May 31th, 2024

St. Andrews Society

 

Over one hundred members and guests of the Saint Andrew’s Society of the State of New York gathered on April 4th to salute National Tartan Day, a North American celebration of Scottish heritage and the focus of week-long festivities in New York City.

Richard Porter, 104th President of the Saint Andrew’s Society, welcomed the gathering with toasts, and he introduced attendees from across the United States and Great Britain.

Special guests and featured speakers were Rt HonAlison Johnstone MSP, Minister Angus Robertson and John Lamont MP.Alison Johnstone was elected presiding officer of the Scottish Parliamentin May 2021 and currently serves as a representative for Lothian. In this role Alison chairs the Parliamentary Bureau and the Scottish Parliament corporate body. Minister Angus Robertson has served as the Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture since 2021.

He has served as the Member of the Scottish Parliament for Edinburgh Central since 2021. John Lamont serves in the British House of Commons as the member of Parliament (MP) for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk since 2017.

He has been serving as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland since October 2022.President Porter gave a special welcome to Chris Thompson, head of the Scottish Government office in Washington, D.C.; Charlotte North, His Majesty’s Deputy Consul General in New York; Ian Murray, Member of Parliament at Westminster representing Scotland and serving as the Shadow Secretary of State; and members of Scots Parliament Evelyn Tweed, Maurice Goldenand Michael Marra.

Photo Credits: Annie Watt