Military museum close to reaching fundraising target after Hugh Grant appeal

AN APPEAL launched by actor Hugh Grant to redevelop a Scots military museum is within striking distance of reaching its £2.9 million target.

In November 2010, the star of Four Weddings and a Funeral launched an appeal to raise funds to upgrade the Highlanders’ Museum at Fort George, near Inverness.

The actor’s father served with the Seaforth Highlanders and his grandfather commanded the regimental depot at Fort George for many years.

It has now been announced that, thanks to a £130,000 grant from Historic Scotland, only another £150,000 needs to be raised, allowing work on the refurbishment scheme to begin next week.

Fiona Hyslop, the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs, said: “I am delighted that we are able to give £130,000 towards the Highlanders’ Museum Development Project.

“Our Scottish history and heritage is an invaluable resource not only for Scots but also for visitors from around the world. The Highlanders’ Museum will give people the opportunity to learn about the moving story of the Highlands as it has developed over the past 300 years.

“It will also highlight the hugely important role of our regiments, both past and present.”

Major General Seymour Monro, the chairman of the Highlanders’ Museum Appeal, said: “We are thrilled to receive this most substantial donation from Historic Scotland. Although we still have £150,000 to raise, this donation allows us to start the project next week.

“We are working closely with Historic Scotland, our partners at Fort George. We want to ensure that everyone has a memorable experience when they visit what will become a really superb Highland military heritage centre.”

The museum, founded more than 60 years ago, is home to the largest regimental collection outside London and includes 20,000 artefacts and 10,000 documents and photographs. The museum, which attracts more than 60,000 visitors a year, houses the regimental collections of the Seaforths,Camerons,Lovat Scouts, Queen’s Own Highlanders and now The Highlanders, tracing the story of the Highland warrior from the time of Culloden to the present day .