Wester Ross trailblazer lands £50,000 boost
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AMBITIOUS plans for a Wester Ross museum telling the story of those who took part in the war-time Arctic convoys were today given a £50,000 boost.
As revealed by the Journal's website yesterday, a Russian businessman has handed over the cheque via Ross MSP Rob Gibson.
The extent of the financial support being offered to the plans, which form part of major regeneration plans centering on the village of Aultbea, became clear today.
Many of the convoys between the United Kingdon and Russia left from Loch Ewe in Wester Ross.
Mr Gibson today presented the cheque to Jacky Brookes of the Russian Arctic Convoy Museum group, which aims to establish a museum and heritage centre in Aultbea.
That would be close to where many of the convoys left during World War 2.
The cheque was handed over during a Scottish Government reception for the surviving veterans of the convoys in the Trades Hall Glasgow, which was hosted by Veterans Minister Keith Brown MSP.
Mr Gibson, who is also the convener of the Scottish Parliament’s cross party group for Russia, secured a debate in Parliament on the subject of the convoys.
He said that the donation was a great gesture of support and recognition for the role that Arctic convoys played during the Second World War.
He said: “It was a great pleasure to hand over the cheque to the museum group and I would extend my warmest thanks to the donor for his generous support. I hope that this generosity will encourage others to follow suit so that a museum can be established to tell the story of this momentous part of our shared history.
"I shall continue to support and champion the moves to make a museum in Aultbea a reality and hope that others will join in too.
“It was a great occasion in the Trades Hall. The Veterans Minister Keith Brown spoke eloquently about the vital role that the Russian Arctic convoys played in WW2 and the high regard that the Scottish Government and Scotland holds them in.
“I would hope that the UK Government can show their appreciation for the actions of those in the Arctic convoy veterans by striking and presenting a military medal to surviving veterans. The Russian Federation Government has managed to do this so I think it only fit and proper that the UK Government follow suit before there are none left alive."
More on this story in this week's Ross-shire Journal.
