Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - 
The local MSP has tabled a Motion in Parliament highlighting the enduring link between the County of Banff and Landkreis Kronach in Germany, which was founded in 1973.
Commenting, Stewart Stevenson said:
“Twinning links like these survive and endure purely because of the hard work and commitment of volunteers as there is little or no official funding for these things.
“The Banffshire-Kronach link is all the more remarkable given that it was formed just shortly before the county lost its own council and a large part of its identity. Perhaps because of that, and the fierce determination of people in this part of the world that the Banffshire name should not be lost, we now have the fortieth anniversary being celebrated this summer.
“This has been an enduring friendship down through the years, and I hope that this important link will continue to be so with our German friends in Landkreis Kronach for many years to come.”
“The Banffshire-Kronach link is all the more remarkable given that it was formed just shortly before the county lost its own council and a large part of its identity. Perhaps because of that, and the fierce determination of people in this part of the world that the Banffshire name should not be lost, we now have the fortieth anniversary being celebrated this summer.
“This has been an enduring friendship down through the years, and I hope that this important link will continue to be so with our German friends in Landkreis Kronach for many years to come.”
The wording of the Motion is as follows:
Motion S4M-07161
40th Anniversary of Banffshire-Landkreis Kronach Twinning
Stewart Stevenson (Banffshire & Buchan Coast)(Scottish National Party): That the Parliament notes that 2013 is the 40th anniversary of the twinning link between Banffshire and Landkreis Kronach; congratulates the twinning committee on reaching this milestone anniversary; commends the local volunteers who have worked hard over the years to make this an enduring friendship between the German and Scottish communities; in particular, recognises the work of the Kronach Landrat, Oswald Marr, in maintaining this link and his personal commitment to its success; considers that such twinning arrangements bring an important contribution to civic and cultural life, and sends its best wishes for a successful exchange visit later this summer.
