AK Bell hosts St Andrew’s Day celebrations

Nov 27 2009 by Johnathon Menzies, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

A TOP Scottish Government minister has thrown his weight behind Perth Burns Club’s St Andrew’s Day celebrations, which are to be held tomorrow (Saturday).

Culture minister Mike Russell MSP will head to the Soutar Theatre in Perth’s AK Bell Library and introduce a series of notable writers, with each giving a lecture on a variety of subjects associated with Scottish culture.

Speaking before his opening address, which will begin at 1pm, Mr Russell said: “St Andrew’s Day is a day to celebrate all that is great about Scotland – our culture, heritage, innovations and our people.

“This year’s celebrations will be the biggest and best yet, filled with more activity across the country than ever before.

“I am delighted to be speaking at the Perth Burns Club’s celebrations and I hope that everyone will get involved to celebrate our national day,” he said.

Perth Burns Club secretary, Donald Paton, said: “St Andrew’s Day has been a major day of celebration on the calendar of the ex-patriot Scot but – to a large extent – Scotland itself has not made a similar show in celebrating its patron saint.

“There have been occasional cries for a public holiday on November 30 but, in truth, St Andrew’s Day has never achieved national importance on the same level as the January celebrations of Robert Burns.

“Over the past six years, on the Saturday nearest to St Andrew’s Day, Perth Burns Club has taken the initiative to encourage people to take an in-depth look at Scottish life and culture,” he said.

Those booked to appear are: Harry Reid, the former editor of The Herald; Crieff’s Jess Smith, Dunkeld man Kenneth Steven and Angus Whitson, from Edzell.

The afternoon will be followed by a traditional Scottish concert at 7.30pm, featuring Joe Aitken, Lauri Malloch, George MacDiarmid and John Napier’s fiddle group.

Mr Paton added: “St Andrew’s Day should be a time for Scots to take a closer look at their country and at themselves.

“We feel that this event is an ideal opportunity for people to come along and hear about various aspects of Scotland and its heritage.

“We are delighted to have such an exciting array of leading personalities taking part and we hope there will be a full attendance to hear them.”

Tickets are £6 for the afternoon seminar and a separate £6 for the evening concert. They are available from The Concorde Music Shop on Perth’s Scott Street, or from Elliott Boyle on: 01738 643963.

There may be some available on the door, subject to availability.

The PA would like to take this opportunity to apologise for any inconvenience caused by a previous article on this event, in last Friday’s PA.

It was incorrectly stated that the Saturday showpiece was to take place on November 21 when it is, in fact, due to be held tomorrow (November 28).