Your chance to contribute to history

People from the Galashiels community are being invited to contribute to the ‘Saving and Sharing the Borders experience: Scottish Borders Stories of World War One’ project by coming along to an event in Trinity Parish Church on Saturday, March 12, from 10.30am-4pm.

The day is a chance for anyone from the local area to bring along their letters, diaries, photographs or other memorabilia and share their family’s memories of the First World War.

A variety of other activities will also be available. The Langlee Community Choir will perform a set of songs from the period at noon, while Alan Cumming’s popular talk on Scottish Women’s Hospitals during WWI will take place at 3pm. Atendees will also be able to meet characters from the time and see a collection of First World War artefacts provided by the Living History Society ‘Scots and the Great War’.

Councillor Vicky Davidson, executive member for culture, sport, youth and communities at Scottish Borders Council (SBC) said: “The aim of this unique project is to document the impact and significance of the turbulent WW1 years on our local and national heritage.

“This is a chance for people from Galashiels and the surrounding area to share their own memories and experiences and contribute to the picture being gathered for the Borders as a whole.

“We are particularly keen to hear from the generation who has a direct link with those who participated as we are only too aware that these people are inevitably getting older and this may be our last chance to capture their recollections.”

‘Saving and Sharing the Borders experience: Scottish Borders Stories of World War One’ is a two-year project being co-ordinated by the council’s museums, archives and library services.

It aims to provide a unique and lasting commemorative record of the First World War and its legacy for the Borders.

The project will document the region’s social and family heritage of this period by recording material in various formats, including scans, photographs and sound recordings, so that it can be made widely available and secured for future generations.

It is being funded by £33,500 from the Heritage Lottery Fund and £21,000 from the Armed Forces Covenant.

More information about the project, including volunteer opportunities, is available from Project Officer, Morag Cockburn on 01450 360699 or at: [email protected]