Published on:
09
July 2014
HRH The Duke of Kent has enjoyed a visit to Alva and Dollar yesterday (8th July), as a guest of the Ochils Landscape Partnership. The Royal Visit, which saw HRH visit the Cochrane Hall, Alva Glen, Dollar Museum and Mill Green, was to mark the official opening of the Hillfoots Diamond Jubilee Way, one of the Ochils Landscape Partnership's main projects. In a move which HRH called "a brilliant idea", Clackmannanshire Council decided that the new route, currently being completed by the Ochils Landscape Partnership, would be named The Hillfoots Diamond Jubilee Way in permanent celebration of HM The Queen's 60 years as monarch. Pictures of HM The Queen's visit to Clackmannanshire in the 1950s were part of a photographic display viewed by HRH the Duke in the Cochrane Hall.
The Duke's itinerary saw him meet with representatives from the OLP and its local partners in the Cochrane Hall, including Alva Glen Heritage Trust, Dollar Museum and Alva Community Council. He also met Provost Tina Murphy and viewed displays showing a photographic record of work carried out so far on projects across the Hillfoots communities.
The visit continued with a tour of Alva Glen where HRH met groups of volunteers in the Glen and viewed the plaque commemorating HM The Queen's Diamond Jubilee which is situated on a dry stone bench. Representatives from the Ochils Mountain Rescue Team were also on hand to meet the Duke and the visit to the Glen concluded with the planting of a rowan tree.
Moving onto Dollar Museum, an active partner within the Ochils Landscape Partnership, the Duke viewed a display on the highly successful archaeological dig jointly carried out last year in Dollar Glen by the National Trust for Scotland in partnership with the OLP. As the early morning rain had cleared the Duke ended his visit to the Hillfoots by walking along the side of Dollar Burn to view Castle Campbell and the Mill Green community recreational space.
Chairman of the Ochils Landscape Partnership Dennis Toon welcomed HRH The Duke of Kent to Clackmannanshire along with Provost Tina Murphy and Lord-Lieutenant Johnny Stewart.
Afterwards Provost Murphy said: "It was a great pleasure to meet HRH The Duke of Kent. It was an enjoyable occasion and I think that everyone felt that the visit went very well and helped to raise the profile of all the excellent work which happens in Clackmannanshire."
Mr Toon said: "We once again would like to thank HRH The Duke of Kent for coming along today to meet many of our local volunteers and partners whose work and support has been so vital to the continuing and on-going success of the Ochils Landscape Partnership. I know that everyone really appreciated the time he took to chat and view the many display boards. We are also pleased that the weather improved as the day progressed and he was able to visit the Glen as planned. The rowan tree planted by His Royal Highness today will be greatly admired and cherished I am sure and is another way of commemorating the opening of the Hillfoots Diamond Jubilee way."