TROON STUDENTS WELCOME G8 DIGNITARIES

A group of children from Troon Primary School attended Prestwick Glasgow International Airport to welcome dignitaries arriving in Scotland for the G8 Summit at Gleneagles.

The twenty one children cheered and enthusiastically waved the respective national flag of each dignitary as they arrived, and gave a warm South Ayrshire welcome to the visitors.

The children met a host of world famous people including the President of the European Union, the Prime Minister of Canada, the Prime Minister of Japan and the Chancellor of the Federal German Republic.

South Ayrshire Council’s Depute Provost George Watson was also at the airport to welcome visitors, he said: “It was a wonderful day, and one that I will never forget. The children were great ambassadors for South Ayrshire and made every visitor arriving at the airport feel very welcome.”

First Minister Jack McConnell, accompanied by Depute First Minister Nicol Stevens, talked to all the Troon Primary School pupils, and Jack McConnell signed a Saltire flag for each child. To commemorate the special day each child was also given a G8 sweatshirt and a ‘goodie bag’ of souvenirs.

Convener of the Council’s Lifelong Learning Committee, Councillor Alan Murray said: “I am so pleased that the children from Troon Primary School enjoyed the experience of welcoming participants of the G8 summit, the experience will be something that they remember for the rest of their lives.”

The children were accompanied during the day by their Teachers Shirley Coughtrie and Jane McCracken, their Classroom Assistants Susan Malcolm and Lisa Reilly, and Fiona Taylor, Quality Improvement Officer with the Council.

July 2005