Once our royal capital, Dunfermline awarded city status for Jubilee
Joy for Kingdom of Fife after recognition at last!
IT was the birthplace of the philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, and the royal capital of Scotland until the 15th century.
Now Dunfermline can boast a new accolade after the Fife town was given prestigious city status in celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. A record eight towns have been made cities as part of the Royal celebrations, including Stanley, capital of the Falkland Islands.
Other winners of the competition for city status are Doncaster, Colchester and Milton Keynes in England, Wrexham in Wales, Bangor in Northern Ireland and Douglas, which becomes the only city on the Isle of Man.
Dunfermline Abbey was the venue for the marriage of Malcolm III, King of Scots, and Margaret in 1070, and in 1329 Robert the Bruce became the last of the seven Scottish kings to be buried there.
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said: ‘Warmest congratulations to Dunfermline on gaining city status. Businesses and communities alike will enjoy the benefits of this prestigious new title.
‘Being awarded city status can give places a real boost, from helping grow the local economy, to raising its profile, to instilling civic pride. For a place with such rich royal history, it is fitting that Dunfermline is becoming a city as we celebrate our longest-serving monarch’s Platinum Jubilee.
‘Its lovely green spaces and fantastic cultural attractions will ensure that this new city thrives well into the future.’
Dunfermline cited its library, music and arts festival and annual fireworks display as big attractions, as well as Carnegie, its most famous son whose steel plants helped to build America.
Provost of Fife Jim Leishman, the former football player and manager, welcomed the announcement, saying: ‘City status will help us grow economically and as a tourist destination and will have a positive impact on Dunfermline and the surroundings.
‘Of course, the people of Dunfermline have always known that Dunfermline is a city – that’s why we have the City Car Park, the City Hotel and City Cabs.
‘But it’s great to finally get official recognition of this.’
Research shows that in the decade since Perth was granted city status in 2012 as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, its economy expanded by 12 per cent.
The announcement of new cities was made by the Cabinet Office, which oversaw the competition.
A rival Fife bid from St Andrews had made the list of places hoping to become a city, but ultimately missed out. Other entries from Scotland included Dumfries, Elgin, Greenock, Livingston, Oban and South Ayrshire.
Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said: ‘I congratulate our eight brilliant winners. This competition showcases the best of Britain and the Overseas Territories and will act as a lasting legacy of Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.’
This year was the first time the competition was open to applications from the Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories.
‘Fantastic cultural attractions’