Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - 
Banffshire & Buchan Coast MSP Stewart Stevenson has tabled a Motion in the Parliament congratulating the organisers on the twentieth anniversary of the event, which was held at the weekend.
Commenting, Stewart said:
“This year saw a milestone for the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival in reaching its twentieth anniversary.
“It is a testament to the hard work, vision and enthusiasm of the organisers and volunteers that what started out as a small local commemoration of the 300th anniversary of the town’s harbour has grown into one of the country’s leading tourism events.
“It is a truly great thing for Portsoy and the Banffshire coast to have such an event which attracts thousands of visitors from near and far and provides a huge annual boost to the local economy.
“Therefore, I say “congratulations” to the organisers on another job well done and I look forward to 2014 when the Festival features as part of the Homecoming celebrations.”
“It is a testament to the hard work, vision and enthusiasm of the organisers and volunteers that what started out as a small local commemoration of the 300th anniversary of the town’s harbour has grown into one of the country’s leading tourism events.
“It is a truly great thing for Portsoy and the Banffshire coast to have such an event which attracts thousands of visitors from near and far and provides a huge annual boost to the local economy.
“Therefore, I say “congratulations” to the organisers on another job well done and I look forward to 2014 when the Festival features as part of the Homecoming celebrations.”
The text of the Scottish Parliament Motion is as follows:
That the Parliament congratulates the organisers of the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival and its chairman, Roger Goodyear, on the event's 20th anniversary; understands that, since 1993, it has grown from a local celebration of the 300th anniversary of Portsoy Harbour to become one of the country’s leading tourism events, which generates £1 million for the Banffshire economy, and believes that, through the £400,000 renovation of the historic 19th century salmon bothy, the operation of the local caravan park, and many other ways, the festival has delivered immeasurable benefits to the Burgh of Portsoy.
