A TARTAN especially created for July’s G8 Summit at Gleneagles has been given the seal of approval by Prime Minister Tony Blair’s wife Cherie.

Launched in Perthshire yesterday, the tartan was chosen by Mrs Blair from a competition short list.

The idea to create a tartan for the summit was suggested by Kinross cashmere yarn manufacturer Todd and Duncan, which approached the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Perth and Kinross Council with the proposal.

A national competition was staged and the winning tartan was designed by Crieff man Brian Wilton and incorporates green and purple, colours that represent the G8 Summit logo.

The design also features a line of red, the one colour present in all the G8 nation flags and which Brian described as representing “the common thread that binds them together in their efforts to aid developing countries.”

There is also one white line for each G8 nation in the tartan, which together form the St Andrew’s cross.

Perth Provost Bob Scott and Deputy First Minister Jim Wallace were at the Famous Grouse Experience in Crieff yesterday for the unveiling of the tartan.

“I am delighted that this modern interpretation of a traditional Scottish product, recognisable across the world, will be showcased to an international audience—and I am very pleased to say that with local companies and local people having been closely linked to the whole venture, this is an excellent way of highlighting local Perthshire talent,” said Provost Scott.

Mr Wallace said, “This is an ideal opportunity to present the best of Scotland to a worldwide audience.”

Anyone wanting to use or replicate the tartan should contact the Scottish Tartans Authority (STA), which will seek a modest donation that will be consolidated and passed to a specific African charity.

For permission to use or reproduce the tartan, contact the STA on 01764 655444 (out of hours—01764 654427) or by Email at G8@tartansauthority.com.