Forres Area Community Trust reaches out to former Forres Town Hall performer Sir Paul McCartney to help renovations crowdfunder
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A GROUP dedicated to improving the town’s historic civic building is asking for Help!
Forres Area Community Trust (FACT) has contacted former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney to back their campaign to restore Forres Town Hall, 64 years on from when he performed in it with the original Fab Four.
FACT development manager Michelle Gillibrand is also a huge fan.
She explained: “When we started looking into the history of the building, the significance of the date in May suddenly hit us. I have always loved the Beatles. I think it’s because my late dad named me after his favourite song of theirs and I was brought up with their music in our house. When we worked out it was 64 years since that performance, it just felt like a sign.”
Sir Paul, John Lennon, George Harrison, Stuart Sutcliffe and Tommy Moore were on a seven day tour of Scotland as a support band called the Silver Beetles when they performed in Forres on May 26, 1960.
FACT is marking the gig’s anniversary by asking Sir Paul - who wrote the classic ‘When I’m Sixty Four’ to support their campaign to redevelop the town hall.
FACT urgently needs an extra £20,000 to replace a 17 metre long beam - found to have dry rot during the first phase of a £5million refurbishment.
Donations can be made at https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/forres-town-hall-needs-your-help
“We need all the help we can get,” said Michelle. “The Crowfunding total is sitting at just under £3,400 plus Gift Aid and we have approximately a further £11,000 plus been donated directly.
“We are so grateful for this support. The campaign ends on May 31.”
The Silver Beetles played in Keith the night before Forres, and in Nairn on the following night as they supported Liverpudlian singer Johnny Gentle. Rumour has it, they were so poor they could not afford to pay their Forres hotel bill!
Once they returned to England they started to use the name the Beatles and Ringo Starr joined them in 1962.
FACT has written to Sir Paul to ask him to send a message of support for the fundraising campaign, suggesting an endorsement could really boost their efforts.
Once the rotten beam is replaced, FACT will continue with their plans to transform the building in phases. Phase 1 is expected to cost more than £550,000, with funding already in place through various grants. It will see the building made more energy efficient, with roof repairs and better insulation.
Chairman of the board at FACT, Jim Farquharson, confirmed the eventual aim is to turn the hall - which is around 200 years old - into a thriving centre for the community.
He said: “We started the work in January and were a bit despondent to hit a problem so early on. But, with a little help from our friends, we can go on to create something that the people of Forres can be proud of, a real centre for the community.”
FACT bought the town hall through a community asset transfer from the Moray Council in 2021. It is available for hire for community groups and events, and currently hosts a variety of activities from yoga and singing to theatre and film screenings.
For more information visit https://forresarea.org/
