Heritage Lottery Young Roots

Carrick Academy's reenactment of the Battle of Bannockburn and other historic events. Click on the images to view them full size.

Wedding of Mary Queen of Scots to the Dauphin of France. Gilbert, 3rd Earl of Cassillis, was a famous Scottish statesman and he was appointed Lord High Treasurer in 1554. He was one of the Commissioners who went to France to arrange the marriage of Mary, Queen of Scots, with the Dauphin, and, because he refused to agree that the Scottish crown should go to the French heir, he was poisoned at Dieppe and his body was also brought back for burial in the "Auld College" in Maybole.


Roasting of the Commendator of Crossraguel in Dunure Castle		Debate between John Knox and the Abbot of Crossraguel Abbey

	At right - Sir Hugh Kennedy who was given the right to wear the French royal colours for services to France. He was later invited by Joan of Arc to fight beside her at the Siege of Orleans. Tradition has it that the tune they marched into the city to was “L’air de soldats de Robert Brus” which was the same tune Robert Burns wrote “Scots wha hae” to.
The backup crew

( June 2008 ) Pupils at Carrick Academy have been involved in a very unique project funded by Heritage Lottery Fund and run by May-Tag Ltd with the support of Maybole Community Council and Maybole Historical Society.

The past couple of months have seen the young people working with professionals to form a ‘Young Roots’ production team with the objective of producing a DVD that will help them to understand and share the story of their roots.

Those taking part had the opportunity to be involved in workshops at the school’s Community Wing to learn about film, acting, special effects make-up, costume design, props and film setting.

The pupils looked at re-enacting historical events that link directly to the symbolism in the school badge. These included Robert the Bruce and the Battle of Bannockburn; the marriage of Mary Queen of Scots and the Dauphin of France; the Roasting of Allan Stewart, commendator of Crossraguel Abbey; the poisoning and burial of Gilbert Kennedy, 3^rd Earl of Cassillis; and Hugh Kennedy’s reward for his services in France.

The crew was out on several different locations filming on the first week of June. Kirsty Gallacher, project manager said, “Everyone worked really hard, like true professionals on a film set. I’ve been very impressed with the commitment and efforts from the pupils. It was a fantastic experience for all involved”

The project has been a great success with the help and support from the tutors working with the pupils, Yvonne Kavanagh and Maria McCluskey (Director and Assistant Director), Sharon Wilson (make-up artist), Hamilton Digital Video Company (Film Crew), David Powell (Art Director), Ailsa Rendell (Costume Designer), Carrick 800 Battle Re-enactment Society.

Kirsty added that appreciation and many thanks go to Culzean and Cassillis Estate, and Historic Scotland for permission to film at Maybole Castle, Crossraguel Abbey, Maybole Collegiate Church, and the events field at Culzean Castle.

The pupils are hoping that very soon everyone will have the opportunity to see the results at a preview screening of the completed DVD, when all other props, costumes and photographs will be on exhibit.

Watch this space for times and dates.

CARRICK ACADEMY’S SCHOOL BADGE

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.

In 2006 there was more good news for Maybole, especially the town’s young people. A grant of £25,000 has been awarded by the Heritage Lottery Young Roots fund to May-Tag Ltd in partnership with Carrick Academy, Maybole Community Council, Maybole Historical Society, Maybole Community Association and local youth organisations for a “Maybole Youth Heritage Project”.

The project will allow local young people to research the history of Carrick Academy’s badge, which has associations with the UK royal family and the former royal family of France, and other details of Maybole rich history.

Already pupils from Carrick Academy, Queen Margaret Academy and Maybole Youth Club have signed up to take part in the project which will be assisted by local historians. The young people will be involved in researching and designing period costumes, dramatising the town’s history and recoding this on a DVD.

Cheque for £24,800 presented by Annabel Bath to Carrick Academy captains L- R Sam Fleming, Isabel Johnstone (Depute Head Teacher), Kirsty Wilson, Annabel Bath

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.

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 18^th 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.

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) enables communities to celebrate, look after and learn more about our diverse heritage. From our great museums and historic buildings to local parks and beauty spots or recording and celebrating traditions, customs and history, HLF grants open up our nation’s heritage for everyone to enjoy. To date it has invested over £450million in Scotland’s heritage.

The Heritage Lottery Fund has supported other Burns related projects including support for the creation of a museum and visitor attraction dedicated to Robert Burns, in his hometown of Alloway in Ayrshire.

Further details can be obtained from Peter Walker on E mail peter.walker@may-Tag.com or tel 01655 883765.