The links forged between the people of Angus and China will be highlighted on Sunday when Madame Tan Xiutian, the Chinese consul general in Edinburgh, will be chieftain of Montrose Highland Games.
“I regard this as a very special privilege,” she said. “I have had so many wonderful opportunities to get to know the Scots and to develop a much better understanding between the people of China and the people of Scotland. Being chieftain of the games is an honour which I could never have imagined.
“I am especially proud to take this important role in Montrose given the wonderful links between Angus and Yantai province and the tremendous understanding that has already been forged.”
Robina Addison, who chairs the games committee, said that since arriving in Scotland in 2007, Mme Tan had developed warm relationships with the Scottish Government and established friendships throughout the country.
She had also engaged with local authorities to develop trade co-operation, tourism, educational and cultural links with towns and cities in China.
Among the celebrations she will witness will be the coronation of Montrose Rose Queen, Amie Kenny.
Amie (14) will be the 67th Rose Queen, and her coronation keeps a tradition started in 1936, broken only by the second world war. Her Rose Maid attendants will be fellow academy pupils Beth Holdhouse and Rosalind Bryning. The Rosebuds are Southesk Primary pupils Amy McNab, Courtney Slavin, Jenna Henderson and Millie Dryden.
Amie has met Mme Tan before when, as a member of the Gordon School of Dancing, she performed at the Chinese consulate. She will also join the dance school’s party that will perform in China’s eighth Art Folk Festival in Guangdong and Beijing in October.
Mme Tan will travel with the Games parade from the Town House at 12.15pm to the East Links, led by Newtonhill and Alyth and District pipe bands and which will include a party from Clan Graham Society of North America returning for their quinquennial visit.
The programme includes track and the traditional heavy events for which an even stronger field than usual is anticipated as the show calendar has given Montrose a day on its own.
The full programme of piping and dancing events again look set for a large entry and Montrose Town Band will give a recital during the afternoon.