A Day for Scotland: 30 Years On

On 14 July 1990, over 30,000 people gathered in Stirling to celebrate ‘A Day for Scotland’. This event commemorates the day 30 years on.

Held at Fallen Inch Field, this huge outdoor festival combined music, politics and family fun. Headliners such as Runrig, Hue & Cry and The Shamen were joined by folk luminaries such as Dick Gaughan and Hamish Henderson. A day of face-paint and sunshine included comedy acts, beer tents and theatre workshops, with a running theme of national pride. Billed as ‘a Festival for Our Future’, this was a key event not only for Stirling, but in linking popular culture and politics in the campaign for a Scottish parliament.

Organised by the Scottish Trades Union Congress and Stirling District Council, flyers promised ‘a positive celebration of Scottish life — which says we must decide our future — no-one else!’ The political overtones were unmissable, and raised a stir (not least with the local MP, Michael Forsyth, a Scottish Office minister in the Thatcher government). Controversy and all, the event was widely viewed as a major success, and paved the way for large pop concerts at Stirling Castle from the mid-1990s.

This free online event commemorates ‘A Day for Scotland’ 30 years on. Speakers connected to the event — including punters and performers — will share their memories and reflections, and we’re very keen to hear from members of the public with stories, insights and images to share. The Scottish Political Archive (University of Stirling) will both share and capture some artefacts of the day.

Speakers

Confirmed speakers include Lisa Whytock (Festival Organiser), Pat Kane (Hue and Cry), Stewart Smith (cultural critic and journalist) and Peter Lynch (Scottish Political Archive).

The event is free but please register to reserve your place so we can send you information on how to join the discussions online closer to the time. Any queries please email scottishpoliticalarchive@stir.ac.uk.