Gathering set for 2014 revival

A TORY peer behind a doomed international clan gathering which left a huge trail of debts has unveiled plans for a second event – to coincide with the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn.

Lord Jamie Sempill has confirmed plans for an event in July 2014 which will be part of the second Year of Homecoming, which has been instigated by the Scottish Government.

He has issued news of his involvement with the Bannockburn 700 celebrations – which are being run by Stirling Council – despite his event in Edinburgh making a loss of more than £600,000 and leaving behind almost £400,000 worth of debts.

The government has already come under fire for pledging financial support to the council to help it mark the 700th anniversary of the celebrated battle, although the extent of this support has yet to be disclosed.

A company set up by Lord Sempill to run the initial Gathering folded several months after the 2009 event in Edinburgh’s Holyrood Park.

Stirling Council, which has bought the intellectual property rights to the event, confirmed yesterday it had been in talks with Lord Sempill, but insisted it had not decided to go ahead with a clan gathering.

However, in a bulletin issued to his mailing list, Lord Sempill said: “I can confirm that plans are afoot to host another International Clan Gathering in Stirling in early July 2014 as part of the 2nd Year of Homecoming.

“It is too early to provide any detail, but rest assured we will keep you up to date. There will be a lot to report as we get closer to 2014, but in the interim we will keep you abreast of any relevant developments.”

A statement on the Gathering 2014 Facebook site added that the event had been earmarked for King’s Park in Stirling.