Coronavirus casts shadow on Scottish Rural Awards as major event postponed
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The yearly celebration of Scottish rural community spirit will be postponed for the first time in its six-year history due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Scottish Rural Awards – due to have taken place on April 2 – are now scheduled for November 25.
Organisers Scottish Field magazine and the Scottish Countryside Alliance said the "difficult decision" to postpone the Glasgow event was taken in light of the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.
Ticket holders are being advised to keep hold of their tickets as they will be honoured at the event in November.
Brian Cameron, commercial director of Scottish Field said: "We are extremely sorry to be postponing the event but in light of the coronavirus worsening in Scotland we wanted to act responsibly under the current circumstances and work towards preventing the further spread of the virus.
"We have reassured all attendees and sponsors that the event will go ahead on Wednesday, November 25."
Sponsors of the Scottish Rural Awards 2020 include the Royal Highland & Agricultural Society of Scotland, Barclays, Subaru, Strathallan School, Chiene & Tait, The Enchanted Forest, By Storm, Glencairn Crystal and Highland Game. The awards are partnered by the Scottish Countryside Alliance and this year’s charity partners are the National Rural Mental Health Forum.
The Scottish Rural Awards celebrate the enterprise, innovation and community spirit of those who live and work in Scotland’s countryside.
The finalists of the Scottish Rural Awards 2020 were announced in December and the winner and runner-up of 12 awards as well as the Rural Hero and Lifetime Achievement awards were due to be announced in April but will now be announced at the awards ceremony on 25th November 2020.
Bake Off star Flora Shedden and previous winner Sir Ian Grant have joined the Scottish Rural Awards judging panel for 2020. The other judges are: Richard Bath, editor of Scottish Field, Jamie Stewart, Countryside Alliance director for Scotland, Alan Laidlaw, chief executive of the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS) and Charlie Shentall, director of The Lodge at Perth Racecourse.
