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Daily Record
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Record
Plans to celebrate four Perth twinning anniversaries in 2026
A whole programme of events is scheduled to mark the major milestones, including Perth's 70th anniversary of being twinned with Aschaffenburg in Germany Perth and Kinross Council (PKC) is planning to mark four significant twinning anniversaries next year with a programme of events in June/July 2026. Formal invitations will now be issued to Perth's twin cities for Perth 2026 (Big Twinning Weekend). PKC's Civic Affairs Sub-Committee unanimously approved the proposal at a meeting held in the council chambers on Wednesday, August 13. In 2026 Perth will mark its oldest twinning relationship as it celebrates its 70th anniversary of being twinned with Aschaffenburg, Germany. In addition the Fair City will celebrate its 35th twinning anniversary with Cognac, France; its 25th twinning anniversary with Perth, Canada; and 20 years with Perth, Australia. Perth is also twinned with Bydgoszcz in Poland. The pair celebrated their 25th twinning anniversary in 2023. The Fair City has also been twinned with Haikou in China since 1992. In March 2022 councillors voted to suspend Perth's twinning link with the Russian city of Pskov. Subsequently an agreement was made to twin Perth with a city in Ukraine. Earlier this year, Cllr Steven Carr travelled to Ukraine and met with Nikopol's mayor and other representatives, for the official signing of the Perth/Nikopol twinning agreement. At Wednesday's meeting Bailie Chris Ahern asked if all Perth's twin cities would be invited as it is "probably the only opportunity to get them altogether at the same event". Provost Xander McDade confirmed: "We are inviting all of our twins to take part. Although we have four anniversaries, we are inviting them because we think it's a good opportunity to bring everyone together." The full programme is still being drawn up. However, it has been agreed the European Pipe Band Championships, confirmed to take place on Saturday, June 27, 2026 - in Perth for the third year running - will be included as part of the Perth 2026 programme. Perth's twin cities will be encouraged to send along pipe bands to take part. A report put before the council's Civic Affairs Sub-committee said: "Although the European Pipe Band Championships are a standalone event being run in partnership by the PKC Events Team and the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association, the timing of next year's event will allow us to include it in our itinerary for our international visitors and encourage them to send pipe bands to participate." There will also be a ticketed dinner and ceilidh, a free concert with cultural performances from Perth's twin cities as well as community events. Bailie Alasdair Bailey made a call for the younger generation to be involved. The Carse of Gowrie councillor said: "I've seen many of the smaller twinning associations, particularly in my ward, struggle to sustain themselves due to ageing memberships. Is there anything we can do with this to connect twinning with a younger generation and make it relevant to them? "My concern is that some of the memory of why twinning was established in the aftermath of World War II has faded but we again enter a time where it's more important that we have these kind of cultural exchanges regardless of politics." Provost Xander McDade said: "It is certainly our aspiration and our expectation that there will be a significant youth component of this. We're also looking to develop better links with schools. "We're also aware of the fragility of the smaller twinnings and the ageing demographic taking part in some of the twinning groups." He added: "Youth participation of this is very much the intention." Depute Provost Andrew Parrott added: "I think continuing and fostering our twinning links in the difficult world we live in are of vital importance. I certainly support the desire expressed by Bailie Bailey to rejuvenate our twinning partnerships to a younger population, who may not be aware of the reasons why we have them and why we should consider them." Following on from concerns raised by Highland Perthshire ward councillor Mike Williamson about transport provision, the depute provost suggested "there might be a case" for approaching bus companies about laying on extra late buses on the relevant day(s). Perth's twin cities will now be formally invited to Perth 2026. Updates on progress with plans for Perth 2026 and more detailed costs will be brought back to the committee in due course.
Observer
10-08-2025
- Sport
- Observer
RAFO band triumphs at European Pipe Band Meet
EDINBURGH: The Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) band made a remarkable appearance at the European Pipe Band Championships in Perth, Scotland. The band secured first place in the drums category for Grade Four and sixth place overall in the same category, triumphing over 147 bands from around the world. This achievement is a result of the band's outstanding performance and high level of discipline during the competitions, reflecting its advanced artistic level and professionalism. — ONA
