Beckford changes needed

Sir,

I was fascinated and moved by Cicely Gill’s letter in the Banner (Arran’s slavery link) and hearing of her Beckford family link.

Soon after the reopening of the castle, I had gone to see the interior refurbishment expecting to find a new, and very overdue, reinterpretation of the Beckford silver collection. I was amazed; there was no reference at all to the grim and shameful history of slavery on the Jamaican sugar plantations lying behind the gross ostentation of this silver hoard.

On questioning this I was told that it was work in progress and new interpretive material would be forthcoming. So it is shocking to find that the progress in handling links to slavery seen in recent years at other NTS properties have yet to reach Brodick.

Cicely Gill’s letter is a reminder that a true understanding of history can have contemporary relevance. What better means of presenting the reality of slavery than an honest treatment of the Beckford silver?

There is a connection here to another item in the Banner of June 19. I refer to the heart-rending plight of the Young Naturalists.

Their meetings have been suspended due to the COVID-19 restrictions and the ranger service being furloughed. The sad reality is that if the NTS redundancy programme is put into effect there is little chance this valuable, much-loved and long-running club resuming even after the restrictions are relaxed; another casualty of central office mismanagement.

Those concerned about the fate of the ranger service can visit the Facebook page, Save NTS Rangers. Some concerned trust members are writing to the trust to ask for an Emergency General Meeting. The NTS case can be read at https://tinyurl.com/NTSbusinesscase.

Best regards,

Robin Barnden Lamlash.