‘UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT’ CELEBRATION PLANNED AS MOFFAT TOWN HALL RETURNS TO ITS COMMUNITY
THE historic agreement between Dumfries & Galloway Council and Moffat Town Hall Redevelopment Trust, to return management of the Town Hall to its community, will be formally celebrated at 11.30am on Monday, November 26th, 2012.
The signing of the 21-year lease took place on 31st October, and it came into effect on 12th November. The ceremony will be very much ‘the icing on the cake’ following five-and-a-half years of work by the community to raise funds and to develop plans to secure the future of the building.
With funding support from Historic Scotland and Dumfries & Galloway Council, building work on restoration of the exterior of the hall begins in February 2013.
Local MSP, Dr Elaine Murray; D&G and community councillors; and Moffat residents will look on as D&G Council chief executive, Gavin Stevenson, hands over the keys to the Hall and a ribbon is cut at the entrance by an 89 year-old, long-term Moffat resident, Bettina Dawson, who has been working on the High Street all her working life.
A celebration cake made by another supporter will then be cut and handed out.
Plans for the Hall and photos of ‘hidden corners’ of the Hall will be on display.
The chair of The Town Hall Redevelopment Trust, Peter Beck-Samuels, has stressed: “This is for the community as a whole, who have helped to make this happen; and who will be key to the successful operation of the building in the future.”
All of Moffat and Upper Annandale are invited, with supplies of Bucks Fizz laid on to wash the cake down and to toast the future.
The ceremony will begin with a piper calling on people to assemble and after formalities will conclude with a choir from Moffat Academy and more from the piper.
Local Councillor for Annandale North, Peter Diggle, recognised the hard work that has been done by all and said that he, for one, was delighted to attend the ceremony.
This is a ground-breaking agreement, which has created national interest, reflected in the project being recognised as a National Demonstration Site for Asset Transfer in 2010 through Development Trusts Association Scotland.
Photo opportunities:
* A large banner stating ‘Under New Management’ will hang from the front of the Town Hall
* A ‘jailer’-style keyring has been sourced and will be handed over from D&G Council chief executive, Gavin Stevenson to the Trust
* A ribbon across the entrance way will be cut by local character 89 year-old old Bettina Dawson
* The cutting of the celebration cake
* Musical performances by a young local piper and a school choir from Moffat Academy.
Moffat Town Hall Redevelopment Trust November 19, 2012
Please feel free to ring Martin Tilstone, MTHRT Trustee, on 0775 3829741 with any questions.
MEDIA RELEASE posted by Copytaker. You too can post a media release (aka press release) on allmediascotland.com. For more information, email here.
Contact: Martin Tilstone, Trustee
Phone: 0775 3829741
Email: peter@peterbeck-samuels.orangehome.co.uk
Website: http://www.moffattownhalltrust.co.uk/
