“FIERY CROSSES” HOME

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26607, 1 November 1947, Page 6

“FIERY CROSSES” HOME

CEREMONIAL RECEPTION TEN NATIONS REPRESENTED After travelling more than 80,000 miles, the “Fiery Crosses” which encircled the world to announce the “ Enterprise Scotland ” Exhibition, have returned to Edinburgh. They were received on October 10 by the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Sir John Falconer, at a ceremony in the Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh. The personal representatives of the High Commissioners for Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa, the Belgian, French and Netherlands Consuls General and the Consuls for Denmark and the U.S.A., escorted by standard-bearers from all the Scottish regiments handed back the crosses which had converged on Scotland from overseas. The Provosts of Hawick, Galashiels and Peebles and the Mayors of Doncaster and East Retford were among the representatives of the towns through which “Fiery Crosses” were carried by relays of runners from Edinburgh to the Guildhall, London. The crosses, which were originally lit by the Lord Provost of Edinburgh on August 6, have had some curious adventures. One was carried by relays of runners from Sydney airport to the Town Hall, where a reception ceremony was held by the Lord Mayor. Another was carried by processions of torch-bearers and pipers through the streets of New Zealand cities, in all of which Scots evinced a spirit of unflagging devotion to their motherland. Two others crossed the North American continent, the first from Toronto to Vancouver, and the second from New York to San Francisco and Los Angeles. Amsterdam, Paris, Copenhagen, Brussels and many other European cities welcomed them and Scottish communities all over the world sped them on their way, with traditional and colorful ceremony. Over 400,000 people visited the exhibition which closed on October 18, after a most successful season.