The Highland Fling for Paint The Town Tartan saw the Robert Gordon's College Pipe Band and Highland Dancers thrills onlook at the iconic Aberdeen letters. Image - Aberdeen Inspired.
The skirl of the pipes created a stir of World Cup fever in the heart of Aberdeen today (Wednesday, June 10) as a Highland Fling for Aberdeen Inspired’s Paint The Town Tartan campaign burst into life.
Crowds of onlookers gathered round to be thrilled by the spectacle of the Robert Gordon’s College Pipe Band and Highland Dancers as they performed in the Trinity Centre, Bon Accord Centre and Union Terrace Gardens.
There was a forest of phones held on high to catch every note and every step of the excitement, which heralds the kick off of the World Cup tomorrow and Scotland’s return to the tournament for the first time in almost 30 years this weekend.
The event was part of Aberdeen Inspired’s Paint The Town Tartan campaign which is encouraging local businesses to dress their venues in tartan bunting, balloons, and messages of support for the Scotland squad, while attracting people into the city centre.
Aberdeen Lord Provost Dr David Cameron and Kate Kenyon, of Aberdeen Inspired, with the Robert Gordon's College Pipe Band and Highland Dancers during the Paint The Town Tartan Highland Fling. Image - Aberdeen Inspired.
Aberdeen’s Lord Provost Dr David Cameron – resplendent in the official Aberdeen City Council tartan waistcoat and trews – took part in the Highland Fling, along with city business leaders.
Dr Cameron said: “The atmosphere has been fantastic, with a huge crowd turn out at both the Trinity Centre and Bon Accord.
“The pipes were great, the dancers were great, it was the right atmosphere for what we are trying to celebrate this week, which is the start of the World Cup and Scotland’s progression, hopefully, much beyond the first three games.
“We also have Paint The Town Tartan and there certainly is a lot of tartan around. It’s a feel-good factor and it almost takes me back to last year when Aberdeen won the Scottish Cup and the day after we had tens of thousands of people in the city centre celebrating. That feel-good factor is really important and Paint The Town Tartan definitely brings that back.”
Onlookers at the Trinity Centre were delighted by the Highland Fling as it heralded the World Cup kick-off. Image - Aberdeen Inspired
The Highland Fling started at the Trinity Centre, where the centre’s mascot, Giddy the Gorilla, pulled on a kilt and wore a Saltire to join in the fun, to the delight of scores of spectators crowding around.
Kenny Bruce, centre manager at the Trinity Centre, said: “It was brilliant to have the Robert Gordon’s College Pipe Band and Highland Dancers across. It created a fantastic atmosphere for the morning and just really gearing up for the World Cup – and Paint The Town Tartan.
“The Paint The Town Tartan has been building since we initially launched. You can see the stores taking part, the saltire, the touches of tartan going up in that anticipation of the coming days of days.”
Robert Gordon's College and Highland Dancers get into the spirit of the Highland Fling at Union Terrace Gardens. Image - Aberdeen Inspired
The Highland Fling then moved on to perform beside the iconic Aberdeen letters in Union Terrace Gardens, again to the delight of onlookers and passers-by who stopped to photograph and video the excitement.
Moving on to Bon Accord Centre, the rousing sound of the pipes and drums and elegance of the dancers had people thronging to watch on both the ground and upper floors, creating a sense of real excitement, with many folk hurry closer to see what was going on.
Lee Austin-Winters, centre manager at Bon Accord, said: “That was really good and everyone seemed to enjoy it – there were plenty of people around and it got a lot of attention.
Paint The Town Tartan – and anything that gets the public involved and coming to the city centre – is a great idea, without a shadow of a doubt.”
The sound of the pipes and drums drew crowds of spectator to both floors of the Bon Accord Centre to enjoy the spectacle. Image - Aberdeen Inspired.
Around 40 pupils from Robert Gordon’s College took part in the Highland Fling – and were delighted to be part of the event.
Jason Sumner, Pipe Major of the RGC Pipe Band, said: “It has been amazing this morning. Our pupils are so excited to be part of anything to support the Scotland game on Sunday and hopefully it will start a momentum that we can keep going into the weekend.”
Kate Kenyon, who is overseeing the Paint The Town Tartan campaign for Aberdeen Inspired, said it was great to see so many members of the public enjoying the Highland Fling and being part of the excitement.
“The whole aim of Paint The Town Tartan is to create a real sense of excitement and air of vibrancy in the city centre, encouraging people to come in and celebrate Scotland’s return to the World Cup, all while supporting local businesses.
“The reaction from the Highland Fling this morning just shows that the people of Aberdeen are ready to get the World Cup party started – and to Paint The Town Tartan!”
For more information on Paint The Town Tartan, visit the Aberdeen Inspired website.
Close up with spectators enjoying the Highland Fling at the Bon Accord Centre. Image - Aberdeen Inspired