Campbeltown has been chosen as one of only six venues in Scotland to host a Touring Exhibition to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the end of World War II. This will set up camp in the Victoria Hall from 13 October to 19 November 2005 with a full calendar of events planed in the run up to the main exhibition.
Until now this event has been commemorated by the nation every ten years but as it is likely that ten years from now fewer veterans and civilians who lived through the war will be around, major resources have been made available to enable the younger generations to share their memories and celebrate their achievements.
The Imperial War Museum in London and the Big Lottery have teamed up and created a scheme called “Their Past – Your Future”. This involves a specially designed national Touring Exhibition as well as funding for activities and events on local level that bring old and young together in commemorating the war years which so shaped the face of the nation. Pupils from all of Kintyre’s primary schools will pay a visit to the exhibition and prior to the visit be involved in projects connected with the war experience. In addition, funding has been made available for local organisations that have expressed an interest to contribute to a programme of activities and events, which will run from May to the end of the Touring Exhibition.
Work has already started to make things happen, involving the Council's education, library, museum and leisure services, the Campbeltown Heritage Centre, the Kintyre Antiquarian and Natural History Society, the Kintyre Civic Society, the Dalintober Tenants and Residents Association, the Wee Picture House, the WRI and the Southend Senior Citizens Group. It is hoped that more organisations and individuals will join in and proposals are warmly welcomed.
It is the plan to have a full calendar of events together by the end of April and kick off with some events over the summer followed by a busy programme from September onwards. For what goes on nationally, try www.scotlandswar.info
