Tartan travels 11,500 miles

The new tartan travelled 11,500 miles to the village of Hororata, outside Christchurch, to raise money during The Gathering, a fundraising event celebrating the community’s Scottish ancestry and culture.

A community group in Hororata contacted the Scottish Tartans Authority to investigate registering a tartan for their inaugural event. After hearing the extent of the destruction in the area Brian Wilton, director of the STA, began planning a new design.

He created four examples for the people of Hororata to choose from, and Selkirk-based weaver Robin Elliot, from Andrew Elliot Company, then donated the first weaving of the unique tartan along with 30 metres of the fabric.

Mr Wilton said: “It shows that despite the great distances, the ties between Scotland and her extended family around the world are as strong as ever.”