St andrew’s day celebrations

A day long celebration of the Patron Saint of Scotland is to be held in St Andrews organised jointly by Scotland’s first University, Fife Council and the local community.

The St Andrew’s Day Celebrations (Thursday 30 November 2000) will include two public lectures, the traditional church service and a graduation ceremony at the University. All of the events are open to students and public alike and are free of charge.

The day will commence with the St Andrew’s Day International Lecture which will be delivered by the highly acclaimed statesman Carl Bildt, who is a former prime minister of Sweden and United Nations High Representative for peace negotiations in the Balkans. The lecture will be introduced by Menzies Campbell MP and will take place at 10.30 am in the Younger Hall, North Street, St Andrews. There will then be an academic procession to the Parish Church of the Holy Trinity for the St Andrew’s Day “town and gown” service.

Later that day, the St Andrew’s Day graduation ceremony will take place. As well as the conferment of degrees, the event will see the induction of new University professors and the presentation of honorary degrees to three very distinguished Scottish figures. Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and University alumnus, the Right Reverend Andrew McLellan will receive a Doctor of Divinity; broadcaster and journalist Brian Morton will receive a Doctor of Letters, as will well-known artist and professor at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, University of Dundee, Will Maclean. (Note to Editors: biographical information available from University press office on request).

Public events will culminate with a state of the nation address by the Deputy First Minister of the Scottish Parliament, Jim Wallace MP MSP in Parliament Hall, South Street, St Andrews, at 5.30pm.

Master of the United College and Acting Principal Professor Colin Vincent said, “St Andrew’s Day has always been an important date in the University calendar but, this year, our celebrations have been specially designed to appeal to the entire community. On the first St Andrew’s Day of the new millennium, St Andrews will be the place to be.”

Further information on the celebrations can be obtained from the Events Office of the University of St Andrews on telephone 01334 462161.

ENDS

Issued by Beattie Media on behalf of the University of St Andrews For more information please contact Claire Grainger on 01334 462530, 07730 415 015 or email [email protected] Ref: standrewsday/standrews/chg/27oct200 0