Dalwhinnie decks the hall with Christmas card sales campaign
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A Badenoch village is raising money for its village hall with a collector's item Christmas card.
The Dalwhinnie Community Development Trust, which cares for the building, has produced unique packs for public sale.
Chairman Ian Philp, unveiling the card this week, explained that it celebrated a work of Richard Principal Leitch (1826 - 1882) which is featured in the Royal Collection.
"The Farm at Dalwhinnie, December 1862" shows Queen Victoria's baggage being carried in to what is now the Loch Ericht Hotel when she stayed in the village.
"Richard Leitch was the son of the royal watercolour tutor William Leighton Leitch," said Ian.
"He taught Queen Victoria, her daughters and her daughter-in-law Princess (later Queen) Alexandra for almost 20 years.
"This watercolour was one of a series commissioned by Victoria after Albert's death as mementoes of their four Great Expeditions to the Highlands.
"It shows their visit to Dalwhinnie during the third of these incognito tours."
According to her diaries the Queen didn't care for the inn too much, especially as there was "hardly anything to eat", but the menu has improved since then!
A cellophaned pack of 10 cards costs £5 with all proceeds going to the upkeep of the village hall. They are available locally or through emailing dalwhinnievillagehall@gmail.com
"We'll happily post out cards for an extra £1.50" said Ian.
The trust aims to publish new ones next year so the card contains brief details of a Christmas card competition, asking people to submit pictures that could be used for 2021.
