WHITEFORD PRAISES FRIENDS OF PITSLIGO CASTLE

SNP Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford has commended the Friends of Pitsligo Castle for their work after visiting Peathill Kirk as part of their ‘Doors Open day’ on Saturday.

Whilst there, the SNP candidate took the opportunity to view the historic Laird’s Loft and was shown around by Chairperson of the Friends of Pitsligo Castle, Therine Henderson.

Commenting, Eilidh Whiteford said:

“The Laird’s Loft is widely considered to be one of Europe’s finest examples of Jacobean woodcarving and it was fascinating to see it and hear some of the history behind it from Therine.

“The Friends of Pitsligo Castle Trust have really done a power of work in recent years and they have exciting plans to establish a centre for Jacobite History and Scottish heraldry.

“Such a centre would be a tremendous asset to the North-east and also be a huge draw for tourists, particularly given the interest in local history and family history and I wish the ‘Friends’ every success with this venture.”

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EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT TAKES THE BISCUIT

HUDGHTON VISITS PORTSOY BAKERS

SNP Member of the European Parliament Ian Hudghton will take time out from his surgery tour of Banffshire on Monday 21 September at 3.00pm when he visits local bakers Donalds Bakers, Seafield Street, Portsoy.

Mr Hudghton is arranging for Donalds Bakers’ shortbread to be the ‘official’ shortbread of the European Parliament’s EFA Group St Andrew’s Day celebrations and will ‘seal the deal’ whilst in Portsoy on Monday. The SNP MEP will be accompanied by Banff & District councillor Ian Gray, who suggested Donalds for the accolade, and SNP Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford.

Mr Hudghton commented:

“I am delighted to be able to assist the company in promoting their excellent products in this way.

“I firmly believe in giving local firms the opportunity to get their products into places where it may not always be possible to do so and I will be extremely proud to point out to guests and dignitaries in the European Parliament that the shortbread comes from my constituency.”

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WHITEFORD WELCOMES MEP TO PETERHEAD

SNP Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford will welcome Euro-MP and SNP President Ian Hudghton to Peterhead on Monday 21 September at 10.00am at the Lido car park as part of his surgery tour of Banff & Buchan.

Although Mr Hudghton’s “constituency” now covers the whole of Scotland since the introduction of proportional representation for European elections, he has been a regular visitor to Peterhead with visits to Peterhead Port Authority in July and the Willowbank Centre in May of this year.

Commenting, Eilidh Whiteford said:

“Ian is a tremendously hard-working Member of the European Parliament and stands up for our vital local industries in Europe.

“While it must be a bit of an impossible task trying to cover the whole of Scotland as an MEP, Ian is a regular visitor to Peterhead. Indeed this will be his third time in five months which I think underlines the importance of the key local industries of fishing and farming and the seriousness with which they are treated by the SNP.

“There is no other MEP makes himself available to constituents locally in the way Ian does and I think this is reflected in the high regard he is held locally. I’m very much looking forward to welcoming him back to the town.”

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WHITEFORD VISITS LEADING BUCHAN CATTLE BREEDER

CANDIDATE MEETS NEW CATTLE BREED, THE ‘BUCHAN BLACK’

SNP Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford visited West Knock Farms, Stuartfield, yesterday to hear about the opportunities and challenges facing the farming industry.

West Knock is owned and operated by leading cattle breeder Albert Howie, who is also an Independent member of Aberdeenshire Council for Central Buchan. During the visit, Eilidh Whiteford toured the cattle operation with Cllr Howie as well as his flock of Texel sheep.

Buchan has long had an enviable reputation as the home of the best of Scotch Beef and this was underlined with the ongoing breed development being carried out at West Knock with the ‘Buchan Black’, an Aberdeen Angus-Limousin cross.

Speaking after the visit, Eilidh Whiteford said:

“I welcomed the opportunity to visit West Knock Farms to see the livestock and learn more about the challenges North-east farmers face on an on-going basis.

"I particularly enjoyed meeting Albert's ‘Buchan Blacks’ - an Aberdeen Angus-Limousin cross - from which he is aiming to develop a new breed of cattle. It's great to see that innovation is still a major part of Buchan farming."

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