The Moray community is set to welcome their own Olympic Gold Medal winner home in a series of events next week.
Former Gordonstoun pupil Heather Stanning rowed to the first of 29 gold medals for Team GB at the Olympic games in London.
Brought up in Lossiemouth where her parents still live Heather made history with her rowing partner Helen Glover when they become the first UK female rowers to take gold at any Olympic games.
After receiving a commemorative scroll at the Moray Council Chamber on Friday, August 24, Heather will take part in a series of events that will allow her to meet young and old to talk about her amazing achievement.
Local councillor Carolle Ralph said: “The local community wanted to welcome Heather back to Lossiemouth and celebrate her success in not only winning the first gold with her partner Helen Glover, but also the first ever women’s gold in rowing.
“We wanted to show her how proud we are of her historic achievement and mark what is a first for Lossie, indeed for Moray.
“A number of local organisations have come together and we have all been involved in the planning for this, including the Community Council, Lossiemouth Business Association and the Lossie Millennium Association.
“We are very excited about Heather’s homecoming to Lossiemouth and we want everyone to have the chance to be part of what we hope will be a very warm welcome back - and of course for them to have the opportunity to congratulate her in person.”
Programme of events
Heather will arrive home on Friday, August 24 and be transported to the Moray Council Chamber in a ‘suitable vehicle’ where at 1.30pm she will be presented with a commemorative parchment scroll.
At around 2.30pm she will attend an informal afternoon of tea and cakes at the Lossiemouth Town Hall, where members of the public are being encouraged to attend and meet the Olympian.
An exhibition of posters that will be part of a competition in which local children are invited to ‘capture the Olympic spirit’ will be on display, with Heather’s parents facing the tough challenge of selecting a winning entry. Schools will receive notification of the competition details next week.
Heather will also meet with Abigail O’Grady, who carried the official Olympic Torch through Moray ahead of the games.
On Sunday, August 26 Heather will attend the Elgin Library where she will be happy to meet and chat with members of the public between 2pm and 4pm.
The following day Heather is planning to attend schools in Lossiemouth as they return after their summer break.
Councillor Ralph said: “Heather very much wanted to involve the children and young people in her return to Moray, we were also keen to do this and it is a once in a lifetime opportunity for them to meet an Olympic Gold Medallist.
“We hope that the planned special assemblies will give the children the chance to think of some questions for Heather.
“We also hope to build on the tremendous feel good factor which the 2012 Games have generated throughout the country and that this will serve to inspire and motivate them to reach for the skies and be encouraged to take up sporting opportunities and of course get fit.”
