The two school captains at Carrick Academy are leading the youth teams, and have split all the tasks into dedicated teams so that any young person who wants to be involved will have a part to play.
Head teacher Rodger Stewart said he was delighted that the school was going to be involved in the project and depute head Isabel Johnstone said it had been worth all the hard work which the pupils had put into the application.
Peter Walker general Manager of May-Tag said “this is a fantastic opportunity for the town’s young people to be involved in a local heritage project and learn in a unique way about the local heritage.”
It was only in 1950 that it was decided Carrick Academy should have a badge with a fete and sale of work held to raise the necessary funds. The Lord Lyon King of Arms was asked to design the badge which is based on the Maybole coat of arms.
This badge originates from the red chevron in a silver field, which is the coat of arms of Carrick. The blue lions with red claws and red tongue came from the coat of arms worn by the Bruce family. Maybole, being the capital of Carrick, is entitled to use this badge. Robert the Bruce was the Earl of Carrick and when he became King of Scots his title moved into the Royal Family. Prince Charles is the current Earl of Carrick.
The Cassillis family, who were the principal land owners of Carrick, were in the main responsible for providing a school building and the schoolmaster's salary. In the badge, the black in the quills is taken from the black crosslets in this family's coat of arms.
The colours, blue and gold, were chosen because of their association with the Kennedy family. One member had been given the right to use the blue and gold colours of the French Royal Family for distinguished service at Beuge in 1421.
The book on the school badge is the normal symbol used to indicate a school badge; with the motto "Superbe Gerimus" supplied by the Latin Department and means "We wear it proudly".
Young Roots offers grants of between £5,000 and £25,000.The scheme aims to involve 13-20 year-olds (up to 25 for those with special needs) in finding out about their heritage, developing skills, building confidence and promoting community involvement.
Last month Heritage Lottery announced an award of over £46,000 to enable the Maybole community to celebrate its association with Robert Burns, through Burns’ parents having met and married in the town 250 years ago.
The year long celebrations will involve local school children in the history of Burns’ time through the “Jean Falconer Literary Competition”. At the beginning of Gala week on June 9 there will be a Market Fair, at which the meeting of William Burnes and Agnes Broun will be celebrated in a reconstruction of the market as they would have seen it, period costumes and 18th century food as well.
The following week will be Gala week and it too will have Burns heritage themes running through its quizzes, pet show and the parade itself which will take place on June 16. The King and Queen of Carrick this year will be dressed to suit the age of Burns.
Later in the year concerts are scheduled in December and a re-enactment of the wedding of Burns’ parents on December 15. With the heritage theme so dominant in all of these events, Maybole should be a major attraction this year for Burns fans everywhere.
The official launch for the Young Roots project as well as the Burns project will be at an open evening in Maybole Town Hall next, Monday March 19 from 5pm until 7.30pm. A Heritage Lottery Officer will present the cheques to the young people and to the town.
The event will start with the three schools choir followed by Denis Reid re-enacting a Burns poem, hopefully Maybole Concert Party can be persuaded to re-enact their playlet on William and Mary meeting in Maybole, then a presentation on both projects.
Tea and coffee will be served by Maybole OIR and the event is open to the public.
Editors notes.
Further details can be obtained from Peter Walker on E mail peter.walker@may-Tag.com or tel 01655 883765. |
