Funding lift for Gillespie's history plan

Published on 11/08/2006 12:06

A HISTORY project at Dame Muriel Spark's former school has received a £49,000 boost.

The James Gillespie's Trust has been awarded the cash from the Heritage Lottery Fund to run an oral history project called Living Stories. The project will capture, curate and archive the oral history of the community, centred on James Gillespie's High School.

Money will be used to pay for a professional oral historian to interview and record the lives of community members and set up an archive for public access. The study will record the living history and the socio-economic development of the area and changes in the school over the past century.

Dame Muriel's contribution to the school will be acknowledged and volunteer development officer Frances Benton said: "This a wonderful opportunity for pupils and staff at the school to become more closely involved in the community and to establish a historic archive of living memories by its inhabitants."

Members of the public who would like to be interviewed or who have any pictures, stories or information they think may be of interest should contact Frances on 07711 031 567.