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Live in the middle of nowhere and find it hard to get out? Don’t worry – Caroline Lindsay talks to teams who deliver a range of mobile services across Courier Country

For the last 17 years, Dave Shields has been known as the MAC man. MAC – Fife Cultural Trust’s awardwinning mobile museum and gallery – offers a unique service in Scotland, reaching the parts other museums cannot reach and inspiring people young and old with unique interactive exhibitions and collections.

“Basing an exhibition around a theme to tie in with Fife’s rich history and culture, and using artefacts from museum stores, we go all over Fife, to nurseries and schools, sheltered housing and care homes,” explains driver and facilitator Dave.

When MAC (Museum and Arts Coach) first started 21 years ago, it was housed in an old adapted double-decker bus. Today, however, it’s a specially commissioned 14-tonne lorry, adorned with colourful artwork, and fully accessible, with lift and induction loop.

While Dave has enjoyed all the exhibitions he’s facilitated over the years, certain favourites stick in his mind.

“Waste Watchers – looking at recycling and saving the rainforests – was brilliant and got the older generation as well as younger kids all contributing their ideas,” Dave remembers.

“And I enjoyed putting my imagination to work with Art Detectives. Here, we put art on the road, looking at paintings more closely and encouraging folk to interpret them.

“We had copies of a lovely picture called Spring Moonlight by John Lorimer, depicting a mother dancing with a child while the nanny stands in the doorway. I made up little stories and made visitors to MAC think more deeply more about the painting.”

But one exhibition in particular stands out in his memory – 7 Pit Wynd. Commemorating Fife’s coal mining heritage, the interior of MAC was turned into a set for a 1930s’ miner’s cottage.

“We got the children to dress up in bunnets, aprons and waistcoats and had a singer, carpet weaver, basket weaver and a patchwork quilter, as well as Archie the miner and Charlie the pit pony. The kids were amazed to learn that children as young as five would be sent down the mine, and hearing that the pit ponies couldn’t see properly for the first few days when they left the dark mine for their summer pastures fascinated them.

After 17 wonderful years on the road Dave, 65, is now retiring and handing MAC’s keys over to new driver Tom Adams. But he takes a myriad of happy memories with him.

“It’s been a fantastic privilege bringing history and culture alive and sharing it with folk who might not otherwise get the chance to experience it,” he smiles.

It’s a fantastic privilege bringing history and culture alive and sharing it with folk who might not otherwise get the chance to experience it

Keeping the flame alive for another important facet of our heritage is the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Mobile Museum. The world’s first municipal fire service was created in Edinburgh in 1824 and its influences can still be seen today.

Kelly McMeekin, heritage development officer, explains: “How the fire service (SFRS) has evolved, and our relationship to it, are of national

Picture: Gareth Jennings. John Russell grooms Crystal, the Japanese Akita.