Kilwinning Heritage continues to enhance the understanding and appreciation of local history. Recently we were awarded a grant of £1000 From NACs Legacy Fund which was and will be used to enhance the visitor experience in the Abbey Tower and to encourage visits by school groups to the Abbey and Heritage Centre. We acquired a digital photograph of a World War 1 Roll of Honour from the former Fergushill Parish Church, and had this photograph professionally printed and framed to add to our collection. Next season, we will have more AV equipment available to show short films and historical photos to visitors to improve the display and to help people’s understanding of the history and heritage of the town. One of our stated aims was to “ensure that schools and young people will benefit by having a clearer understanding of our local history. . . .an improved respect for the Abbey remains and the graveyard within them, and an improved understanding of their cultural inheritance”. To this end, we purchased additional historical costumes to help in our workshops with schools and youth groups. We were also able to offer free guided visits to the Abbey and Tower to local schools, by providing transport. In all seven visits were preceded by an in-school workshop, and a total of 181 young people and helpers visited. In a survey, all parties who responded gave us top marks for this project and its outcomes. There will be further talks to other youth groups in the New Year. Trying not to be biased, the success of this is down to the hard work of our Secretary Christine Watson who organised all this in an extremely professional manner, and to the volunteers who helped staff the Tower for these extra visits. The youngsters really enjoyed it and even Treasurer Jim Friels got a special mention! We believe that education of the next generation is vitally important and will continue to promote it. .
Posted on: Sun, 07 Dec 2014 17:36:36 +0000