Cinema star of the show at heritage awards bash
Roll out the red carpet for Campbeltown Community Business Ltd (CCB) which has won a Scottish award for its restoration of Campbeltown Picture House (CPH). CCB received the award for best major regeneration of a historic building or place, for projects in excess of £2 million, for its restoration of the category A-listed cinema in the Scottish Heritage Angel Awards 2018. Hosted by broadcaster and writer Sally Magnusson at the City Chambers in Glasgow, the ceremony saw winning groups, individuals, volunteers and professionals in five award categories crowned in a celebration of their roles in caring for the nation’s historic environment. In 1987, CCB took over the ownership and operation of CPH, which was built in 1913. By that point, it was in need of restoration and upgrading to suit a modern audience. In December last year, the refitted cinema, complete with a second screen, conference space and café, was unveiled after £3.5 million of restorations. Jane Mayo, chairman of CCB, added: ‘Without tremendous local support and more than 30 years of care from all those involved in the Picture House, CCB was in the position to achieve the Centenary Project, with the help of a team of exceptional professionals. ‘This enabled the re-creation of our historic, special cinema.’ Ron Inglis, project manager at CCB, said: ‘The Picture House is Kintyre’s cultural and entertainment hub, a building the town is immensely proud of and a vibrant part of local life. ‘So it is wonderful for the Campbeltown community to have the Picture House win at the the Scottish Heritage Angel Awards 2018. ‘The town has benefited from several regeneration projects over the past decade but the Picture House is arguably the most prominent and winning a prestigious award recognises the tremendous efforts to give the cinema new life.’ Launched in 2014, the Scottish Heritage Angel Awards are funded by the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation (ALWF), and run by the Scottish Civic Trust (SCT) in partnership with Historic Environment Scotland (HES) and Archaeology Scotland. Susan O’Connor, director of the SCT, said: ‘In their comments, the judges commended the innovation, perseverance, dedication and vision of those involved in these projects and they all deserve huge praise for their achievements.’ Alex Paterson, chief executive of HES, said: ‘It is always a privilege to hear first-hand the passion and expertise of those who have dedicated so much time and energy to caring for Scotland’s heritage and the positive impact these projects make on their local communities.’ The awards in Scotland are aligned with Angel Awards in England, Northern Ireland and Wales. CCB will now be considered for the prize of overall winner alongside its English, Irish and Welsh counterparts at a London ceremony on November 27.