Parliamentary News Release
055/2004
27 September 2004
SCOTLAND 'S PEOPLE TAKE CENTRE STAGE ON SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT OPENING DAY
The Scottish Parliament today unveiled details of some of the people who will play a key role in the formal opening of the new building on Saturday October 9.
Presiding Officer George Reid said: “A tremendous amount of thought and planning has gone into the programme for the official opening and the scene is set for what will be a very special occasion in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen.
“There is no more fitting way to mark the beginning of this historic chapter in Scottish life than to take the occasion beyond the dignitaries and celebrate it with the people of Scotland . I am also delighted that the international outlook of the Scottish Parliament is being reflected in the fact that we will be welcoming guests from more than 25 parliaments and devolved institutions.
“People from all walks of life, from all eight Scottish regions, will contribute to and feature in the programme and we look forward to witnessing the vast array of talent on show.”
A key element of the Opening Ceremony programme will be the “Riding” down the Royal Mile to Holyrood. This event will feature schoolchildren, community groups and representatives of civic society from every constituency in Scotland who were nominated by their MSPs.
Among those who visited the Holyrood building yesterday for a sneak preview ahead of the Opening were eight-year-old Fiona Hollow from Edinburgh 's Bruntsfield Primary, winner of the Scottish Parliament postcard competition and banner maker Rachel Wademuir from Coupar Angus representing Scotland 's community groups.
Maxie Richards - founder of a Glasgow-based drug addiction charity who was nominated by her local MSP to walk in the Riding - was also on hand.
Three members of the Scottish Fiddle Orchestra - William Cook, Stewart McCreath and Paul Jordan who will provide entertainment in the Parliament's main public area, the Main Hall, on October 9, were also in attendance.
Entertainment before the Riding will begin at 9.15am and will continue until the Opening Ceremony begins at 12.15pm . Crowds will be entertained by a variety of performances from a wide range of Scottish musicians and actors.
Background
The Riding was first held in 1520 and was carried out for nearly 200 years, marking the centuries-old Scots tradition of Parliament and people working in public partnership. Unlike earlier ridings, the 2004 event will start at Parliament Hall and finish at the bottom of the Royal Mile at the new Holyrood building.
Sir Sean Connery will be part of the 1,000-strong Riding, along with bands from across Scotland , which forms just one strand of the programme of entertainment for the day. Full details of the opening ceremony and entertainment, which includes Nicola Benedetti and Eddi Reader, will be announced shortly.
A key component of the Riding will be the presence of members of the public invited by the Scottish Parliament after taking part in various local initiatives.
The following groups of people will participate in the celebrations before being invited to watch the Opening Ceremony from the Parliament's Committee Rooms and Main Hall.
Winner of the postcard competition – Fiona Hollow (8) from Edinburgh
The Scottish Parliament asked young people from across Scotland to take part in an exciting competition to design a postcard showing how people can get involved with the Scottish Parliament.
In addition to taking part in the Riding, the eight successful winners from the 2479 entries will see their postcards printed and used by the Scottish Parliament.
One winner for each of Scotland 's eight regions will be represented on the day.
Banner maker – Rachel Wademuir, from Coupar Angus
Two community groups from each region of Scotland have been selected to make banners which will feature prominently in the Riding. These banners display key words, phrases or images that express the work or issues of the group.
Rachel is involved with START (Strathmore Arts Festival) which covers Coupar Angus, Alyth, Blairgowrie and Meigle. The group were asked to make a banner representing people involved in rural arts. Around 20 people took part in making the banner. It will be walked down the Royal Mile by Rachel and others from the group as part of the Riding on the day of the Opening Ceremony.
The 10ft wide banners are made of a very light net material which will give the impression that the words and images are floating along the Royal Mile, adding to the colourful exhibition on the day.
Maxie Richards from Glasgow, and Shaheen Unis from Edinburgh
Each MSP has been asked to nominate one person to participate in the Riding from their constituency/region who they believe has made a contribution to the lives of other Scottish people either locally or nationally.
Maxie Richards, nominated by Annabel Goldie MSP, formed a Glasgow-based charity 18 years ago which aims to rehabilitate victims of drug abuse. She does this from her own home and has even opened a small residential facility for rehabilitated males.
Members from the Scottish Fiddle Orchestra.
William Cook, Stewart McCreath and Paul Jordan are among the 26 members of the Scottish Fiddle Orchestra who will be performing in the Main Hall of the Scottish Parliament throughout the afternoon of the Opening Ceremony.
The Scottish Fiddle Orchestra is one of Scotland 's foremost traditional music organisations. The Orchestra was formed in 1980, deriving its origins from Fiddlers' Rallies which were – and are – held throughout the country.
The aim was to have a group of approximately 150 keen and interested musicians who would play together consistently, provide a series of concerts in the main Scottish cities and work together to create the finest possible standard of orchestral fiddle playing without detracting from the strong traditional strains of Scottish music.
For further information, contact:
Sally Coyne: 0131 348 6269
email: sally.coyne@scottish.parliament.uk
For public information enquiries, contact: 0131 34 85000
For general enquiries, contact: 0845 278 1999 (local call rate)
Text phone: 0131 348 3415 RNID Typetalk calls welcome on 018001
email: sp.info@scottish.parliament.uk
Visit our website at: www.scottish.parliament.uk