FOR IMMEDIATE USE:  17 AUGUST 2009 (From East Ayrshire Council)

STARS SIGN UP TO KEEP STRIDING MAN IN KILMARNOCK

Musicians Lloyd Cole, Saw Doctors front man Leo Moran and Katie Sutherland (aka Pearl of Pearl and the Puppets) took time out at the recent Kilmarnock Edition Music Festival to lend support to the campaign to keep Johnnie Walker in Kilmarnock.

The stars, also including the Ballachulish Hellhounds, were happy to sign the petition to keep the company’s historic links with the town. Lloyd Cole assured a cheering crowd: “If Johnnie Walker leaves Kilmarnock, I’ll never drink their whisky again”.

Galway band The Saw Doctors are familiar with previous Diageo attempts to cut longstanding ties to an area, with the 2007 attempt to close the original Guinness brewery in Dublin.

 Such is the importance of Johnnie Walker to the history of Kilmarnock, that references to the brand appear in the Ayrshire Innovators Exhibition currently at The Dick. On display are an 18 year old Johnnie Walker Gold Label Centenary blend whisky, a Black Label water jug and vintage adverts. In addition, as part of his photo essay series, Kieran Dodds photographed the labelling machinery at the bottling plant, featuring the trademark Striding Man, in recognition of the role Johnnie Walker continues to play in the town.

The cross-party group leading the Johnnie Walker campaign said: “Having these famous music names sign our petition and declare their support so publicly takes the campaign to a whole new level.

“It also makes larger numbers of younger people more aware of the importance of what we are trying to do and brings in a different audience to help Keep Johnnie Walker in Kilmarnock”.

To add your name to the petition, visit http://www.keepjohnniewalkerinkilmarnock.com
For further information contact Carol Keohone on 01563 578154.

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