Making a Difference

Working for Increased Prosperity

Moray Marks Telford Anniversary in Style

This year marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of one of Britain's greatest and most prolific engineers, Thomas Telford.  In his lifetime he designed roads, bridges, harbours, canals, churches and even whole towns.

Arguably one of his finest works is the Craigellachie Bridge in the heart of Speyside.  This prompted a range of partners to put together a varied six-month programme of activities around the area to promote local awareness of Telford and attract more visitors to Moray.

The programme has included young people's workshops at Moray Arts Centre to imagine what life would be like without bridges, performances by students telling the story of Telford's journey in the north of Scotland, a ceilidh at Coleburn Distillery and a touring library exhibition.  A DVD, entitled Telford by Air, has also been produced to promote a new Telford Trail around Moray.  The DVD was filmed using a specially adapted pre-war plane with recording camera, which presented an exciting spectacle.

A key event was the ceremony held in July to mark the designation of Craigellachie Bridge as an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.  The interactive performances on the bridge on the days leading up to the designation were enjoyed by approximately 250 participants, both local and from further afield.

In order to keep everyone informed of news and events taking place, a Telford Celebration website was launched in May.  All events have been well attended and, judging from feedback received, thoroughly enjoyed, thus raising the tourism profile of Moray.

"Great imaginative work in a fantastic setting - not to be missed"  N. Ross, Inverurie

"Absolutely wonderful and weather was very atmospheric"  Timothy Reid, Edinburgh

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