne Murray and photographs by Ray Smith Commissioned by Aberdeenshire Council With support from Creative Scotland 2014 Foreword 10 PART ONE 1 Hidden in plain view 15 2 Place and People 25 3 A cultural mosaic 49 A physical heritage 52 A living heritage 62 A renewed culture 72 A distinctive voice in contemporary culture 89 4 Culture and
    [Show full text]
  • The Scottish Government
    LETTER FROM SIR PETER HOUSDEN, PERMANENT SECRETARY, SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT TO THE CONVENER OF THE PUBLIC AUDIT COMMITTEE, 20 JANUARY 2011. INQUIRY INTO THE AUDITOR GENERAL FOR SCOTLAND REPORT – ‘THE GATHERING 2009’ Thank you for your letter of 7 December which, following the Committee’s 1 December meeting when it received oral evidence in relation to The Gathering 2009 from the First Minister and the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, requests: copies of all correspondence (including emails) which relate to The Gathering 2009 between the Scottish Government, The City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) and Destination Edinburgh Marketing Alliance (DEMA) between 12 October 2009 and 27 January 2010; and copies of internal Scottish Government communications which relate to The Gathering 2009 from between 12 October 2009 and 27 January 2010. With regard to the first part of your request, please find enclosed the following correspondence: Letter of 28 October from the First Minister to Cllr Jenny Dawe. Email of 30 October from Martin Hutchison of CEC to Scottish Government officials with a copy of a report on The Gathering’s education programme. Letter of 12 November from the Scottish Government’s Acting Director of Culture, External Affairs and Tourism to Jim Inch of CEC. Letter of 23 December from Cllr Jenny Dawe to Iain Smith MSP and copied to the First Minister. Email of 4 January from Jamie Sempill of The Gathering 2009 Ltd to the Scottish Government’s Deputy Director, Promotion of Scotland and Tourism Division. Email exchange of 8 January between Scottish Government officials, Jim Inch of CEC and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) regarding a PwC report.
    [Show full text]
  • The Pollag CLAN POLLOCK INTERNATIONAL May 2011
    The Pollag CLAN POLLOCK INTERNATIONAL May 2011 “A person who takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote THE POLLAG ancestors cannot expect to be remembered for his noble deeds by remote descendants.” Cinnedah Pollag -- A Pool of Information Pollock, Pollok, Pook, Polk, Polke, Paulk, Poalk, Poalke, Poulk, Poole, Pogue Officers Archie. D. (A.D) Pollock Words from the President... President P. O. Box 404 Greenville, Kentucky 42345 615-406-1182 We hope Spring has come to your part of the country by now BUT [email protected] not the bad storms many areas have been having. Harry Ben Stone, III We plan to host Clan Pollock tents at the Smokey Mountain Games Vice President 110 Westerly Rd. in Maryville, TN at Maryville College May 20 – 21. We will also be New Bern, NC 28560 at Glasgow, KY for the June 4 -5 Games at Barren River State Park. 252-638-8418 [email protected] We will be at Grandfather Mountain at the Games July 7 – 10. All the Stones do a great job as Clan Pollock hosts here. We send our Clara Ann Pollock Secretary best wishes to Merle Stone who had hip replacement surgery April P. O. Box 404 14th. We will hold a Clan Pollock meeting at the Games on the field Greenville, Kentucky 42345 615-406-1182 on Saturday, the 9th. The Stones have a location for us there for the [email protected] meetings. We will have a time for the meeting on Saturday – please check with the Stones or us when you get to the Games that Howard W.
