An exhibition commemorating Aberfeldy's role in the First World War has received a vital funding boost of £30,000 from SSE's Griffin and Calliachar wind farm Community Fund.
The award to the Breadalbane Heritage Society will be used to create exhibition space and purchase specialist museum cabinets to display artefacts of a local historical significance. The installation will initially be based in the Breadalbane community campus with plans to develop a permanent museum once a suitable location has been identified.
The society’s first exhibition will tell the story of Aberfeldy and its people during the Great War, acting as the area’s contribution to the national centenary commemorations. The collection has been gathered through donations from local residents and includes mementos of relatives who served with the 6th Black Watch Battalion in 1914. In addition to the WW1 relics, items have also been gifted by Perth Museum and Art Gallery. The exhibition is scheduled to open in February 2015.
Despite a rich local history and busy tourist trade, this will be first time a museum has been based in Aberfeldy. It’s hoped the interest generated by the WW1 commemoration will inspire local support for the permanent and larger museum project.
Anne Beeson from the Breadalbane Heritage Society said: “Aberfeldy has a strong connection to the Black Watch Regiment and the historic roads of General Wade with a wealth of local artefacts to support this. The grant from the SSE Griffin and Calliachar wind farm fund has allowed us to commission specialist cabinets in which to showcase these important pieces, and begin the first stage of the Aberfeldy Museum which we have been championing for some time.
“Breadalbane Heritage Society is delighted by this significant development and looks forward to progressing the next step of the wider museum project.”
Tommy Pringle, curator of the exhibition said: “The idea for the display has grown and grown and is generating a lot of interest. We’re holding a WW1 Digitisation Day on Saturday where we hope to discover many more First World War items held by families in the local area. We’d also like to get the school involved by asking students to try and match faces and information to the names from the various War Memorials in the town. It will be a real community effort and we would be delighted to welcome anyone who wants to come along on the day.”
SSE Community Investment Adviser Ciara Wilson said: “This exhibition will be a wonderful tribute to the community’s role in WW1 and an exceptional educational resource for future generations. As a responsible community member SSE is excited our renewable energy developments are helping projects like this one and also the planned new museum which it's hoped will increase tourism and reinforce Aberfeldy’s place on the Highland Perthshire heritage map.”
The Griffin and Calliachar fund, provided by SSE, has an annual value of approximately £450,000 for community and charitable projects in Aberfeldy, Dull and Weem, Dunkeld and Birnam, Kenmore and District, and Mid Atholl Strathtay and Grandtully. Over the 25 year lifespan of the two wind farms, at least £15 million will be invested in the benefit area. Decisions on how the money is allocated are made by an independent panel of local people.