A MORAY COMMUNITY are in line for a Tourism award thanks to their hosting and support for the European Pipe Band Championships.
Piping At Forres have hosted the championships for three years in the town’s Grant Park – drawing thousands of visitors from throughout the world who have acclaimed the organisation, venue and people as the main reason for its being a major success story.
Now for the second successive year the Championships have been shortlisted for ‘Best Cultural Event or Festival’ at the Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards.
Ian Widdowson is chairman of Forres Events Ltd, the company formed to run the annual championships which will remain in Forres for at least another three years: “We are delighted that Piping At Forres, in making it to the finals, has been acknowledged as one of the top four events on the whole of the Highlands, Islands and Moray in 2015.”
The Chieftain at the 2015 event, Mark Laing, added: “Piping At Forres is a great event that offers a wonderful day of music and spectacle as well as showcasing local food, drink and crafts – and I know that behind the scenes there is a lot of hard work by a wonderful group of volunteers.
“Their enthusiasm and professionalism helps make the event such a success so recognition of their efforts in this way is well deserved and will, I am sure, encourage them as they work towards the next three years.”
Winners of the awards will be announced at a dinner in Inverness on November 13.
Piping At Forres will return on June 25 next year and is supported by Event Scotland alongside a number of local businesses acting as sponsors. The event is run on a ‘not for profit’ basis for the benefit of the local area.