    [Show full text]
  • Tasmanian Family History Society Inc
    Tasmanian Family History Society Inc. PO Box 191 Launceston Tasmania 7250 State Secretary: [email protected] Journal Editors: [email protected] Home Page: http://www.tasfhs.org Patron: Dr Alison Alexander Fellows: Dr Neil Chick, David Harris and Denise McNeice Executive: President Anita Swan (03) 6326 5778 Vice President Maurice Appleyard (03) 6248 4229 Vice President Peter Cocker (03) 6435 4103 State Secretary Muriel Bissett (03) 6344 4034 State Treasurer Betty Bissett (03) 6344 4034 Committee: Judy Cocker Jim Rouse Kerrie Blyth Brian Hortle Leo Prior John Gillham Libby Gillham Helen Stuart Judith Whish-Wilson By-laws Officer Denise McNeice (03) 6228 3564 Assistant By-laws Officer Maurice Appleyard (03) 6248 4229 Webmaster Robert Tanner (03) 6231 0794 Journal Editors Anita Swan (03) 6326 5778 Betty Bissett (03) 6344 4034 LWFHA Coordinator Judith Whish-Wilson (03) 6394 8456 Members’ Interests Compiler John Gillham (03) 6239 6529 Membership Registrar Muriel Bissett (03) 6344 4034 Publications Coordinator Denise McNeice (03) 6228 3564 Public Officer Denise McNeice (03) 6228 3564 State Sales Officer Betty Bissett (03) 6344 4034 Branches of the Society Burnie: PO Box 748 Burnie Tasmania 7320 [email protected] Devonport: PO Box 587 Devonport Tasmania 7310 [email protected] Hobart: PO Box 326 Rosny Park Tasmania 7018 [email protected] Huon: PO Box 117 Huonville Tasmania 7109 [email protected] Launceston: PO Box 1290 Launceston Tasmania 7250 [email protected] Volume 28 Number 2 September 2007 ISSN 0159 0677 Contents Annual General Meeting Report ............................................................................ 74 President’s Annual Report ..................................................................................... 76 Lilian Watson Family History Award 2006 ............................................................. 77 Book Review—Winner of LWFH Award................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Report 2010
    Annual Report 2010 Table of Contents 1 Chair’s Foreword 2 2 Fèis Facts 4 3 Key Services and Activities 5 4 Board of Directors 14 5 Staffing Report 15 6 Fèis Membership and Activities 17 7 Financial Statement 2009-10 28 Fèisean nan Gàidheal is a company limited by guarantee, registration number SC130071, registered with OSCR as a Scottish Charity, number SC002040, and gratefully acknowledges the support of its main funders Scottish Arts Council | The Highland Council | Bòrd na Gàidhlig | Highlands & Islands Enterprise Comhairle nan Eilean Siar | Argyll & Bute Council 1 Chair’s Foreword I am delighted to commend to you this year’s Annual Report From Fèisean nan Gàidheal. 2009-10 has been a challenging, and busy, year For the organisation with many highlights, notably the success oF the Fèisean themselves. In difficult economic times, Fèisean nan Gàidheal’s focus will remain on ensuring that support for the Fèisean remains at the heart of this organisation’s efforts. Gaelic drama also continued to flourish with drama Fèisean in schools, Meanbh-Chuileag’s perFormance tour of Gaelic schools and a successFul Gaelic Drama Summer School. In addition work was begun on radio drama in the Iomairtean Gàidhlig areas, continuing to make a valuable contribution to increasing the use oF Gaelic among young people. Fèisean nan Gàidheal continued to develop its use oF Gaelic language with Gaelic training to stafF, volunteers and tutors. Our service provides support to Fèisean to ensure that they produce printed and web materials bilingually, and seeks to help Fèisean ensure a greater Gaelic content in their activities.
    [Show full text]
  • UWS Academic Portal Scotland's Diaspora Strategy Leith
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Research Repository and Portal - University of the West of Scotland UWS Academic Portal Scotland's diaspora strategy Leith, Murray; Sim, Duncan Published in: Scottish Affairs DOI: 10.3366/scot.2016.0126 Published: 01/01/2016 Document Version Early version, also known as pre-print Link to publication on the UWS Academic Portal Citation for published version (APA): Leith, M., & Sim, D. (2016). Scotland's diaspora strategy: the view from the current American diaspora. Scottish Affairs, 25(2), 186-208. https://doi.org/10.3366/scot.2016.0126 General rights Copyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the UWS Academic Portal are retained by the authors and/or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. Take down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact [email protected] providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim. Download date: 17 Sep 2019 SCOTLAND’S DIASPORA STRATEGY: THE VIEW FROM THE CURRENT AMERICAN DIASPORA by: MURRAY STEWART LEITH and DUNCAN SIM Dr Leith is Senior Lecturer in Politics at the University of the West of Scotland Dr Sim is Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the University of the West of Scotland Corresponding author: Dr Duncan Sim, School of Media, Culture and Society, University of the West of Scotland, Paisley PA1 2BE Phone: 0141-848-3658 Fax: 0141-848-3891 Email: [email protected] Biographical Note: Dr Leith has researched extensively on aspects of Scottish politics, devolution and Scottish identity.
