 We
are delighted to be open again, with the main Kilquhanity buildings
looking fresh and renovated, including the necessary
bells and whistles as per government requirements. But the budget for
further renovation has been depleted.
So we have started an Art Prize Draw to
raise funds for essentially The Site.
 Participants
entry tickets will go into a ‘hat’ for our prize draw, a
Grand Prize made up with pottery, jewellery and other objet d'art by
former pupils and friends of Killy, to the value of over £1,500.
How much you pay for your entry ticket is up
to you; "From each according to their ability, to
each according to their need".
Your donation (tax deductible) will go to refurbishing
and equipping the Site into an multidisciplinary workshop where creative
ideas can be designed and constructed.
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The Site is an ex-RAF building which was converted
into the bike repair shop, Richard Jones’ prolific and beautiful
craft room, the Art room and Trudie’s sewing room. The land
was cleared and prepared by staff and pupils, the building adapted
and erected by staff and pupils. Those of us who had the pleasure
to work in this building need no reminding of the importance and value
it had in contributing to who we are today.
To those of you who know Kilquhanity, the fundamental
principle of ‘learning through doing’ - practical activity
—needs no introduction. One reason for focusing on the Site
is that it will provided a mixed media workshop facility, with tools
and equipment that will encourage 'learning through doing' and practical
activities. Tools are important, and while a bad workman may blame
the tools, a good workman has good tools. It important that children
have good tools, this generates respect for the workmanship and
tool alike.
  On
visiting Killy from 1940 right up until today the visitor would have
been shown a variety of ‘works in progress’ from tree houses
‘owned’ by individual pupils, farm steading conversions
of animal houses to bedrooms or classrooms, the Log Cabin, the Dome—
both now sadly gone, the Site, Crannog and the Holly Hut — now
in its latest version a star of TV in the new millennium, are still
standing.
But the Log cabin and the Dome are no more! Two fabulous
structures built by Kilquhanity both of which stood firm for over 30
years. My special memory of the Log cabin was the setting for that first
moonlit liaison long after lights out—crouching down to go in
below under the cabin to feel your way to steps which led up to the
trapdoor entrance! A magical journey—for real, not conjured up
by Hollywood or a computer game screen.
I only had the pleasure of using the Dome during it’s temporary
conversion into the Aichin’ Heid Bar for the 50th celebrations.
Maybe you have your own special memories of these and other places in
and around Killy.
The
Site was perilously close to going the way of the the Log Cabin and
the Dome. The roof was shot, some of the cladding had new tenants which
would be an ornithologists dream. Many of the doors and windows were
rotten and we needed to consider wiring and plumbing.
Gavin, Sam and I were of the opinion that it was
'now or never', two more winters would have taken The Site beyond
a point of no return. The Site had to be saved!
Thanks to donations to date, a lot of work has been done
replacing the roof and large parts of the walls, but there is still
a lot to be done; windows, wiring and plumbing being a priority. Equipment
is very much next on the list, for this we will be looking for corporate
sponsorship, so if you have any ideas regarding sympathetic tool and
equipment-of-any-kind manufacturers, from kilns to kinetic engines,
solar panels or saws... please let us know!.
There is no doubt in my mind that there are many,
many events in the world that maybe far more deserving of your money
than Kilquhanity. I have pondered the legitimacy of this for some
time. Fundraising becomes legitimate when I consider that both John
and Morag and Shin-ichiro see Kilquhanity as a non-profit-making school
and that they set fees at prices to make the school affordable to
as many children as possible. Staff work at the school for far less
income than they could command in the State sector. And most importantly
the education provided by the school is generating and has generated
world citizens who at the very least are aware of how the world could
be a fair place for all its citizens working in harmony with the environment.
We are supporting the development of a peaceful world.
Andrew Pyle, Headteacher,
Kilquhanity.
To make your donation and be entered into the draw, send your
cheque or Money Order (payee: 'Kilquhanity Children's
Village') to:
Kilquhanity Children's Village
Castle Douglas,
DG7 3DB,
Scotland, UK
Enclosing your name, address, email address,
whether you were a former staff or pupil and if you would
like to receive the Kilquhanity Children's
Village newsletter.
Or use our PayPal option:
 Please
contact us for other methods of payment.
Thanks!
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Kilquhanity
Children's Village is a Charity Registered in Scotland
No. SCO39580
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