Get your broomstick - Portree named Honorary Quiddich Town!
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Portree was recognised as an Honorary Quidditch Town this morning in celebration of the new book, Quidditch Through The Ages Illustrated Edition, an essential companion to the Harry Potter series and guide on the wizard’s favourite sport.
To mark today’s release of the book written by J.K Rowling and illustrated by Emily Gravett, Bloomsbury Publishing presented the Skye and Raasay Councillor and chairman of the Highland Council Education Committee, Councillor John Finlayson, with a decorative banner featuring gold Quidditch hoops celebrating the town’s fictitious Quidditch team, Pride of Portree. Pride of Portree feature in the wizarding world’s Quidditch league and the banner also bears the town’s Quidditch team crest, an eye-catching design featuring a regal gold star.
Skye and Raasay Councillor and Chair of the Highland Council Education Committee, Councillor John Finlayson, was pictured next to the banner in an outdoor, socially distanced presentation with the Isle of Skye Pipe Band and two young Harry Potter fans at The Lump. During the official presentation, the young Harry Potter fans celebrated on their Nimbus 2000 broomsticks amid sweeping views of nearby hilltops and the harbor.
Throughout the week, Honorary Quidditch Town presentations will continue safely and in line with government guidelines across the UK and Ireland.
The ceremonies are being held at prehistoric sites, stone circles, medieval castles, Roman forts and churches, celebrating the release of Quidditch Through The Ages and the real-life towns represented by Quidditch teams in the Harry Potter series.
In these challenging times, people planning a visit to Portree or any of the Honorary Quidditch Towns should check the guidelines and rules of the government, local authorities and specific tourism attraction before making the trip.
Other scenes of celebration took place today in The Square, Wigtown – Wigtown Wanderers , a historic site from the Georgian era, fringed by trees; St. Luke’s Church, Tutshill –Tutshill Tornados, a church with Gothic architecture dating back to the 1800s; and Kenmare Stone Circle, Kenmare –Kenmare Kestrals, a pre-historic stone circle.
In total eleven towns and villages across the UK and Ireland, from Appleby to Holyhead, Falmouth to Wimborne, are being honored in celebration of the new book, Quidditch Through The Ages Illustrated Edition, an essential companion to the Harry Potter series and guide on the wizard’s favourite sport.
A spokesman from Bloomsbury Publishing said: “We’re really proud to recognise Portree as an Honorary Quidditch Town alongside ten other towns and villages across the United Kingdom and Ireland. Quidditch captured the imaginations of children and adults across the world, and the new book Quidditch Through the Ages, beautifully illustrated by Emily Gravett, is a magical companion for those who want to immerse themselves in the wizarding world of Harry Potter.”
“Harry Potter fans can now unearth the real-life towns and villages inspiring the names of Quidditch teams and we ask anyone planning a visit to Portree to first check national and local travel guidance on coronavirus to ensure their visit is made safely. For communities that are currently experiencing stricter measures, we encourage people to support their favourite Quidditch team virtually by visiting the official Harry Potter fan club, Wizarding World.”
Skye and Raasay councillor and chairman of the Highland Council education committee, Councillor John Finlayson, said: “We’re delighted to be recognised as an Honorary Quidditch Town.
"Harry Potter’s favourite sport Quidditch brings joy to children and adults across the world, and this decorative banner, emblazoned with the town’s team colours, shows our support for our beloved Quidditch team."
Seamus MacDonald (9) from Bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig Phort Rìgh and Eilidh Murray (9) from Portree Primary said: “I'm obsessed with Harry Potter and dream of playing Quidditch, so I’m really happy to find out that I now live in an Honorary Quidditch Town. I loved visiting the sign and it’s great that Portree has been honoured in this way.
Peter MacDonald, drum major, Isle of Skye Pipe Band said: “We're delighted to be part of today's ceremony officially recognising Portree as an Honorary Quidditch Town. It's fantastic that Portree features in the new Harry Potter book, Quidditch Through The Ages Illustrated Edition, and hope people from across the world will come and visit our beautiful island village and experience the sights and sounds of the the pipes and drums as we perform during the summer months in Portree".
The eleven honorary Quidditch towns receiving the banners are:
Appleby (Appleby Arrows)
Ballycastle (Ballycastle Bats)
Caerphilly (Caerphilly Catapults)*
Falmouth (Falmouth Falcons)
Holyhead (Holyhead Harpies)
Kenmare (Kenmare Kestrels)
Montrose (Montrose Magpies)
Portree (Pride of Portree)
Tutshill (Tutshill Tornados)
Wigtown (Wigtown Wanderers)
Wimborne (Wimborne Wasps)
*Due to the local lockdown in Caerphilly, the town and community will be awarded its Honorary Quidditch Town status at a later date when the restrictive measures are lifted and the presentation can be conducted safely.
Two fictitious Quidditch towns are also being honoured, Chudley Cannons and Puddlemere United, and fans can pledge their virtual allegiance to any of the thirteen Quidditch teams by visiting the official Harry Potter fan club, Wizarding World www.wizardingworld.com , to view the banners in-situ and uncover more information about each Honorary Quidditch Town.
Bloomsbury Publishing has also delivered activity packs to local shops to ensure that everyone can celebrate their Honorary Quidditch Town status.
Bloomsbury’s Quidditch presentations follow the unveiling of last week’s Harry Potter statue in London’s Leicester Square, depicting the memorable moment that Harry Potter, played by actor Daniel Radcliffe, took flight on his Nimbus 2000 broom over the Hogwarts Quidditch pitch for the very first time, from the film Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
