This October marks 100 years since the Rural Hall opened its doors.
To mark this centenary a weekend of celebrations are being planned by Kilmadock Development Trust, who own and manage the hall on behalf of the community.
Kilmadock Society Village Quiz
Friday 18th October 2024
Doors open 7pm, quiz starts promptly at 7:30pm
£2 per team member, free for under 16s
Put your knowledge to the test for the chance to win the much coveted Bunty Smeaton Trophy, originally introduced to the community by Doune & District SWRI in 1989. Now hosted by the Kilmadock Society, quizmaster Callum Brown returns with a variety of questions spanning geography, history, culture, sport, literature, current affairs and, of course, general knowledge.
Teams of between two and four people are invited to join, tea and biscuits are included in the entry costs.
Afternoon Tea
Saturday 19th October 2024
2pm–4pm, free entry
Raffle and donations to Rusty Strings group
In the sweetest traditions of the Rural, join us for some Afternoon Tea. Hosted by Kilmadock Development Trust volunteers. Musical entertainment will be provided by the local Rusty Strings group. While entry is free there will be a raffle raising funds for upkeep of the Rural Hall and, as way of thanks, donations collected for the Rusty Strings.
Ceilidh
Saturday 19th October 2024
Doors open 7pm, band starts at 7:30pm
£10 per person, adults only
Advance tickets only from Information Centre
The opening event of the Rural Hall concluded with a dance. A lot in the world has changed in the last 100 years, one thing that hasn’t are the steps to the Dashing White Sergeant or St Bernard’s Waltz. Therefore on Saturday evening it’s time to take the floor with the outstanding Skelpit Lug ceilidh band. BYOB for those who’d like a refreshment.
Concert: Tales from an Old Bassoon
Sunday 20th October 2024
Doors open 2:30pm, concert starts at 3pm
£10 per person, £5 for under 26
Tickets available Information Centre or on door
To round off the Centenary weekend, Peter Wesley and Liivi Arder will be giving a concert to celebrate another centenary—that of Peter’s Mollenhauer bassoon which was also built in the 1920s. Alongside music by Elgar, Pierné, Hindemith and Senaillé there will be readings from the entertaining memoirs of Peter’s teacher Frank Read who played on “Molly” for over 40 years.
Brought up in London’s east end Frank joined the Army as a Band-boy, served in the far east during the war and later played for some of the world’s most famous conductors. All the music will be played on this unique instrument passed on to Peter in 1987—find out how Frank originally bought it in post-war Berlin but didn’t pay a single penny for it!
Why was the Rural Hall built?
The Hall was built to accommodate meetings of the Doune & District branch of the Scottish Women’s Rural Institute, which to most was known as ‘the Rural’. Since its establishment in 1922, the branch had mainly met in Doune Public School on Moray Street.
However with growing membership (over ninety by the end of 1923) the ladies of the Rural were finding the accommodation “somewhat limited,” and other halls in the area lacked the facilities for all important cookery and practical demonstrations.
Their President, Mrs Henderson of Argaty, generously offered to gift a purpose built hall for the Rural to use; a proposal heartily accepted by the branch members.
Architects were appointed, a vacant feu on North Lea donated by the Earl of Moray, and around ten months later the hall was ready to open its doors.
Ready, albeit with some works still outstanding. Even so, at the opening meeting in October 1924 the hall was described as “a marvel of convenience and up-to-dateness while its appearance is a joy to the eye.”
The branch gave up management of the hall in 2006 which, as per the original gift, reverted to a trust of the Bowser family (descendants of Mrs Henderson). In turn they donated it for community use in 2010, under the auspices of Kilmadock Development Trust.