A group which promoted links between the north-east and the “energy capital of the world” Houston is winding up after 45 years.
The Grampian-Houston Association (GHA) was set up in May 1979 after the north-east region was twinned with the Texan city.
Known in the United States as a “sister city relationship”, the twinning charter was signed in the Granite City, with a 40-strong delegation travelling across the Atlantic to witness it being signed.
Now, it’s been confirmed that the organisation will cease.
GHA’s secretary William Neish told The Press and Journal: “Unfortunately its sister organisation the Houston-Grampian Association did not survive the Covid closedown and this has made it difficult for GHA to continue to function effectively.
He added: “The decision was taken to wind up the organisation and this process is now in hand.”
The Houston-Grampian Association performed a similar role in Texas as the GHA does in the north-east until 2021, when responsibility for promoting the relationship transferred to the British American Foundation of Texas and the Houston chapter of the British-American Business Council.
Grampian-Houston Association – a history
GHA’s founding was not just to foster links between the oil and gas industries, but also through a number of different spheres, including business, commercial, educational and social.
Between 1995 and 2019, an annual exchange of students nurses from the Robert Gordon University and Houston Baptist University was arranged by the Grampian-Houston Association and the Houston-Grampian Association.
The students selected spent two weeks in their sister city studying healthcare provision and nursing education, with them drawing up a report comparing provision in Scotland and Texas to the two associations.
In the 1970s, many Texans came to Aberdeen following the finding of North Sea oil and gas, while many Scots have moved to America’s fourth largest – which has a population of over 2.3 million in its city limits – to work in the industry there.
One of those born in Aberdeen was footballer Stuart Holden, who moved with his family to Houston at the age of 10, with his late father working for oil company Chevron.
Despite being Scottish born, Holden represented the USA at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa and played for the “stars and stripes” in their 1-1 draw against England.
GHA is officially recognised by Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire councils, with councillors representing each authority on it.
One of those councillors is Councillor Nurul Hoque Ali, an oil worker for more than three decades who lived in Houston for “about five years” and described the organisation’s demise as being a “very unfortunate situation”.
He added: “The link between the Grampian region and Houston is still strong even though the focus of energy is changing from oil and gas to sustainable energies.
“Not only do I feel there is still much we can learn from each other on energy transition but there is a lot of friendship between us.
“Over the years, many personal friendships have been formed between the people of both areas.”
Links between Aberdeen and Houston ‘will continue’
Despite the close links – both economically and culturally – there was never a direct flight between Europe’s oil capital and Houston, although there was plans for an all-business class one to take off in 2008 by City Star Airlines.
However, the airline went bust.
With GHA soon to be disbanded after over four decades, Mr Neish is still confident that the friendship between the north-east and the Texan city will remain.
He said: “Grampian Region has many links with Houston and will continue to be officially with America’s fourth largest city.”
Conversation