Region’s children party like it’s 1999

Jul 3 2009 by Julie Watt, Dumfries Standard Friday

SIX Dumfries and Galloway youngsters won’t forget their 10th birthday in a hurry ... they partied with The Queen.

And 160 friends who all share a very special bond.

For Beattock youngster Rebecca Vernon and Dumfries youngsters Conor Caven, Calum Bertram, Chloe Jeans, Emma Kennedy and Rebecca Ward were born on July 1, 1999 — the day the Scottish Parliament opened.

They and 164 other Scottish babies born on that day were invited to a 10th birthday bash they’ll never forget.

The party, which was held at the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood in Edinburgh, saw the lucky youngsters and their families mingle with MSPs and other distinguished guests including the Queen.

The parliament tracked down the youngsters who were born on that day and they and their parents and siblings were invited to the party.

Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale MP David Mundell said: “This week marks the 10th anniversary of the Scottish Parliament “reconvening’’ in Edinburgh – and my claim to fame is that I asked the first oral question after the official opening as south of Scotland MSP!

“The opening ceremony was on July 1 1999 and I remember the day well, particularly Donald Dewar’s speech and Sheena Wellington’s singing of A Man’s A Man. There was a lot of expectation that day, some of which has been realised and some of which has not. However, the Parliament has become an established feature of Scottish life and will be judged in future on what is does for our people. As an MP my priority is to see a more positive working relationship between Holyrood and Westminster, which would be to the benefit of everybody in Scotland.”

Dumfries and Galloway MP Russell Brown said: “There is no doubt that 10 years on the Scottish Parliament has been a huge success in a variety of ways. Scotland has been able to deliver its own solutions on issues like free personal care, tuition fees and free travel for the elderly.

“So I am proud that in those years I campaigned for Scots to govern their own affairs within the Union, and that when I became an MP in 1997 I was able to play a part in Labour's delivery of devolution.”