What great weather for spring, with new life in the fields and local gardens in bloom. The nature and wildlife of a considerable part of the Galloway Hills, however, have seen large areas destroyed by fire and our thanks must go out to those who worked tirelessly to extinguish them.
Earlier this month we published our very first book containing colour photographs. Margie Ferguson and Pam Macmillan have meticulously researched a forgotten female figure, Jane Taylour, who campaigned nationally and peacefully for women to have the right to vote. Their fabulous book, Stranraer Suffragist Storms Scotland was very successfully launched in Stranraer Library. The book is now available on our website, with member’s discount

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Winter 2024 Newsletter

As the winter weather seems to have arrived with a blast, we’re happy to share with you the work of the Trust over the past few months.
The Wigtown Spring Weekend was well attended and Elaine and I had a good audience for ‘Gallivanting Around Galloway’ a talk that linked history, tradition, landscape, literature and people across the region. We were also lucky enough to be introduced to author Lynne McEwan in The Old Bank Bookshop in Wigtown. Lynne’s series of crime novels are set in Galloway and she came along to our talk!

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Spring 2024 Newsletter

As the days are getting longer there is the promise of a few days at least of sunshine!
In January we officially launched Ian Baldie’s new book about the secret radar station at RAF North Cairn in Stranraer Library. A slide show with photos from his book was running at the side and the launch was well attended. The book is one of 18 of our publications still in print.

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Winter 2023 Newsletter.

The Trust have been busy in the intervening months since our last newsletter, so we have plenty to update you on!

We were sponsors of the Spring Festival at Wigtown this year and a large crowd attended Wigtown County Buildings when I gave a tribute to Donnie Nelson through local photographs and stories. That particular event was sponsored by the Old Bank Bookshop, and we were very grateful for the opportunity to share these stories.

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The Trust has been kept busy over the winter months.  We had another successful sale over the festive season, and our Facebook page continues to grow with around one thousand followers! 

The carved stones from McCulloch Place are to be placed temporarily in Stranraer Museum store until refurbishment of the museum is complete.

The Trust has placed a bench in memory of Donnie Nelson MBE, on the grassy area between Foreland Place and Broadstone Road.  The bench is facing to the mouth of the loch, towards the Broadstone, and the old bombing wall at Braidfell can be seen across the loch.  These places were very dear to Donnie. His sons Bruce and Laurence, and grandson Andrew will attend the official unveiling on 22^nd April.

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The Sinking of the SS Rowan and the Southern Syncopated Orchestra’ book by author Sandy Rankin is to be launched in Galloway Gateway

(the old harbour master’s office),

Breastwork, Stranraer

on Saturday 27th November

from 1030am to 1200noon.

The Trust recently held a lunch and presentation at Henry’s Bay House Restaurant.  Founder History Trust Members, Eric and Christine Wilson, are stepping down in their respective roles as Oral History Facilitator and Honorary Secretary but will stay on as executive committee members.  

Trust Chair, Elaine Barton, thanked Eric and Christine for their relentless hard work over the years and their contribution to ensuring that much of our local history is preserved for future generations. Since 1998 the Trust has thirty-three publications to its credit and has sold almost thirty-nine thousand books as well as an ever increasing audio archive.

Eric and Christine expressed their delight and thanks to the Committee they were presented with a painting of Corsewall Lighthouse by local artist Jim Mclean. Thanks also to John and Jane Henry and the staff of the Bay House for a delicious meal.

Pictured from left to right are Eric Wilson, Christine Wilson and Elaine Barton.

Chair of Stranraer and District Local History Trust, Elaine Barton, was delighted to meet and present well known Scottish actor Gary Lewis with a selection of their local history publications. Gary was particularly interested in two of author David Kirkwood’s books, The Earls of Galloway & Galloway House  and Glasgow’s Galloway School. 

Gary has fond memories of attending Galloway House School when he was 11 years old. During the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s the house was taken over by the Glasgow Corporation.  Over the years, hundreds of Glasgow school children would make the journey to Garlieston and spend several weeks at the school. Many of the children had never paddled in the sea before, visit the countryside or see so many animals, like cattle and sheep. The children  were encouraged to record their activities in a diary.  It was an experience that remained with many of them throughout their lives. Some made the return journey to Galloway House as adults in later life.