The launch of a range of attractions to celebrate the heritage of Moray’s biggest town has gained the royal seal approval.
Yesterday, the Princess Royal opened the Castle to Cathedral to Cashmere project in Elgin, following a walkabout in the town centre.
The princess was shown statues erected on the Plainstones, designed to showcase different facets of the town’s past.
Elgin Academy pupils, Poppy McGrath and Megan Edwards, were chosen to unveil the eye-catching Dandy Lion.
And the duo were at St Giles’ Church yesterday to meet the princess and explain their part in the project designed to boost Elgin’s profile.
Poppy, 14, said: “We were involved in deciding there should be statues and opened the Dandy Lion. The Princess was asking us if we liked it, she thought it was colourful.”
Project chairman, Jim Royan, guided his royal guest on a tour of the town centre, where new information signs have been installed, before welcoming her inside St Giles’ Church after a brief stop at the war memorial.
Arranged around the grand hall of the historic building were display boards showcasing highlights from the last 1,000 years in Elgin.
The £430,000 scheme has taken more than three years to put together, encompassing Ladyhill and stretching to Johnstons of Elgin.
Mr Royan insisted that the venture, which originated from the spectre of the RAF bases at Kinloss and Lossiemouth being threatened with closure could become a force for improvement.
He said: “If we had done nothing, then nothing would have happened. We’ve done something and now we’ve got to let it run its course – whether that increases visitor numbers, attracts people to look at retail outlets in the High Street or gives them pleasure in our own history.
“We’ve got to build on it now. This should be used as a springboard to embrace other parts of Moray that have an equally rich history which deserves to be shared and enjoyed.”
Mr Royan added: “Because of her Gordonstoun connection, the Princess knows Elgin very well – she likes it here and takes an interest in it.”
Crowds lined the street to welcome the Princess Royal to the town centre.
A semi-circle of students, representing every school in Elgin and Moray College, assembled around the Dandy Lion statue to share a moment with her.
New Elgin Primary School pupil, Brooke Duncan, 10, handed a bouquet of flowers to the princess with a card addressed to “HRH”.
Addressing guests, the Princess Royal said: “I’m impressed with what you have managed to achieve. Raising the profile of a history of a town is not always the easiest to get right, especially in a central position.”
