Perth in bid to claim world kilt-running crown at Queen’s Diamond Jubilee party

THE “Fair City” of Perth is mounting a major bid to become the focal point of Scotand’s celebrations to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

A huge open-air street party, a 1,000-strong piping parade through the town centre and a bid to claim the record for the world’s biggest “kilted run” will all be held.

A former producer of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo has been brought in to mastermind the event, which it is hoped will draw 10,000 people on Saturday 2 June.

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Pipe bands from around the world are being urged to travel to Perth for what is being billed as one of the most ambitious events ever held in the town.

The idea of Perth trying to break the world record for the biggest “kilted run” has been inspired by the town’s provost, John Hulbert, after he spotted that its namesake, in Ontario, Canada, held the current record, of 1,276 participants.

Brigadier Melville Jameson, the ex-chief executive of the Tattoo, said a major showcase for young Scottish music talent would be a key element of the programme.

Live entertainment is planned throughout the day, with the National Youth Choir of Scotland and National Youth Brass Band of Scotland both due to appear.

Perth’s North Inch Park will be the focal point for the celebrations. Jameson, who is also helping to organise the official “Diamond Jubilee Pageant” in Windsor Great Park, said: “It really should be one of the biggest things ever to have been staged in Perth and it should be the focal point of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations in Scotland.

“I would certainly be hoping for at least 10,000 people to turn up, considering we hope to have 1,000 pipers and another 2,000 in the kilt run to ensure Perth claims the world record. We’re hoping to have bands from across Europe and even further afield travelling to Perth.”

Hulbert added: “We’re very keen to encourage visitors to the area. In particular, I’m hoping to see lots of people signing up to the kilt run to help us break a Guinness World Record.”

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