MSP joins last Kings Own Scottish Borderers colonel to highlight war memorial fund
MSP Joan McAlpine joined the last commanding officer of the Kings Own Scottish Borderers to promote the restoration of war memorials.
Col Rob Jeffries led the historic regiment on its last march in its 317 year history in Edinburgh in 2006.
The two met at a Scottish Parliament reception hosted by former First Minister Alex Salmond to promote the War Memorials Trust.
As First Minister, Mr Salmond allocated £1 million to the Trust to restore memorials in Scotland during the centenary commemorations of World War One.
The South Scotland MSP is urging other local communities to take advantage of the £500,000 still available.
The Fund has already given grants to fund the restoration of memorials in Moffat and Dunscore.
The SNP MSP said:
“It was fascinating to meet Col Jeffries who occupies a unique place in history as the last commanding officer of KOSB. Many people in the south served with the KOSB and indeed sacrificed their lives with the regiment so it was very fitting that he was in attendance.
“It is important that communities all over Scotland have the ability to renovate their memorials. They should remember that the fund is not just for stone memorials. Many workplaces, schools and other organisations crated memorials to those who have served and fallen, for example paintings and carvings. These are often forgotten but are eligible too. We saw an excellent example in the parliament to the staff of Edinburgh’s Caledonian Hotel who served in WW1. It was a beautiful painting that was only recently rediscoved in a cupboard and loving restored by a professional conservator with help from the trust.
“The greatest achievement of this scheme is that so many more memorials around Scotland are now in a condition that we would expect to respectfully commemorate the centenary of the sacrifice of those who fell in the Great War and conflicts thereafter.”
To find out more about the Centenary Memorials Restoration Fund please visit: www.warmemorials.org/grants
Notes to editors
1. Centenary Memorials Restoration Fund has £1 million available to support the repair and conservation of any war memorial of any type anywhere in Scotland. The scheme was launched in April 2013 and will run through the centenary of World War I. Funded by the Scottish Government and Historic Environment Scotland the scheme is administered by War Memorials Trust. For further information visit www.warmemorials.org/grants.
2. As of the 1st October 2015, Historic Scotland and the Royal Commission of Ancient and Historical Monuments Scotland came together to form a new lead public body charged with caring for, protecting and promoting this historic environment. The new body Historic Environment Scotland (HES) will deliver Scotland’s first strategy for the historic environment, Our Place in Time.
3. Historic Environment Scotland is a registered Scottish Charity. Scottish Charity No. SC045925
4. War Memorials Trust is an independent registered charity. Established in 1997 due to concerns about neglect and vandalism it works to protect and conserve war memorials. It provides advice, information and administers grants schemes that assist the repair and conservation of war memorials across the UK. As a charity the Trust relies on voluntary contributions to undertake its work. Supporters include annual and life members, donors, charitable trusts and corporate contributors.
5. War Memorials Trust provides grants that can assist repair and conservation of war memorials. Contact the Conservation Team to discuss eligibility on 020 7233 7356 / 0300 123 0764 or conservation@warmemorials.org or download a Grants Pre-application form from www.warmemorials.org/grants/.
6. War Memorials Trust provides a free advisory service to anyone with a war memorial enquiry. Specialist Conservation Officers are available on 020 7233 7356 / 0300 123 0764 or conservation@warmemorials.org.
7. Details of grant(s) completed through the Centenary Memorials Restoration Fund can be found on the Trust’s website: www.warmemorials.org/search-grants. The Grants Showcase features all the projects supported by the charity through grants schemes and can be searched by county or area.
