Dumfries and Galloway Council has launched a consultation on a proposed update of the Common Good Fund. Although the Consultation doesn’t affect us, the Common Good list of properties is interesting. The link is here and those properties in Kirkcudbright are attached https://www.dumfriesandgalloway.gov.uk/council-elections/have-your-say/consultations-engagements

Now as July starts we are looking forward to doing our Summer Walks.

During a recent visit to the Museum, Prof. James Floyd was interested to discover a small display of heraldic porcelain. He was especially impressed by the Kirkcudbright Tee Total Society piece and the McClellan tea service. His observations were published in the latest Tak Tent, the newsletter of The Heraldry Society of Scotland, and he has kindly given permission for us to post the article on our website. tak tent article

A reminder that the Scotland Starts Here website and app, that includes Kirkcudbright, is still active. It covers the Heritage of the Town, Things to do and Where to Stay. To see what it says encouraging visitors to come and visit the town go to https://scotlandstartshere.com/tours/kirkcudbright-town-trail/

Those of us of a certain generation can remember one of our prominent local artists. Charles Oppenheimer, moved to Kirkcudbright from Manchester in 1909. Accompanied by his wife Connie, he initially resided at 14 High Street before relocating to Woodlea on the outskirts of town.

Charles Oppenheimer spent over half a century recording the local natural and built

environment, including a number of large canvases depicting the construction of the dams for the Galloway Power scheme in the early 1930s.

He was frequently observed painting at various locations in the area. His railway posters also brought his work to the attention of the public at large

He contributed significantly to the local community, serving as a town councillor and acting as the figurehead during the appeal to preserve the Harbour Cottage and convert it into an art gallery.

Although he is sometimes credited with the design of the Scottish Police cap badge this is not the case. In fact this was created in 1931 by the art master at Dumfries Academy, Robert Carnie.  He can however be credited with helping to devise the chequerboard that became their hat band.