The man behind this year’s Glamis Castle Prom has said the blame for the concert’s cancellation lies squarely at the door of the castle.
Glamis Prom Ltd director Rob Murray Brown said that despite his non-profit company “working very hard over the past four months” it was “a very slow and awkward negotiation with the venue” that scuppered the August 14 concert.
“It is a great shame that short-term gain should have replaced long-term benefits,” he added.
He explained that his organisation had made very encouraging progress with Angus Council and EventScotland with regard to possible funding in 2010 and 2011 to help develop and expand the event.
Mr Murray Brown said the company had commercial sponsors in place.
“The organisational side was set while a three-year plan to reinvigorate the prom was on schedule to deliver a very exciting 2010 event,” he said.
“However, we were running a very slow and awkward negotiation with the venue.No option”These difficulties could not be satisfactorily resolved and, despite the time and money we had spent getting to this stage, we had no option but to withdraw. In the end, we felt we could no longer deal with the venue.”
Mr Murray Brown praised all the people and organisations who helped his company and singled out Angus Council for particular thanks.
He acknowledged the loss of a highlight on the Angus social calendar.
“It is a great shame that the event created 17 years ago has failed when we were ready to relaunch it,” he said.
“It was one of the year’s largest events and it was generally agreed that it would be enhanced by our plans.”
Scots violinist Nicola Benedetti, soprano Fiona Kennedy and the National Symphony Orchestra of Scotland have all performed at Glamis.
Despite being repeatedly contacted, there has been no comment from Glamis Castle regarding the cancellation.
The prom, which regularly attracted thousands of people, was established by impresario and violinist John Reid, who died of stomach cancer in 2008.