Battle lines drawn over Bannockburn row

**ThistleDown** · 10th February 14, 05:05 PM

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** · 11th February 14, 11:44 AM

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

**ThistleDown** · 11th February 14, 01:36 PM

Yes, optimism is a virtue, Jock. All I am saying is that the fault in not informing us lies with the media even though we automatically wish to fault VisitScotland, which has a limited in-Scotland mandate and budget. As you see in this and other threads, VisitScotland is doing its job in promoting Scotland and encouraging tourism in overseas markets. The media sets aside the good-news promotional information it receives and, as in this case, reports issues of conflict and negativity. If the Bannockburn part of Homecoming 2014 really is the success it is presently on track to being, credit must be given to two realities (barring another world financial disaster!): the fact Scotland this time retained control over the event, and VisitScotland was able to convince tens of thousands of overseas travelers to make Scotland their destination this year.

**Jock Scot** · 11th February 14, 01:50 PM

I hear what you say Rex and of course I hope the whole thing is a huge success, but I really find it interesting and baffling that, thus far at least, the locals yet again, have been neglected.

**ASinclair** · 11th February 14, 01:50 PM

I've just learned that Clan Day Monday has been cancelled. When you go to the website now, it is billed as a two-day event Saturday and Sunday. Wow, what a moving target.

**cessna152towser** · 11th February 14, 02:21 PM

I hear what you say Rex and of course I hope the whole thing is a huge success, but I really find it interesting and baffling that, thus far at least, the locals yet again, have been neglected.

A big difference this time is that the event was well publicised among the Scottish based clans and clan societies in the early stages of planning and we locals have been given the opportunity of hosting the clan tents, unlike the 2009 Edinburgh gathering when it seems that many of the clan hosts were already signed up in USA the previous year.

I've just learned that Clan Day Monday has been cancelled. When you go to the website now, it is billed as a two-day event Saturday and Sunday. Wow, what a moving target.

The Re-enactments are on the Saturday and Sunday. The Monday is a private event for the Clans and Clan Societies.

**ThistleDown** · 11th February 14, 02:28 PM

Will you be going down to Stirling for the Bannockburn thing yourself, Jock? I'm sure The Camerons will be doing something a bit more local for you, and there's always the Macphersons at Newtonmore, the Clan Chattan at Moy and, in September, the Highland Clans gathering at Inverness. All part of Homecoming 2014 but, now that I think on it, I don't think I've seen anything in the S&B Herald on any of them, either. There was quite a bit in the Inverness Courier a month or so ago about the Highland Clans gathering and we can expect a few inches on the Game Fair in June, as usual. Paid advertising, that will be, of course. Maybe if a mob of kilties stood downwind in a windfarm we would get the media to report it. Mind you, the coverage would probably be about exposure, the horrors of harnessing the wind, how difficult it was to access the site along that estate road with 13 gates and one in sad condition and it was a shame about the weather.

**Jock Scot** · 11th February 14, 03:43 PM

Alex.

The problem is that in my experiance, as most locals do not belong to Clan societies, then the plan has fallen at the first fence!

Rex.

I very much doubt that I shall go to Bannockburn, not really my thing. I will try to go to the games at Inverness, although still not really my thing, but Alan may need a spot of local support when he takes on the world.

**ThistleDown** · 11th February 14, 04:16 PM

No it hasn't, Jock. In 2009 the entire control was outwith Scotland. In 2014 that control is remaining at home. There are many, many Clan Societies in Scotland, even if the run-of-the-mill populace are not members. Those Societies, such as Alex' Cunninghams, are the ones that are attracting the away people. Everybody in the New World wants to meet his chief and there will be lots of feathers flying around to keep them happy. The hosting is Scottish, the main stars are Scottish, the ground is Scottish, the events are Scottish-organised. That's what (given a bit of good weather) will make this weekend at Stirling a success, not attendance in huge numbers by Scots; you yourself won't be attending because it's not really your thing. That's probably the way of it for a majority of people in Scotland. Scotland will, however, gain by the punds incoming with the waves of people from overseas and south of the border.

And those waves will not just crash on the battle site and the 'clan' village, but will carry on much further as part of Homecoming 2014. Away from just the Lowlands, too. You won't be there; don't be so negative about what will be an incredibly positive experience for tens of thousands of others, Scots and visitors alike. Encourage them to come and enjoy themselves and if the media is not gratuitously keeping you informed, tell it it isn't. Write a letter, make a phone call.

Slainte, Jock

**Jock Scot** · 11th February 14, 04:28 PM

Rex.

Just had a visit from the local snowplough crew, they know where to get a quick coffee, a biscuit or six and a warm at this time of night! Anyway I asked them if they were going to Bannockburn this year and they knew nothing about it, so then I asked them, now that they do know would they go? The reply was classic. Not, b------- likely! If they cant be b------- bothered to tell us, then we cant be f------ bothered to go!