Historic north-east castle gets Stateside feel for celebration

A historic north-east castle turned red, white and blue to help celebrate a twinning agreement.

The American flag was flown from Castle Fraser as part of Stonehaven and the North East Scotland Twinning Group’s latest partnership.

Athens, Alabama, in the United States is set to sign a twinning agreement next year.

And Athens celebrated its 200th anniversary on Saturday, with the north-east sharing in the occasion.

A special birthday cake was baked by castle staff, with the Scottish delegation joining in celebrations via video link on Saturday.

Ellen Wong, US principal officer to Scotland from the US Consulate-General in Edinburgh also joined in celebrations at Castle Fraser.

Before arriving at the 15th-Century castle she was shown around Stonehaven, including the harbour and Tolbooth Museum.

She spoke of an educational exchange programme taking place between the two towns and said she would do everything she can to realise this.

Ms Wong has promised to return to Stonehaven in the summer to meet the US delegation.

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Phil Mills-Bishop, co-ordinator for the twinning group, said: “Modern twinning is much more than just a civic connection with just a plaque in the respective town squares of the twinning towns.

“To ensure long-term sustainability it should include educational exchanges, tourist flows, reciprocal sporting events and business opportunities.

“This fosters greater understanding between respective communities that is no bad thing in an unstable world.”

Piper Daniel Milne from Robert Gordon’s College Pipe Band helped the US town celebrate by playing happy birthday.

A team from Stonehaven is expected to visit Athens in May or June, while an Alabama contingent is due to travel to the north-east in July.

Speaking via video link in the United States, Athens mayor Ronnie Marks said: “Celebrating our 200th birthday with our new friends in Scotland is an honour and one of many endeavours we will embark on as we forge this sister city relationship.”