The curtain has come down on one of the north-east’s premier galas.
Peterhead Scottish Week reached a climax yesterday with songs of praise and the local fire station’s open day under cloudy skies.
Now in its 55th year, the week-long calendar of events, which included the crowning of a Buchan Queen and an air display by stunt team the Blades, has become hotly anticipated throughout Aberdeenshire.
It traditionally marks the beginning of the north-east’s gala season which includes festivals in Inverallochy and Cairnbulg, Gardenstown and Turriff.
And yesterday’s finale also marked the end of an era for Scott Ross, the event’s vice-chairman, who will leave his post after 10 years.
Last night, he said: “On the whole, I think this year’s Scottish Week went remarkably well.
“We’ve always got to battle against people who might like to complain, but it’s been positive. We had the parade yesterday and people were saying it was the best one ever.
“They have been saying that for the last five years, and it does feel like we’ve been making improvements every year.
“But today marks my last year, because after 10 years, I’ll be stepping aside and going on to new things.”
Nothing stands still, though, and plans are already being put in place for next year’s event.
However, Mr Ross believes that if the event is to continue for another 55 years, fresh blood needs to be added to the 13-member committee.
He added: “The sad reality is that we don’t have enough volunteers and we need to look at ways to fix that.
“Anyone looking to join would have to love people and have a love for the community – people who aren’t afraid to speak up.
“It does take up a lot of your time, though. I want to see it continue, but I can’t give it the dedication I once could.”
