Saturday 28 March 2015

Kilmarnock Pupils Enter Photography Competition



The Scottish Civic Trust organises annually a Scotland-wide heritage photographic project for schools entitled "My Place".  It encourages children to look at their local heritage and, through the medium of photography, develop an understanding of the environment around them.
Pupils of Kilmarnock schools entered the competition while exploring The Kilmarnock Town Trail with Graham Boyd and were encouraged by him to take interesting and some rather unusual photographs. 

All entries to the competition will be displayed at The Lighthouse, Scotland's Centre for Design and Architecture (in the lane off Buchanan Street), in Glasgow from Friday 27th March 2015, for six weeks. It's well worth half an hour of your time if you're in the vicinity to take a look at the entries.  Entry to the exhibition is free.
 
If you can't manage along to the Lighthouse you can see the Killie entries at
Primary
Secondary
http://www.scottishcivictrust.org.uk/my-place-photography/competition/competition-galleries/secondary-2015/

The photographs will be on display locally in the Dick Institute from Friday 24th April 2015.
The exhibition is called  'Kilmarnock Schools - Our Town Through A Lens'

Stop Press
Well done to the pupil from Annanhill Primary who was Highly Commended in the Primary competition and also to the Gargieston pupil who gained a Commendation.

Upside Downside by Max H. (age 11) Annanhill Primary School, East Ayrshire

Mirror Mirror on the Wall by David K. (age 11) Gargieston Primary School, East Ayrshire

Upside Downside by Max H -Annanhill Primary

Mirror Mirror on the Wall by David K, Gargieston Primary



Great Work Graham Boyd.

Tuesday 3 March 2015

KDHG in the community

In addition to hosting our twelve lectures over the winter months, KDHG takes part in and carries out many projects in the community. Most members are probably not aware of the following –

• KDHG have acted as advisors to the Kilmarnock THI and CARS initiatives for many years. THI, or Townscape Heritage Initiative, provides funding for upgrading, restoration and preservation of commercial and residential properties in and around the John Finnie Street / Bank Street Conservation Area. CARS, Historic Scotland’s Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme also provide funding in this area.

• KDHG have been actively involved in East Ayrshire Council’s Ensign Ewart Memorial Project. Ensign Ewart, as you will know, is famous for capturing the regimental eagle of the 45e RĂ©giment de Ligne at the Battle of Waterloo. He was born in Kilmarnock District in 1769 and is buried on Edinburgh Castle esplanade.

• KDHG is actively involved as advisor in East Ayrshire Council’s World War I Memorial Project which will create a lasting memorial in each of the district’s ‘hub towns’

• KDHG is actively involved in producing a Galston Town Trail.

• KDHG have built a website which is visited in large numbers and which generates a number of enquiries from around the world each month. It has the capacity to evolve into a significant archive hub.

• KDHG has helped the Kilmarnock Station Railway Heritage Trust to take shape and secure funding to regenerate the empty units on the platform area to the benefit of the community. Work has now started.

• KDHG committee member Graham Boyd received the Scottish Civic Trust Award for his work in promoting local history in local schools.


KDHG has had a positive impact in the community since foundation in 1972 and will continue to play an active and leading role going forward.

Monday 2 March 2015

Keir Hardie

Keir Hardie has very strong links to Ayrshire. He was a founder of the Labour Party and became its first parliamentary leader. At the turn of the nineteenth century he was Labour's most famous face. Hardie was  voted Labour's 'Greatest Hero' at the 2008 Labour Party Conference, but recently  his  story and ideology seems to have become somewhat forgotten, even within the party he helped to establish. Born illegitimate just outside Glasgow in 1856, he didn't have an easy start to life. Before the age of 10, he was the sole wage earner in his family. He never went to school but was self-taught, avidly reading books lent him by a kind young clergyman.
Come along to our meeting on Tuesday 3 March at 7.30pm in the Kilmarnock campus of Ayrshire College and hear Hardie's biographer Bob Holman's talk on this important socialist figure.

Keir Hardie