The Plaza Ciudad de Banff in the Versalles neighborhood of Buenos Aires hosted a tribute to General José de San Martín. The event celebrated the 201st anniversary of the day Banff, the Scottish city the square is named after, granted the Argentine national hero honorary citizenship, on August 19, 1824.

Originally scheduled for August 19th, the ceremony was postponed until the 26th due to bad weather. The event was attended by numerous neighbors, local authorities, and representatives of various organizations.

Members of the Buenos Aires Scottish Guard, carrying the Argentine and Scottish flags and accompanied by their bagpiper, opened the ceremony, blending ceremonial precision with solemn remembrance.

Among the speakers was Susana Boragno. A historian who has visited Banff, Boragno recounted the Liberator’s 1824 visit to Banff, as well as the origin of the name Plaza Ciudad de Banff.

On behalf of the Argentina–British Community Council (ABCC), I read two letters to celebrate the occasion. One was sent by the Lord-Lieutenant of Banffshire, Andrew Simpson, while the other was a joint missive from Ian Williams, Chair of Friends of Duff House; Mhairi McKean, Secretary of the Banff Preservation and Heritage Society and the Banff Museum; and John Cox, Chair of the Banff Castle Community Association. 

Both letters, in addition to congratulating the organizers, expressed a wish for lasting friendship between the Scottish and Argentine peoples.

I also presented local authorities with a letter from the St. Andrew’s Society of the River Plate – SASRP joining in the celebration and commented on how a 2016 event in the plaza, organized by the ABCC, led to the first contacts with Banff and a trip to attend last year’s bicentennial celebration in Banff itself.

Juan Manuel Oro, President of the Comuna 10, expressed his joy that the ceremony took place and his hope that it would help many neighbors understand why the square is called Plaza Ciudad de Banff.

Tony Kay OBE, from the British Embassy, congratulated organizers and guests on the event’s role in strengthening ties between Argentina and the United Kingdom and took the opportunity to invite everyone to visit Banff.

A highlight of intercontinental camaraderie came in 2024, when Andrew Simpson, Lord-Lieutenant of Banffshire, presented a Banffshire flag to John Hunter. Granted in Banff on August 19, 2024, the flag now resides in the public library near Plaza Ciudad de Banff as a living symbol of our shared heritage.

A marble commemorative plaque marking the 201st anniversary of San Martín’s recognition in Banff was also unveiled. Dated August 19, 2025, it honors the Libertador’s historic bond with Scotland.