Monday 9 March 2009

HOMECOMING SCOTLAND "WORLDWIDE HAND OF FRIENDSHIP INVITES", FROM SCOTTISH SNP MSP'S.



HOMECOMING SCOTLAND "WORLDWIDE HAND OF FRIENDSHIP INVITES", FROM SCOTTISH SNP MSP'S.

THEY'LL BE BACK FOR HOMECOMING.

SCOTLAND WINS HOMECOMING FRIENDS AROUND THE WORLD

SNP MSPs have been winning friends for Scotland as part of Homecoming 2009.

MSPs have written to their counterparts in towns and cities across the world that have Scottish namesakes or connections to build links between the towns.

As a result towns and cities in Scotland, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and America are now building new connections with possible visits and exchanges in the future.

This has included

· Jamie Hepburn made contact not only with Croy in Switzerland and Kilsyth in Australia but also received a response from California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger as he connected California in Falkirk to the US State.

· Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) contacted the Mayor in Ayr, Australia and a delegation will be visiting Ayr, Scotland later on in the year

· After contact from Stuart McMillan (West of Scotland) the Mayor of Greenock Australia has asked for information about Greenock Scotland to include in the town newsletter. Mr McMillan has also had a response from Greenock, Ontario

· Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) has established a link with the Mayor of Armadale, West Australia, host of W.A’s largest Highland gathering – who sent back examples of their Armadale tartan and will promote homecoming at the event

· Responses from New Edinburgh in Canada to Shirley Anne Somerville, East Dundee in Illinois to Joe FitzPatrick and Roseanna Cunningham will be welcoming visitors from Perth in Tasmania

Central Scotland MSP Jamie Hepburn said;

"I was delighted to receive the letter from Arnold Schwarzenegger, in which he set out his support for Scotland's year of Homecoming. As the Governor of California there is an obvious link with our very own California here in Scotland, not far from Falkirk.

“With Homecoming gearing up to be a real success I know when our visitors from sister cities leave Scotland they’ll be copying the Terminator and saying “I’ll be back.”

Adam Ingram MSP for South of Scotland is looking forward to a delegation from Ayr Australia heading to Ayr Scotland

“This is a great way to build links around the world and I am confident that these international relationships, built up during Homecoming, will have lasting benefit for Scotland.

Stuart McMillan MSP who made contact with Greenock South Australia as well as Greenock Ontario commented;

“I wrote to Greenock Australia after discovering the Australian town was named after Greenock Scotland by a European explorer in 1839.

“There are towns across Inverclyde with namesakes all over the world and I look forward to welcoming any visitors from our sister towns and cities to Scotland during this year of Homecoming and beyond.”

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