FAMILY GATHERING SWITCHES VENUE
THE bi-annual gathering of a former Forfar family is one event to fall victim of the closure of the Royal Hotel on Monday (see separate story).
The "Dispatch and Herald" reported in February that members of the Aitken family were to travel from far and wide to revisit their roots, some 55 years after leaving the town.
Ian Aitken said he was keen to rekindle contacts with old friends of the family and invite them along to the gathering, which was to be held at the Royal Hotel, on the evening of Saturday, July 31.
However, following the devastating news that the Royal Hotel was to close, the family changed the venue to the Queen's Hotel on Saturday, July 31.
Ian said: "We have had a reasonable response considering the length of time between us leaving Forfar and this family gathering.
"One response came from Canada, and another from California, so your readership extends quite a long way.
"About ten people have contacted us so far, not all of them will be able to make it to see us while we are there, but most of the little group that I personally grew up and played with will be making the effort to say hello again, one from Forfar, one from Arbroath and one from Harrogate.
"The family is really looking forward to meeting as many old friends as can come. One change is that no doubt people will know that the Royal Hotel has closed down, so we have moved the venue to the Queen's Hotel at the Cross in Forfar.
"So we would be delighted to meet with anyone who would care to come along to say hello during the afternoon of Saturday, July 31, between 2pm and 6pm.
"Unfortunately there will not be quite as many members of the family attending this time as last time, but the two longest distance families from the USA and Switzerland will be there."
Forfar was home to the Aitken family from 1942 to 1955 when they lived in Carseburn Road before moving to the Brechin Road for four years.
Ian said: "My brother and sisters and I spent our schooldays in Forfar. I attended the Queen Victoria boarding school in Dunblane but my sister Joan attended Forfar Academy.
"We have many happy memories of Forfar and we are hoping to try to contact any old friends to invite them along.
"Our family decided to have these gatherings every two years or so, following a tragedy in the family a few years ago, at which time a lot of the family had never even met.
"This year we chose Forfar, although it is a bit difficult in terms of location as most of the family now live in England. Many family members are travelling quite a long journey to be there."
If you would like to contact the family, email Ian at miaitken@aol.com or call 01525 385835.
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Weather for Forfar
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 2 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 3 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 6 mph
Wind direction: South west