    [Show full text]
  • Heather Parker
    “In all gudly haste”: The Formation of Marriage in Scotland, c. 1350-1600 by Heather Parker A thesis presented to the University of Guelph In partial fulfilment of requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philsophy in History Guelph, Ontario, Canada © Heather Parker, March 2012 ABSTRACT “IN ALL GUDLY HASTE”: THE FORMATION OF MARRIAGE IN SCOTLAND, C. 1350-1600 Heather Parker Advisor: University of Guelph, 2012 Elizabeth Ewan This dissertation examines the formation of marriage in Scotland between the mid- fourteenth century and the late sixteenth century. In particular, it focuses on betrothals, marriage negotiations, ritual, and the place that these held in late medieval Scottish society. This study extends to the generation following the Reformation to examine the extent to which the Reformation influenced the marriage planning of wealthy Scots. It concludes that much of the social impact of the Reformation was not reflected in family life until at least a generation after reform. Scottish society and culture was influenced both by contemporary literature, which discussed the role of marriage formation, and by concurrent events involving high-profile marriages. These helped to define the context of marriage for society as a whole. This work relies heavily on the pre-nuptial contracts of lairds (the Scottish gentry) and nobles, which reflected certain aspects of their marriage patterns and strategies. The context and clauses of an extensive group of 272 Scottish marriage contracts from published and archival collections illuminate aspects of the formation of Scottish marriage, such as the land and money that changed hands, the extent to which brides and grooms were influenced by their kin, and the timelines for betrothals.
    [Show full text]
  • Journal of Irish and Scottish Studies After the Homecoming
    Journal of Irish and Scottish Studies Volume 5: Issue 2 After the Homecoming AHRC Centre for Irish and Scottish Studies, University of Aberdeen JOURNAL OF IRISH AND SCOTTISH STUDIES Volume 5, Issue 2 Spring 2012 After the Homecoming Published by the AHRC Centre for Irish and Scottish Studies at the University of Aberdeen in association with The universities of the The Irish-Scottish Academic Initiative ISSN 1753-2396 Printed and bound in Great Britain by CPI Antony Rowe, Chippenham and Eastbourne Journal of Irish and Scottish Studies General Editor: Cairns Craig Issue Editor: Michael Brown Editorial Advisory Board: Fran Brearton, Queen’s University, Belfast Eleanor Bell, University of Strathclyde Ewen Cameron, University of Edinburgh Sean Connolly, Queen’s University, Belfast Patrick Crotty, University of Aberdeen David Dickson, Trinity College, Dublin T. M. Devine, University of Edinburgh David Dumville, University of Aberdeen Aaron Kelly, University of Edinburgh Edna Longley, Queen’s University, Belfast Shane Alcobia-Murphy, University of Aberdeen Ian Campbell Ross, Trinity College, Dublin Graham Walker, Queen’s University, Belfast International Advisory Board: Don Akenson, Queen’s University, Kingston Tom Brooking, University of Otago Keith Dixon, Université Lumière Lyon 2 Marjorie Howes, Boston College H. Gustav Klaus, University of Rostock Peter Kuch, University of Otago Graeme Morton, University of Guelph Brad Patterson, Victoria University, Wellington Matthew Wickman, Brigham Young David Wilson, University of Toronto The Journal
    [Show full text]
  • The International Battleaxe 2010 V.2
    Clan Maclean International Association COUNCIL as at APRIL 2010 Chief Sir Lachlan Maclean of Duart and Morvern, Bt., CVO, DL Duart Castle, Isle of Mull, Argyl PA64 6AP Chieftains Robin Maclean of Ardgour, Salachan House, Ardgour, Fort William PH33 7AB The Very Rev. Allan Maclean of Dochgarroch, 5 North Charlotte St, Edinburgh EH2 4HR Sir Charles Maclean of Dunconnel Bt., Strachur House, Strachur, Argyll PA27 8BX Nicolas Maclean of Pennycross CMG, 30 Malwood Road, London SW12 8EN Richard Compton Maclean of Torloisk, Torloisk House, Isle of Mull, Argyll PA74 6NH President Ian MacLean, 72 Tidnish Cove Lane, RR #2, Amherst, Nova Scotia, B4H 3X9, Canada Vice President Peter MacLean, 59A Alness Street, Applecross, Western Australia 6153 Honorary Vice Presidents Donald H MacLean, 134 Whitelands Avenue, Chorleywood, Herts WD3 5RG Lt. Col. Donald MacLean, Maimhor, 2 Fullerton Drive, Seamill, Ayrshire KA23 9HT Scotland Presidents of Clan Maclean Associations Clan Maclean Association The Very Rev. Allan Maclean of Dochgarroch, 5 North Charlotte St, Edinburgh EH2 4HR Clan Maclean Association of London Nicolas Maclean of Pennycross CMG, 30 Malwood Road, London SW12 8EN Clan Gillean USA Robert S McLean, 1333 Pine Trail, Clayton, North Carolina, 27520-9345, USA Clan Maclean Association of California & Nevada Jeff MacLean, CMA California, PO Box 2191, Santa Rosa, CA 95405, USA Clan Maclean Association, Pacific NW, USA Jim McClean, 9275 SW Cutter Pl, Beaverton, OR 97008–7706, USA Clan Maclean Association, Atlantic (Canada) Murray MacLean, 2337 Route 106,
    [Show full text]
  • The Politics of Homecoming Scotland
