by a Newsnet reporter
An MSP wants to make 2014 a year of Scottish stamps and has called on the Royal Mail to issue a series of commemorative stamps to celebrate a number of important events scheduled to take place in Scotland that year.
In 2014 Scotland will host the Commonwealth Games, the Ryder Cup, the second Homecoming. The year will also be the 10th anniversary of the Scottish Parliament building.
Caithness, Sutherland and Ross MSP Rob Gibson has called for the stamps as the Royal Mail issues similar for the Queen’s Jubilee and the Olympic Games.
Mr Gibson said: “In 2014, Scotland will be in the world’s spotlight with the second year of Homecoming, the Ryder Cup and the Commonwealth Games reinforcing Scotland’s reputation as a world leading events destination.
“What better way to mark this remarkable year than with a series of stamps that would spread the word at home and overseas.
“Scotland is embarking on a second year of homecoming in 2014. The Scottish Parliament – although initially controversial – is recognised worldwide as an enduring work of art and will be 10 years old in 2014.
“The Ryder Cup and Commonwealth Games are two massive international sporting events which will be celebrated by all and remembered fondly.
“The Royal Mail’s response so far has been disappointing turning down a separate request for Commonwealth Games stamps – I am asking them to reconsider the full range of events taking place in Scotland in 2014.
“I am now seeking cross-party support to urge Royal Mail into issuing a series of stamps for 2014 and hope that others will make appropriate suggestions.
“With a commemorative stamp for the Queen’s Jubilee being issued next year I feel it is time to ask for one of the host of events taking place in Scotland in 2014.”
Although the Royal Mail has said that it will not issue a special series of stamps to commemorate the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, they did issue commemorative stamps to celebrate the Games on the last four occasions they were held in the UK, in Cardiff in 1958, Edinburgh in 1970 and 1986 and most recently in Manchester in 2002. The Royal Mail also issued commemorative stamps to celebrate the World Student Games in Sheffield and the Rugby World Cup in London in 1991.
Two separate series of stamps are being issued to celebrate the London Olympics. The Royal Mail issued a series of commemorative stamps in 2010 to celebrate London being granted the Olympics, and plans to issue a further series next year to coincide with the Game themselves.
2014 will also see the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn, a seminal date in Scottish history which saw Scottish independence secured for 400 years. The Royal Mail has not announced any plans to issue a commemorative series of stamps for this event, although in 1966 a series of stamps was issued to commemorate the 900th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings and in 1965 stamps were issued to commemorate the 700th anniversary of Simon de Montfort’s English Parliament.