Scots prepare for their year

Press, 20 September 1980, Page 16

Scots prepare for their year

KEN COATES

in London

The first overseas visitor of Scots descent to arrive in Edinburgh for the initial international gathering of Scots in 1977, Mrs B. M. Brew, of Papakura, Auckland, will again visit Scotland for next year’s “Year of the Scot.” Throughout 1981, thousands of Scots and people with Scottish blood are expected to visit their native land-

This will be the third international Scottish gathering. The second was held last year in Nova Scotia and was opened by the Queen Mother. One of the Edinburgh

organisers, Mr James Adam, said there had been keen interest from New Zealand in next year’s gathering. The director of the Friends of the Lion Association in Auckland, Mr R. M. Glynan, was working with Mrs Brew in a scheme to get a big group from New Zealand to visit Scotland. The Friends of the Lion has 7000 members in New Zealand. All have close associations. with the United Kingdom. Mrs Brew has written to Mr Adam saying that a small McPhee society has been formed in New . Zealand as a result of her

1977 visit to Scotland. The canny Scots see a two-fold value in encouraging many of the estimated 50 million people with a Scottish heritage to visit Scotland. It will help tile country’s thriving tourist industry, and possibly result in more overseas investment in Scotland. Many visitors are successful businessmen who see opportunities for investment, - notably in the fast-expanding electronics and oil-related manufacturing industries. "Many visits to Scotland are personal — from attendance at a meeting of the Gollege of Surgeons to

industrial symposiums, said the chairman of the >? Scottish international-; Gathering Trust, Lord-? have designated-' 1981 the 'Year of the Scotland have compiled a list.:of events during the year,as well as special cere--. ? monies for 'Capital. Week,.' in Edinburgh, starting oq May 23, with a welcome ■ ceremony,” _ ....... ■ An international Bums. _ supper in Glasgow on January 24 will be the - first main highlight and ' an international St An- -« drew’s Day dinner on No- - vember 30 in St Andrews ' will be the main closing event. ?