De Boer’s key role at remarkable clan gatheringOrganisers responsible for staging the greatest international clan gathering the world has ever seen turned to De Boer to create a spectacular temporary village capable of hosting tens of thousands of visitors. The Gathering 2009, staged at Edinburgh’s Holyrood Park, drew representatives of 124 different clans from around the world – attracting around 50,000 people from more than 40 countries to the two-day extravaganza. The inaugural event was the centrepiece of ‘Homecoming Scotland’, a special calendar of events marking Scotland’s great ancestry and commemorating the 250th anniversary of the birth of the poet Robert Burns. A sea of people, proudly sporting their tartan kilts, took to the streets of Edinburgh in a memorable celebration of clan history. The event was officially opened by the Prince of Wales, who described it as the ‘most splendid of gatherings’. Dressed in a kilt made of the Ancient Hunting Stewart tartan, Prince Charles was accompanied by the Duchess of Cornwall, who met representatives of some of the clans present at the event which took place on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th July. Creating a stunning backdrop and shelter for visitors, De Boer provided more than 80 Pyramide tents, each measuring 3m by 3m, as well as 40 5m-by-5m Pyramides, to house the event’s Clan Village. In addition De Boer erected five Acropolis pavilions for a wide range of attractions such as whisky tasting and food sampling where visitors were able to try out Scotland’s finest produce. The company also provided its Alu Hall structures for use as an entertainment venue and a VIP hospitality area. John Cochrane, De Boer’s Sales Director – Events, said: “De Boer is very proud to be associated with The Gathering and we are extremely happy that it has been such a success. The phenomenal feedback we have received has been amazing. With many years of experience working on similar festivals, we have been able to assist the organisers in creating what was a truly memorable occasion.” Iona Scott, spokesperson for the organisers, said: “It has been an amazingly successful event and we have received many complementary comments about the entire festival. The structures provided by De Boer were an integral part of the entire event creating a unique village atmosphere.” Around 20,000 spectators lined the Royal Mile on the Saturday night to watch thousands of people and pipe bands march up to Edinburgh Castle, before going on to see the Clan Pageant – a performance celebrating Scotland’s history. Some of the biggest names in Scottish music performed on two dedicated stages including Julie Fowlis who has been described as one of the hottest young talents on the Celtic music scene. Leading Scottish band Capercaillie played on the second day of the festival. The Battlefield Band appeared on both days of the event, as well as The Red Hot Chili Pipers. International best-selling authors gave readings from their works, and genealogists offered their expert advice on how to trace your roots. Other activities included a tossing the caber competition, a race around Arthur's Seat and dancing demonstrations. Aaron Neighbour from Australia was crowned the 2009 Deuchars World Highland Games Heavy Events Champion. Runner-up was the 2008 Champion Sean Betz from the USA with fellow countryman Larry Brock coming third. David Wilton from Forfar, near Dundee, was the winner of the Gathering International Championship (Highland Dancing). Jennifer Gilmour, Co-director – The Gathering 2009 Ltd, says: “We enjoyed working in partnership with De Boer, who provided the vast range of temporary structures for this prestigious event. Their level of professionalism and flexibility in the planning stages was exceptional and I am in no doubt that everyone who came to The Gathering 2009 was very impressed by the visual layout and quality of temporary structures provided by De Boer.” Following the success of The Gathering, Scotland’s Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead announced a major event that aims to bring rural Scotland together. The Rural Gathering is said to ‘allow people to learn from one another and spread the good ideas and practices’. 05 August 2009 About De Boer:De Boer is one of the leading international suppliers of temporary accommodation for large events and festivals, storage purposes, airport baggage handling and supermarkets. De Boer was established in 1924 and is headquartered in Alkmaar, The Netherlands. The company now has offices in The Netherlands, Germany, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Austria, France, Spain, Sweden and Dubai. De Boer is also represented in Qatar, Russia, China and the USA. It employs more than 350 people internationally and during high season another 150 temporary workers are deployed. NPM Capital has been major shareholder since August 2005. www.deboer.com MEDIA CONTACT: PAUL SMITH ASSOCIATES
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Picture courtesy of The Gathering 2009
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