Dewar family backs ‘Perth 2021’ city bid
Dupplin Estate announce support for prestigious title
The Dupplin Estate in Perth is backing Perth’s attempt to earn coveted UK City of Culture 2021 status.
The estate, which lies to the south-west of the Fair City, has been owned by the Dewar family for more than 100 years after the land was acquired by John Dewar, 1st Baron of Forteviot and the son of the founder of Dewar’s Whisky.
Dupplin Estate includes Forteviot village, Castle Law hillfort and an Iron Age Pictish fort, and the current landowners hope winning city of culture will boost local tourism.
Alexander Dewar, the current heir to the Barony of Forteviot, said: “I am pleased to lend my support to Perth and Kinross Council’s bid for Perth to be the next City of Culture in 2021.
“Perth has been a rich vein in my family’s history with the development of Dewar’s whisky business from its global headquarters in Perth, the acquisition and development of Dupplin Estate and the philanthropy and public services of my recent forebears.
“Time has passed and the whisky business has moved on and away from Perth but our family has continued its connection and commitment to Perth.
“For all its rich heritage the modern-day Perth faces many social challenges and divisions of a rapidly evolving society.
“It appears at times that the city struggled to keep pace with these changing demands despite the ambitions of many to help it to do so.
“I see the UK City of Culture bid as a catalyst to achieving that transition to a tourist and cultural hub that will serve the much wider community, both rural and urban, that associates itself with the city.
“Perth is blessed with its landscapes, its heritage and the warmth of its people and has shown its appeal with the 2014 Ryder Cup.
“I am confident that we would once again proudly welcome our guests as a UK City of Culture and leave with them a sense of the rich and proud history of Scotland that we hold, while leaving the city and its surrounding rural communities with a legacy of a repositioned city fit for the 21st century.”
Dewar’s Whisky was first established in Perth in 1846 and moved to the Aberfeldy distillery in 1896.
The family are keen to keep the strong ties they hold to Perth, despite the brand now being owned by Bacardi.
Perth and Kinross Council Provost Liz Grant said: “I warmly welcome the support of the Dupplin Estate. The Perth 2021 bid will focus on a number of themes, and the beautiful rural backdrop of Perth will be a focus, as will our local history and heritage.
“The City of Culture bid has the potential to return real benefits to the people of Perth and Kinross and will, if successful, potentially attract thousands of visitors to the area over the course of the City of Culture year in 2021.” Alexander and Donryn Dewar being presented with a tourism accolade by VisitScotland regional director Jim Clarkson