History group’s plea to not become a memory

Monifieth: Society urgently needs help to move to new premises

A group celebrating the history of a town is under threat unless a transfer to new premises goes ahead.

The House of Memories, which has premises in Monifieth High Street and is run by the town’s local history society, is in dire need of a new home.

However, it is unable to transfer until a new organisation is formed.

Now the society’s president has pleaded with local people who have pledged support in the past to come forward urgently.

Having outgrown its premises, the group is eyeing a move to a new Monifieth Community Heritage Centre at the town’s Access Offices.

This is seen as ideal for the group, being more accessible and providing disabled parking.

A new group, provisionally titled the Monifieth Heritage Centre Management Group, will have to be established to secure the new premises with the membership drawn from schools, churches, local businesses and the council.

However, society president Margaret Copeland told members that despite the success of the organisation – which has won the Nationwide Award for

“I would ask that those pledged to help come forward and deliver on their promises – we need the community to step up.

Voluntary Endeavours and the Grampian TV Adult Learners Week Award – the future “looked grim” for the House of Memories.

She said: “The cold, harsh winter, the inability to meet rising costs to heat the premises, which are in desperate need of external maintenance, brought us to the conclusion that, despite the willingness of a few committed members, the future looked grim.

“We are back to the circumstances faced in 2002, looking for appropriate accommodation, but this time with a vast amount of precious artefacts, memorabilia, photographs and other items – in fact, the keys to Monifieth’s heritage.

“The society is hugely popular and attracts international attention, especially from Australia, America and Canada, with people interested in their genealogy.

“Sometimes the people we help then make the trip over, so our work is certainly boosting the local economy.”

Ms Copeland also highlighted a reduction in volunteers at the group.

“The downside to this success story is that membership numbers have fallen,” she said.

“This is most probably due to the ageing process, leaving few able and willing volunteers to carry on what has been so often described by others as ‘doing a fantastic job on behalf of the community’.

“We are fortunate to have many pledges of support in terms of time and money and I would ask that those pledged to help come forward and deliver on their promises – we need the community to step up.”

jimillar@thecourier.co.uk

MARGARET COPELAND MONIFIETH LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY

Picture: Gareth Jennings. Margaret Copeland in the House Of Memories in Monifieth. However, the town’s local history society has outgrown the premises and needs to move.