Tag: particularly from St Giles to the Netherbow

HOLYROOD PARLIAMENT BUILDING INAUGURATED

The new Scottish Parliament building at Holyrood in Edinburgh was officially declared open by the Queen on Saturday 9 October 2004.  Proceedings began with a short ceremony in the Hall at Parliament House where the pre-1707 Scottish Parliament sat.  This was followed by a Riding, in which 1,000 schoolchildren, community groups and representatives of civic society from every constituency in Scotland (nominated by their MSPs) walked with the MSPs down the Royal Mile from the historic building to the new one at Holyrood.  In the chamber The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, violinist Nicola Benedetti from West Kilbride, (the BBC Young Musician of the Year 2004), and singer-songwriter Eddi Reader performed, and Liz Lochhead read a poem composed for the occasion by Scotland ‘s Makar, Edwin Morgan.  At the conclusion of the proceedings the MSPs and others in the chamber joined hands in traditional fashion during the singing of Auld Lang Syne”.  After the ceremony