Published on:
17
October 2014
The Speirs Centre's opening exhibition will be a celebration of The Commonwealth Games and aspects of sport in Clackmannanshire.
The newly renovated Centre, which will open tomorrow with a community fun day, includes temporary exhibition space, as well as:
The Commonwealth Games and Clackmannanshire exhibition will feature items from the Council's collection plus items donated by individuals illustrating the achievements of local people, such as sporting legends like boxer Tommy Speirs, whom the centre is named after, as well many other objects and medals loaned by his daughters and former and current sportspeople associated with the county. These include the following:
Wheelchair racer Meggan Dawson-Farrell's iconic Jilli Blackwood-designed Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony outfit, with the wrap-around dress, tartan shawl and stone-coloured leather bag will be on display. Meggan, who made the final of the 1500m at Glasgow 2014, has also loaned a number of mementoes of the Games to the exhibition.
A Clydesider uniform and kit and many other Glasgow 2014 corporate items have been loaned by local residents Sybil Taylor and Joyce Kitching.
The exhibition is also a chance to admire the stunning replica Queen's Baton which was presented to the Council when the Relay visited Clackmannanshire on 25th June.
Alloa's Robin Law is one of Scotland's greatest shooters and he has loaned many items to the exhibition. Robin has an incredible 105 caps for Scotland and has competed at five Commonwealth Games, four Commonwealth Shooting Federation Championships and thirteen Commonwealth Shooting Federation (European Division) championships. He has three Commonwealth Games bronze medals from three different Games.
The McIntosh family from Dollar are Scotland's foremost shooting dynasty. Shirley McIntosh MBE, Donald McIntosh and their daughters Jen and Seonaid have also loaned a range of items, including Shirley's four Commonwealth Games medals, to the exhibition. Jen succeeded her mother as Scotland's most decorated female in Commonwealth Games history when she won silver and bronze at Glasgow 2014. She claimed two golds and a bronze in Delhi. Shirley won the first of her Commonwealth Games medals in 1994 and retired in 2008 having won gold, silver and two bronze medals over two Games. She was awarded an MBE for her services to the sport. Donald competed at the 2002 Games in Manchester, has won two Commonwealth Championships and is now the Head Rifle Coach for British Shooting. And at 18, Seonaid was the youngest member of the Scottish shooting team in Glasgow.
Alloa swimmer Duncan Scott won a silver medal at Glasgow 2014, helping the 4x200m freestyle team take second place behind Australia. The 17-year-old was the youngest male in Team Scotland and went on to compete in the Youth Olympic Games at Nanjing in China just a month later. Duncan, who won the Junior Sports Award title at the annual Clackmannanshire Sports Council Awards, has also loaned many items to the exhibition.
Hockey was not a Commonwealth Games sport when they were playing, but Kit Gow and Elan Borrowman were skilled players and represented Scotland on numerous occasions in the 1960s and 1970s. They have loaned memorabilia of their respective careers.
Finally, the exhibition will also remember the achievements of the late Willie Murray of Alva, an athlete, founder of the Alloa Half Marathon, a tireless supporter of athletics and the encouragement of sport in the county.
Councillor Donald Balisillie, Enterprise and Environment Convener, said: "I am pleased with the opening exhibition at the Speirs Centre which explores Clackmannanshire's long association with sport and the Commonwealth Games. It is a celebration of local heroes and some of the sporting greats in the area.
"Whether you're a player or a fan, this exhibition has something for everyone and engages not only with a few of the famous faces to grace sport in Clackmannanshire but also the local heroes and grassroots clubs who truly nurture and continue to develop sport in their communities."
Entry is free and exhibits are on display until the New Year. This exhibition forms part of an exciting annual programme of temporary exhibitions at the Speirs Centre. Keep on eye on ClacksWeb for information about future exhibitions.