The search to find Scotland’s ‘heritage angels’ is gearing up, with the final shortlist for the Scottish Heritage Angel Awards 2017 revealed today (Wed 27 Sep).
Comprising 12 nominees across four different categories, the shortlist showcases a range of diverse heritage projects across the country, from the full scale reconstruction of an Iron Age roundhouse in Dumfries and Galloway to the restoration of a medieval kirk at Kirkmichael on the Black Isle.
Libby Powers-Jones (far right), volunteer with Kirkmichael Trust in the Black Isle is among the nominees for Category B: Best Contribution to a Heritage Project by a Young Person.
Other nominees include the Apprentice Guides at the National Mining Museum Scotland and Dominic Ferrie, a Glasgow pupil who has spent the last three years investigating the design and building of Kelvinside Academy.
Launched in 2014 with funding from the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation (ALWF), and run by the Scottish Civic Trust in partnership with Historic Environment Scotland, Archaeology Scotland and the Scottish Government, the Scottish Heritage Angel Awards celebrates both groups and individuals who have gone above and beyond in their efforts to promote, protect and, in many cases, rescue Scotland’s heritage.
Dominic Ferrie, Kelvinside Academy pupil who has spent the last three years investigating the design and building of the school has been nominated for Category B: Best Contribution to a Heritage Project by a Young Person.
The overall winner in each of the four categories will be named at the Scottish Heritage Angels Awards ceremony on Monday 16 October at the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh.
John Pelan, Director of the Scottish Civic Trust, said: "We received many wonderful nominations for individuals and groups right across the country. The scale of their achievements in recording and celebrating local heritage and rescuing historic buildings and sites is truly inspiring.
"Many of the people behind these projects are volunteers and give up their time and energy freely, overcoming many challenges, while discovering and sharing new skills.
"It is particularly rewarding to learn about the achievements of young people and apprentices, who are sure to be the guardians of our historic environment in the future.
"Our judges now have the task of finding our overall winners. I’m looking forward to celebrating the success and hard work of all our finalists on Monday 16 October."
The panel of judges will include:
- author and broadcaster Vanessa Collingridge
- architect and Vice-Chair of Scottish Civic Trust Ed Taylor
- CEO of Volunteer Scotland George Thomas
- Taylor Dickinson, member of the Scotland’s Urban Past Youth Forum
Alex Paterson, Chief Executive of Historic Environment Scotland, said:
"All over Scotland, groups, individuals, volunteers and professionals involved in heritage projects are at the heart of local communities, working tirelessly to protect, preserve and promote our historic environment.
"It’s important we recognise their vital contributions, and The Scottish Heritage Angel Awards are an opportunity to shine a spotlight on their accomplishments and celebrate the difference they make.
"The final shortlist demonstrates the diversity and value of heritage projects throughout the country, and I’d like to congratulate all the finalists on their achievements."
The Scottish Heritage Angel Awards run parallel to Heritage Angel Awards in England and Northern Ireland. This year, an overall winner from the three award schemes will be selected and crowned at the London ceremony on Monday 20 November.
Andrew Lloyd Webber, whose charitable foundation helped found the Heritage Angel Awards, said: "I’m delighted to champion the people who protect the precious buildings and places around us.
"Everyone who has been shortlisted for a Scottish Heritage Angel Award has made a significant difference to our landscape and built environment. Congratulations to all of them!
"This year I am especially pleased that we are crowning an overall UK winner for the first time, showcasing the crucial work that is being done across the country by local heritage heroes."
Scottish Heritage Angel Awards 2017 Shortlist
Category A: Best Rescue of a Historic Building
- Dr James Mackay, Chairman of the Kirkmichael Trust for the restoration of medieval Kirkmichael, once a medieval chapel, then a parish church and latterly a collection of local family mausolea. This community project has been ongoing for more than 20 years.
- North East Scotland Preservation Trust, for their project to restore the B listed buildings at Back Green, Portsoy and convert them in to the Sail Loft Bunkhouse, 25-bed guesthouse for visitors to the area.
- Pat Cassidy and the Fairfield volunteers, for their contribution to the restoration project of the shipbuilding offices of the former Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Company in Govan.
Category B: Best Contribution to a Heritage Project by a Young Person
- Dominic Ferrie, Kelvinside Academy pupil who has spent the last three years investigating the design and building of the school, even tracking down plans of the building believed to be lost and most likely unseen for over a century.
- Apprentice Guides at the National Mining Museum Scotland, comprising seven pupils from Gore Glen Primary School in Gorebridge who worked with museum staff to create their own tour for other schools.
- Libby Powers-Jones, volunteer with Kirkmichael Trust in the Black Isle involved in the archaeological work associated with the restoration of medieval Kirkmichael.
Category C: Best Craftsmanship or Apprentice on a Heritage Rescue or Repair Project
- Andrew Milton, apprentice, for his work on a series of projects at The Dumfries House Estate
- Leslie Merriman, Assistant Works Manager at Historic Environment Scotland, for his work with the Orkney Monument Conservation Unit. Leslie served his stonemasonry apprenticeship after joining HES and now mentors new apprentices.
- Pete Hill, for his work to deliver the ‘Design a Sign’ project with pupils from Loudon Secondary, part of the Galston Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme Education and Awareness programme. This project explored the history of shop sign design and its contribution to the urban townscape.
Category D: Best Rescue, Recording or Interpretation of a Historic Place
- Coldstream Heritage Ltd and its volunteers, for their contribution to the conservation of Lennel Church. These volunteers spent four years photographing and transcribing the headstones in the old church yard to start a public record which will be available on the Coldstream and District Local History Society website.
- Logie Old Graveyard Group, for their work to preserve the graveyard of the Old Kirk at Logie and record the gravestone information.
- The Whithorn Trust, for their project to build a full-scale reconstruction of an Iron Age roundhouse.
About the Scottish Heritage Angel Awards
The awards are delivered in partnership between the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation, the Scottish Civic Trust, Historic Environment Scotland, Archaeology Scotland and the Scottish Government. The Scottish Civic Trust is the main delivery partner. The awards programme supports the delivery of Scotland’s Historic Environment Strategy, Our Place in Time, with its strong emphasis on community participation in heritage.
For further information on the Scottish Heritage Angel Awards, please contact:
For further information, please contact:
Claire Mullaney
Historic Environment Scotland Media Office
Direct Line: 0131 668 8588
Mobile: 07881 512 379
claire.mullaney@hes.scot
About the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation
The Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation was set up by Andrew in 1992 to promote the arts, culture and heritage for the public benefit; since inception Andrew has been the principal provider of funding for all its charitable activities.
In 2010, the Foundation embarked on an active grant giving programme and has now awarded grants of over £17.5m to support high quality training and personal development as well as other projects that make a real difference to enrich the quality of life both for individuals and within local communities. Significant grants include £3.5m to Arts Educational Schools, London to create a state of the art professional theatre, £2.4m to The Music in Secondary Schools Trust, £1m to The Architectural Heritage Fund, $1.3m to the American Theatre Wing and over £300,000 annually to fund 30 performing arts scholarships for talented students in financial need.
www.andrewlloydwebberfoundation.com
Twitter: @ALWFoundation
For further information
Truda Spruyt/Laura Steele at Four Colman Getty
Direct Line: 020 3697 4248 / 020 3697 4241
truda.spruyt@fourcolmangetty.com
laura.steele@fourcolmangetty.com