Projects chosen for prisoner of war’s £400,000 bequest

A committee has decided where money left to a Strathearn village by a prisoner of war (PoW) should go.

Heinrich Steinmeyer, who was imprisoned at Cultybraggan PoW camp, bequeathed money to the people of Comrie after making many friends among residents.

The villagers voted on how best to use his bequest in November and now the legacy committee has declared it will focus on the top 10 single and combined plans.

One of the main priorities voted for will be to improve Comrie’s Rural Hall.

Joyce Carnegie, speaking on behalf of Comrie Rural Hall trustees, said: “We are delighted to get the match funding from the legacy confirmed. We can now put applications to other funding sources that needed this confirmed before considering our request.”

The legacy committee, which was voted in by residents to carry out work on how best to use the Steinmeyer bequest, is now looking to register as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation.

And the committee has also agreed on information needed from local community organisations which aim to carry out specific developments for older people. The committee has drawn up an application form to gather this information.

Gillian Brock, legacy committee spokesperson, said: “The volunteers on the committee have already been very active on a wide range of legacy fund matters, and are committed to allocating funds over the next few months to community groups to enable them to carry out projects voted for.”

Steinmeyer, a former Nazi stormtrooper, left almost £400,000 to Comrie.