There has been much activity in the Reading Room during the year as contractors have been busy with project work.
The first phase of work was completed in April, and secured the building from the wind and rain. The second, enabling phase, which was made possible by a grant of £7,000 from the Windmill operators, Falck, has achieved the recovery of the building, elimination of dry rot, replacement of timbers and created the conditions under which we can plan our Kitchen Project – the final phase.
Despite the inevitable building site conditions, our users have loyally stuck with us, even holding lively events in the Main Hall.
It is with relief that we can report that the plasterers are away, our Committee Room upstairs has now been restored to functionality and even the Tower Room can be used, although decoration has not yet taken place.
In order to publicise our activities, we have held a public meeting, with wine and cheese, at which our architect Gordon McEachern kindly presented future plans, and a lively debate took place. This was a great opportunity for people to wander round the rooms, and to offer opinions on our plans.
We plan to ensure that all winter activities will continue as far a possible, although even the Main Hall will be affected if our planned alterations go ahead.
The committee are determined to bring the Reading Rooms into modern times while ensuring that Kippen Heritage should be able to display the history of the village, on a permanent basis.
Meanwhile, the show goes on, and we will be holding our next Jumble Sale on Saturday 27th October, in the Reading Rooms.
The Mitchell Trustees and the Management Committee will need further funding for our plans, but we are detecting support for the development of this valuable village facility.
Finally, we would like to thank publicly the late Bella Crawford, a former member of our committee, who supported our activities so well and who bequeathed £700 from her estate.
Jeremy Gaywood
The Wee Vine 