Stevenson Welcomes Banffshire & Buchan Coast 'Local Hero' To Parliament Opening

Local MSP Stewart Stevenson welcomed Peterhead man Stephen Bruce and his wife Roselyn to the Scottish Parliament to represent Banffshire & Buchan Coast in the traditional riding that takes place when a new Parliamentary Session begins.

Following May’s elections, nominations were invited for Local Heroes from each constituency in Scotland to represent their community at the Official Opening.

Stephen was nominated for his dedication to the community of Peterhead through his championing of ‘JogScotland’.

The official opening of the new Parliamentary Session was carried out by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh before MSPs, their guests and the public came together in an open afternoon with displays in the Parliament and live music from various performers.

Speaking at the Opening Day Stewart Stevenson said:

“It is a real privilege to meet so many people from so many walks of life who have contributed and continue to contribute to their communities.

“Stephen Bruce is one of those people, someone who has earned the respect of their community through dedication and hard work in a whole range of areas.

“It is that community spirit that the Parliament must seek to support and protect and which the Members of the Scottish Parliament must seek to emulate.

"The strength of that bond with the people of Scotland was reflected in the speeches made by the Parliament's Presiding Officer, the Queen and the First Minister, who all recognised the expectation of Scotland on its parliament as it has grown and matured since devolution and the challenges facing us.

“This fourth term of the Scottish Parliament offers many challenges from developing critical infrastructure, to supporting economic recovery and job creation. Some particularly challenging issues are getting Scotland’s carbon footprint down to meet the tough targets we have set ourselves, reducing our waste and ensuring we get the maximum possible benefit from the next energy revolution in renewables.

“These are just a few of the issues that MSPs will grapple with on behalf of the people of Scotland and it is vital that we continue to support and strengthen that link between the Parliament and the People.”