Time to party at Grantown’s Community Hub
It’s been a very hub-by birthday in Grantown. Despite a year of challenges, the team have had a triumphant week at the Strathspey capital’s community hub.
It was last Tuesday (August 5) which formally marked the first birthday of the Grantown Society's High Street success, but the celebrations have been continuing ever since and yesterday saw plenty of well-wishers in for tea and cake and congratulations.
There was also some live music from young Feis Spe musicians which was a great success with celebrants and passers by.
And as the society’s chairman Bill Sadler told the Strathy, it really was worth celebrating: “You have no idea the amount of problems we have as a community had to overcome since the idea first came into our heads that the former Hydro showroom shouldn’t be allowed just to become another empty space on our High Street.
“Some of the setbacks were pretty major, not least the loss of both our broadband, our website and our facebook page.
“But thanks to our enthusiastic team of volunteers, grant funding and generous donations from local individuals and businesses, this has become the go-to place for information, whether about computer security, bus times or emergency support following a car accident.
“We finally won through with the dream of providing 24-hour ATM services and our opening hours are extending. We’re here Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 4pm and on Saturdays from 10am to 1pm, to provide information from lost cats to football matches or other local social and sales events.
“Next target is to increase our brilliant volunteer force to enable Sunday and Thursday coverage. It will come, we just need a bigger volunteer base but we’re confident we will get it.
“Another item on the agenda is our current planning application to the Highland Council for permission to replace the existing shopfront with traditional timber shopfront design, matching door and double glazed windows. More on that in a future Strathy!”
There’s also the dream of opening up the basement for courses in various acitivities - this week has seen special displays and courses on the ground floor for things including sewing and spinning, quite apart from the extensive information event on the town’s shops heritage and Clan Grant history to coincide with their international gathering.
“The year has seen some significant and exciting pop-up exhibitions from model railways and maps to photography and Grantown's banks.
“Another major ambition for us is to plan for the future of our town and our community with a whole new young society. That’s something we will be updating Strathy readers on as it all comes together.”