Battle lines drawn over Bannockburn row

[creagdhubh]

Well, that's encouraging.

[AcuteEnigma]

I'll be there. I might be the only person in the world attending, but I'll be there.
Got to figure out the details is all.

[cessna152towser]

Thanks for the link Phil.
Basically all this says is that the Members of the Scottish Parliament seem to be miffed at not being the first to learn of Visit Scotland's amended plans for Bannockburn 2014 which include extended opening hours to compensate for the loss of re-enactments on the third day. There will still be activities for the clans on the Monday and my hotel is already booked and paid for till the Monday morning so I expect to be there all weekend and on the Monday.
I shared the Visit Scotland press release here last week:-
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...83/index7.html
Unlike the 2009 Edinburgh gathering fiasco, the tradesmen and performers have been promised payment in advance by Visit Scotland so should not be left out of pocket, and Scottish based Clan Chiefs, Chieftains, Armigers and clan society members will be on hand as hosts to welcome our visitors to the clan tents. I'm really looking forward to this event and as we Scots are putting on the show I really hope we can provide the best gathering ever for our visitors. The Muster of the Clans which we hosted, thanks to His Grace the Duke of Buccleuch, Chief of Clan Scott, at Selkirk in September 2009 was undoubtedly my favourite highlight of the 2009 homecoming year and I am hoping that Bannockburn 2014 will be even bigger and better.
AcuteEnigma you certainly won't be the only one there! Be sure to call round at the Cunningham tent and say hello.

[ThistleDown]

All is well, just a few politicians getting some print and others buying into it. After you visit Alex in the Cunningham tent come by and see me in the Clan Chattan.

[Phil]

I hope to be there too but, like Jock Scot, there is virtually nothing in the local media (apart from this negative reporting) so how do you decide?

[AcuteEnigma]

Read the Bannockburn Live website for info.
www.bannockburnlive.com

And then tell all your friends about it. The digital reenactment sounds wonderful despite Fiona Hyslop's odd statement that the English won. (I still don't get that)

Pipefest will be on Friday, June 27
Bannockburn Live will be on Saturday and Sunday, June 28-29
Clan day will be on Monday, June 30

[AcuteEnigma]

The fun includes:
(paraphrased from an email making the rounds)

-- a large scale battlefield involving over 300 re-enactors (live people!) who will recreate the atmosphere of the most famous battle in Scotland's History. Battles will take place at noon, 2pm and 4pm.

-- encampments that evoke the preparations for battle and of medieval times including a fully operational kitchen, blacksmiths, armouries and living quarters [ your basic SCA encampment? ]

-- a Clan and Family Village with 40 clans and families

-- a Food and Drink Village will have high quality, seasonal and local artisan food and drink for sale.

-- Storyville - a place for Scotland's story to be told through music, song and the spoken word. There will be many interactive games and activities for children.

-- The Main State which will have folk and contemporary music

-- Craft stalls and demonstrations

Sounds similar to the big Gathering 2009 event but with a war instead of the "games" and a much bigger emphasis on history, which makes sense.

Either the live re-enactment or the digital re-enactment costs more money. Not sure which it is.

[ThistleDown]

Phil and Jock, this is VisitScotland, the replacement for Tourism Scotland. Its mandate is to get people from other lands to visit Scotland. It spends its budget abroad fulfilling that role. It doesn't have much money left to toss about encouraging folk from Peterhead and Loanhead to visit Stirling for a day away. It's in The Netherlands and New Zealand and Australia and Canada and America convincing people to come with full sporrans for two weeks and more. What I find amazing is that so many of us simply accept the media negativity and become negative ourselves. I know its a national trait, but we really should try to fight it sometimes. Write a letter to The Scotsman and ask them to publish what you want to know.

[Jock Scot]

I seem to recall the local Scots have been down this route before, Rex. We did not like it then and sadly it looks like we are about to get another dose this time. I live in hope, but I am not holding my breath. To be a fisherman we learn to be optimistic and often exist on forlorn hopes but at least we know that the fish are not interested in Bannockburn

[Phil]

Its mandate is to get people from other lands to visit Scotland. It spends its budget abroad fulfilling that role. It doesn't have much money left to toss about encouraging folk from Peterhead and Loanhead to visit Stirling for a day away. It's in The Netherlands and New Zealand and Australia and Canada and America convincing people to come with full sporrans for two weeks and more.

It's not doing a great job then if this quote from the article is true - "MSPs have already been warned the event is unlikely to attract the 17,000 US visitors who came to Scotland for the 2009 Gathering in Edinburgh. That was the flagship of the Year of Homecoming five years ago, but it lost more than £500,000 and the organising firm went bust".
It does go on to say, however, that there is no question of it being cancelled.

Here is another article to add a little more to the story - http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/ar...dget-1-3302922 .