Friends of the Falconer Museum celebrate 150 years since its opening and call on Moray Council to reverse the decision to close it
MORE than 100 people celebrated a special date in the town’s history recently.
The Friends of the Falconer Museum organised a community party outside the building closed by Moray Council in 2019 to mark 150 years to the day it opened on August 1, 1872.
A Gazette article dated July 16, 1872, heralded the opening and listed the museum’s donars and donations including: local geological specimens; fossils, skulls and bones from India; armour and weapons; cave flints from Dordogne, France; coins and medals; eggs of British birds; curiosities from Japan and China; stuffed birds and animals from home and abroad; South African artefacts; shells from Mauritius; and skull, bone and ornaments found in stone coffin at Burgie. The article ends with: “Subscribers of five shillings per annum are entitled to admission at all times without charge”.
Friends vice chairman Dr John Barrett was thrilled to see so many join the volunteers in Museum Square (including families with children hoping that the museum would be open) for refreshments, live music - and to renew calls for the institution’s collection to be made public again.
He said: “We gathered to celebrate 150 years of an institution in the heart of the Royal Burgh. The festive occasion was part pageant-part protest ... but mostly a joyful birthday party that spilled onto Tolbooth Street.”
Historians and revellers shared cake, fizzy juice and danced to blues and classic pop played by local band, Soul Food Café.
“Several Victorian ladies and gentlemen time-warped in to join the party,” said Dr Barrett. “Two of Macbeth’s witches also magically materialised, though the third was unable to attend. Her broomstick wouldn’t start so fortunately the weird sisterhood was incomplete and no spells could be cast!”
Friends secretary Christine Clerk had called for attendees to dress as characters from history, particularly 150 years.
Fellow Friend Christiane added: “Another lady appeared as Grace Milne, born in 1832, the eldest child of James Milne of Findhorn (hence the James Milne institute in Findhorn) and his wife Louisa Falconer, sister of Hugh Falconer.
“In Falconer’s later years she was trained in geology by her uncle, became his secretary and helper as well as an accomplished author in her own right.”
However, as well as celebrating a momentous occasion, the Friends were determined to make an important point.
Dr Barrett made a short speech, pointing out the irony of celebrating the museum’s opening in the street – because the building remains closed.
He said: “The Falconer Museum is a precious jewel in the ancient capital of Moray. Since August 1, 1872 the museum has grown from an antiquarian cabinet of curiousities into a professional academic institution respected beyond Scotland delighting visitors and serving scholars from across the globe.
“However, our celebration is clouded by the sad irony that the doors are shut. Moray Councillors are responsible for closing the doors - they have the power to re-open them, if they find the courage to do so.”
The Friends are running a ‘Falconer 150’ essay competition, inviting short texts to be submitted on Hugh Falconer or the museum itself for the chance to win prizes. The deadline is September 15. See http://falconermuseum.co.uk/ for more information.
The Friends are preparing an exhibition focused on the portrait busts surrounding the museum’s facade in the Tolbooth in October. There will also be a Hugh Falconer anthology in November.
