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Daily Mail
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
King Charles samples local whisky as he visits Campbeltown during Holyrood Week
The King has been spotted knocking back a glass of whisky in Scotland on Thursday, during a visit to Campbeltown. Wearing a traditional kilt with a matching tie and smart suit jacket, Charles, 76, looked relaxed as he attended a community reception with invited guests and representatives from local charities. During the outing, His Majesty chatted to representatives from Glengyle and Glen Scotia Distilleries, which are based in Campbeltown, now Scotland's smallest whisky region. Getting into the spirit of the day, the King sipped on some local whisky from the distilleries, who have played a crucial role in revitalising the town, acknowledging both the unique challenges and opportunities presented by Campbeltown's distinctive cultural assets and remote geographical location. Campbeltown, one of Scotland's most remote mainland towns situated on the Kintyre peninsula, was once described as the whisky capital of the world with 34 distilleries. But the Scottish town is now experiencing a programme of regeneration, led by local businesses and charitable organisations. Among the organisations represented at the reception were Kintyre Foodbank, the South Kintyre Development Trust, Argyll and Bute Women's Aid, and members of the local Women's Rural Institutes. These groups provide resources that support the community and vulnerable residents. His Majesty, who is spending his official week in Scotland known as Holyrood Week, also met with the Machrihanish Airbase Community Company, which is leading the transformation of the former MOD airbase for community benefit. Then, the King chatted to a social enterprise group driving the regeneration and reopening of Campbeltown's historic cinema, supporting the town's ongoing cultural revival. Following the reception, His Majesty joyfully greeted members of the public in Campbeltown Main Street. Earlier in the day, Charles visited Campbeltown Farmers' Market, celebrating the community, local produce and businesses at the town's Heritage Centre. The market serves as a vital gathering point for the local community, showcasing regional specialities including artisanal cheese, beef, fish, whisky and fresh produce. During the visit, The King chatted to stall holders, community farming representatives and whisky distillery owners, and observed a traditional sheep-shearing demonstration. Campbeltown, by Campbeltown Loch, on the Kintyre peninsula, has a population of around 4,425 people. Its coastal location is also home to varied business sectors including farming, tourism and food and drink. In recent years, following a multi-million pound regeneration investment, it was announced as Scotland's most improved place. For his final engagement of the day, the King met community representatives at Campbeltown New Quay. Against the spectacular backdrop of Campbeltown Loch, and welcomed by the music of Campbeltown Pipe Band, His Majesty spoke to local fishing industry representatives. The visit to the Quay also included members of the RNLI, Sea Cadets, Guides, and Scouts. His Majesty met representatives from these organisations, learning about their valuable contributions to the local community. On Wednesday, the King and Queen faced torrential downpours as they marked the centenary of a war memorial commemorating a Scottish town's war dead. Charles and Camilla sheltered under umbrellas as they left a wreath at the memorial in Kirkcaldy, Fife, as hundreds of spectators watched the poignant service. Former prime minister Gordon Brown later joined the King at a solo event, while wife Sarah Brown met the Queen when she visited a cancer centre run by Maggie's – an organisation both women officially support. Charles's first task was to unveil a cairn commissioned to mark the 100th anniversary of the Kirkcaldy War Memorial Gardens and designed as a time capsule for future generations. He chatted to pupils from local Viewforth High School who had helped fill the capsule with school mementos and memory sticks filled with photos, and quipped about the rain: 'I keep telling myself it's a blessing.' Camilla said: 'It's a bit damp,' adding: 'We've been used to the heatwave.' The royal couple arrived in Fife as the heavy showers began and met dozens of well-wishers waiting behind barriers. After the brief wreath-laying service, Camilla left to visit Maggie's Fife while Charles toured the nearby Kirkcaldy Art Gallery. The King chatted to representatives of Fife-based charities and organisations which included Fife Multibank, an initiative founded by Mr Brown that provides essential goods to low-income families and now has five other organisations across the country. Mr Brown said afterwards: 'The biggest problem in Britain today is the divisions caused by child poverty and we're doing something about it, in the way that we can. 'We saw that goods surplus to companies were not being repurposed into a circular economy, and we thought we could solve some of the problems of pollution and poverty at the same time. 'We've got 90 companies now and we're working with 1,000 organisations in Fife. So we work with all the schools, social workers, health visitors, foodbanks and charities – we have given out in total, around the UK in the last year or two, eight million goods worth about £80 million.'
BBC News
3 days ago
- BBC News
Historic Kintyre sites given emergency funding
Three historic sites on Kintyre could form part of a heritage trail on the peninsula after emergency funding was secured.£40,000 worth of emergency works will be completed at a trio of medieval church sites - Kilkivan, Killean and Kilchenzie - affected by ageing and weathering. The three ancient buildings were built when Kintyre was still part of the Kingdom of the Isles and are considered historically significant. Now two of the island's charities and Argyll & Bute Council are hoping to secure further funding to make the sites safe, and then create to a trail to spotlight the area's ancient past. Each church has intricately carved grave slabs dating back to the 14th and 15th centuries, showing connections between Celtic history and Vikings. Kilkivan possesses eight medieval carvings depicting a range of characters, including a knight in full body armour and an abbot delivering a mass. The stones have suffered damage from weathering and acid rain since at least the 1960s, and the funding has paid for a stone conservator to work on restoring them. The ancient walls at Killean have been affected by ivy overgrowth, making it impossible to see carvings on the east gable wall windows, with the grant covering temporary bracing to be placed at the most vulnerable areas. A three-year project to consolidate the ruins and the 14 medieval grave slabs there is already being worked Kilchenzie specialist limecrete bags are now being used to shore up parts of the crumbling walls.A spokesperson for Argyll & Bute Council said: "All three churchyards are now in a good position to move forward together with a large grant application to various funding bodies for the money needed to consolidate and stabilize the ancient walls, and also to provide a safe space in which to display the wonderful collection of grave slabs."Laggan Opportunity and Amenity Fund (LOAF) and Killean and Kilchenzie Churches Preservation Association (KKCPA) secured the grants from Historic Environment Scotland and the National Heritage Lottery Fund, with council support.
