Local Air Cadets gathered at the Spitfire Memorial in Grangemouth to mark the 90^th anniversary of the iconic spitfire plane. Joining the air cadets was Squadron Leader Tom McMorrow MBE and Craig Torrance from the Port of Grangemouth which is located near the original RAF training airbase in the town. Grangemouth was home to Spitfire training during WW2.

Forth Ports was one of the funders of the Grangemouth Spitfire Memorial which was created in 2013 to commemorate the trainee Spitfire pilots who learned to fly the plane in Grangemouth at the beginning of WWII.

The air cadets, from the local Grangemouth Squadron, were invited to the Port of Grangemouth to hear about the role of the port in the past and how it has grown to become key part of Scotland’s economic success. Cadets were also updated on the company’s recent signing of the Armed Forces Covenant* and the early career opportunities in the port and logistics industry. The cadets enjoyed a port tour, which celebrates its 60^th anniversary of the arrival of the first container, to finish the visit.

Commenting on the event, Craig Torrace, Asset Manager, Port of Grangemouth said: “The Spitfire anniversary this week has been a significant event to be part of. Our port has been part of Grangemouth for a long time and we were proud to join Tom and the Air Cadets at the memorial to mark this milestone Spitfire anniversary.

“At the port we are committed to engaging with local young people and through our Armed Forces Covenant, we see for ourselves the value serving personnel, both regular and reservists, veterans and military families contribute to our business and our country.”

*By signing the Armed Forces Covenant, Forth Ports is recognising military skills in recruitment, championing veteran employment, providing flexibility for service spouses and partners, and supporting employees who serve as reservists or cadet force volunteers. Forth Ports also backs national Armed Forces events and charities.

Today (02.04.26), the First Minister of Scotland (FM), Rt Hon John Swinney, visited the Port of Leith to receive an overview of Forth Ports’ investment programme, which spans new renewables and logistics terminals, mixed-use developments, multimodal transport and low-carbon fleet expansion. These initiatives are creating opportunities for data scientists, engineers, mariners, graduates and apprentices.

The visit included a site tour of the Charles Hammond Berth and the 175 acre Leith Renewables Hub — Scotland’s largest renewable energy hub — which, alongside the Port of Dundee, is supporting the delivery of the Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm off the coast of Angus.

The First Minister was hosted by Stuart Wallace, CEO of Forth Ports, alongside Derek Knox, Regional Director – Scotland, Asset Managers, Chris Monteith and Callum Hogan. He also met Ewan O’Hara and Mike Roberts from Forth Projects who are delivering the roll-out of renewable energy infrastructure in the North Sea.

Stuart Wallace welcomed the First Minister to the Port of Leith and said: “We were pleased to welcome the First Minister to the Port of Leith to see for himself the major transformation of the port. Developments like the Renewables Hub we’ve built at the Port of Leith help to power the economy and create a balanced sustainable future for us all.”

On his visit to the Charles Hammond Berth, The First Minister said: “It’s absolutely fantastic to be at the Port of Leith and to see the phenomenal amount of involvement that Forth Ports has in the development of Scotland’s renewable energy capability and also to see the investments being made by Forth Ports to enable this to take place is absolutely outstanding. I’m so pleased to see this development, it’s such a boost to Scotland’s economy and such a contribution to realising our ambitions on renewable energy.”