PETERHEAD 'INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL EVENT' HAILED AS GREAT SUCCESS

SNP Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford and Peterhead South & Cruden councillor Stephen Smith have hailed Saturday night's "International Cultural Event" organised by Community Learning & Development staff from Aberdeenshire Council and the Migrant Workers' Association as a great success.

The event, which took place in the Rescue Hall on Saturday night, saw a huge turnout of local people and local residents from Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Russia. Traditional Scottish music and dance kicked off the event followed by traditional and contemporary music and dance from Latvia, Lithuania and Russia.

Commenting afterwards, SNP Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford, who attended the event, said:

"This was a thoroughly enjoyable event. The performers seemed very enthusiastic about bringing their own culture to a wider audience and did exceptionally well on the night.

"It was also really good to see so many young people there, supported by adults and other youngsters of all the nationalities present."

Local SNP councillor Stephen Smith, who also attended, added:

"I think the organisers of this event have to be congratulated for their tremendous efforts, which were well-rewarded with such a huge turnout. I don't think the Rescue Hall will ever have witnessed anything quite like that before.

"Everyone, regardless of nationality, was extremely supportive of all the performers who did an absolutely fantastic job of entertaining the audience, so if one of the aims was to bring the new Peterhead residents and the existing Peterhead population closer together then I think it did that very effectively."

The event organisers are hoping to arrange another such event for Saturday 6 March.