    Political Intervention in a National Tourism Event: The Politics of Homecoming Scotland Professor Brian Hay School of Arts & Social Sciences Queen Margaret University Edinburgh, Scotland EH21 6UU [email protected] Professor Alison Morrison School of International Business Victoria University Melbourne, Victoria 3011 [email protected] Key Words: Events, Politics, Scotland Introduction The aim of this paper is to provide insight and analysis into the politics of a government tourism initiative within the geographic context of Scotland. It highlights the catalytic role of key government agencies in channelling investment, energies, events and marketing effort into a nationally focused tourism theme: Homecoming Scotland 2009 (HS09). The paper delves below the public relations veneer of many such activities to uncover the political debates and controversies that may have detracted from the successes of the initiative. Background The devolved Government for Scotland was formed in 1999, and is responsible for most of the day-to-day concerns of the people of Scotland, including tourism. In 2007, the Scottish National Party (SNP) was voted into power for the first time (without an overall majority), but in 2011 they were re-elected with an overall majority. One of the SNP’s early announcements was its support for a tourism destination marketing initiative called Homecoming Scotland 2009, an idea that was first formed under the previous Labour administration. Although HS09 was a Scottish Government initiative, its day-to-day management was devolved to EventScotland, the national events agency, working with VisitScotland, the national tourism agency. The main aim of HS09 was to encourage events designed to attract visitors of Scottish birth, descent or affinity to Scotland.
    [Show full text]
  • The History of the Mcalpine Clan Society
    The History of the McAlpine Clan Society 2000 Dearborn, Michigan, USA July Clan MacAlpine Society: Report On 1st AGM - July 2000 The 1st Annual General Meeting of the Clan MacAlpine Society is deemed a success! We did it! Our 1st Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held on July 21st and 22nd, 2000, and was pronounced a resounding success. We had approximately 60 MacAlpines in attendance as we shared food, drink, and, of course, the sound of bagpipes. Many discussions arose about the history of our Royal Clan and the endeavors of the Society to bring us together and to regain recognition for our Clan. This two-day event consisted of a golf tournament on the 21st and a picnic with barbecue on the 22nd. The golf tournament was held in Glencoe, Ontario, Canada, while the picnic was held at Maybury State Park in Northville, Michigan, USA. Eight hearty souls entered the golf tournament and Andrew Hugh McAlpine of Detroit was declared the winner. Timothy (McAlpine) Smith, Staff Writer for the Farmington Observer, interviewed some MacAlpines at the picnic and documented our event. He wrote an article about our gathering that appeared in several newspapers the following month (see below). A copy of the article has been forwarded to The Lyon Court so that they will be kept informed of our gathering activities. Among other festivities, a one-year subscription to Scottish Life Magazine was given to one lucky attendee. We would like to thank the folks at this fine publication for their support and sponsorship of our event. We would like to offer a special thank you to the co-hosts of this event, James A.
    [Show full text]
  • US October 04
    North American Edition the www.scottishbanner.com 33 Scottish Banner Years Strong - 1976-2009 A’ Bhratach Albannach Volume 33 Number 4 The world’s largest international Scottish newspaper October 2009 Lockerbie and Its Aftermath p. 14-15 Let There Be Light on Glasgow Cathedral p. 17 What’s So Good About Scottish Country Dancing? p. 26 Australia $3.30; North American $2.75; N.Z. $3.50; U.K. £1.50 Genealogy pg. 04 Scottish Recipes pg. 05 Dressing Like a Gentleman pg. 07 October is Scot Pourri pg. 10 Breast Cancer This Month in Scottish History pg. 19 Awareness Scots Events pg. 24 Month Page 2 ~ North American Edition-October 2009 THE SCOTTISH BANNER hall is currently serving as an emergency morgue. Volume 33, Number 4 Scottish Banner Says Last night’s crew and passengers from the PanAm Jumbo along with some local people lay dead. Shock at the release of Dumfries and Galloway police estimated more than 150 bodies lay in six acres. Lockerbie One writer told of his experience looking over a dyke, at the remains of the cabin of the Jumbo jet. Bomber... It lay broken on its side like a giant toy discarded Last month the by a spoiled child. release of Abdel Baset Yet this mindless fit of insanity had the bloody Mohamed Al Megrahi, hand of a mindless zealot behind it. the Lockerbie Bomber, by Scottish Justice Sheep Grazed Minister Kenny Mac- Walking past an old churchyard, sheep grazed on Askill sent shock the left of the field the reporter recalled looking twice at something motionless, possibly a dead, sheep with waves, not only a gash in its side.
    [Show full text]