Geilston should not pass to a developer

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We would like to make your readers aware of our concern for the future of Geilston House and Garden in Cardross.

Geilston House and Garden is presently under the ownership of the National Trust for Scotland. It was gifted to them by Miss E. Hendry together with around a million pounds, subject to Miss Bell, her long-time companion, retaining the right to occupy the house until her death.

Sadly, in July 1989, Miss Hendry died without having time to finalise arrangements.

The terms of the will placed no restrictions upon the use of Geilston nor upon the balance of the funds that made up the estate.

However, those who knew Miss Hendry well say that it was never her intention that the Trust should sell the house and garden to raise funds and it was generally understood that the money given to the Trust would be used for the upkeep of Geilston even if this was not explicitly stated.

Miss Hendry's love of Geilston and the wider community was evident in her generosity over the years.

The house and garden was placed in trust, and in our view it would be an abuse of this Trust to sell it or develop it in such a way that would be detrimental to the Estate as a whole.

A meeting was held on Tuesday, June 27, and it was at this meeting that staff and volunteers heard for the first time that the house would never open to the public and that the contents are to be sold.

In 2004 the Trust itself carried out a heritage impact assessment on the house and contents. This stated: "The collection, though not especially important as works of art or antiques in their own right, are primarily important because they represent a complete survival of the material culture of upper middle class life in the 20th Century. In this context the survival of the archive is particularly important and the whole collection, though seemingly ordinary today, is likely to become increasingly rare and valued as the 21st century progresses."

It is essential that before anything is sold, there is a complete published inventory of the contents alongside a valuation.

Moreover, those who were frequent visitors to Geilston House when Miss Hendry and Miss Bell were living in it say that the contents included a Constable painting, Persian rugs and two grand pianos.

Although the garden has been beautifully maintained by very dedicated and able gardeners and a team of volunteers, it is our view that the house has been neglected by The Trust.

The house is ‘B’ listed and dates back to 1666. A grant from Historic Scotland was used to do roof repairs which has kept it wind and watertight, but it has otherwise been allowed to deteriorate to such an extent that it requires a considerable sum of money to make it habitable.

It is to be greatly regretted that the neglect of the inside of the house has put its future at risk. We hope this has not been a deliberate policy. Miss Hendry and members of the Trust would be horrified if this were the case.

There are not many Trust properties on the west coast of Scotland. Each individual property plays a very important part to the attractiveness of the whole.

Geilston is an attractive stop on the route of the ‘Three Lochs Way' and compliments a visit to Hill House in Helensburgh.

Since April 2017, 5,000 people have visited Geilston Garden. They expect better from the National Trust for Scotland.

The three individual aspects of the property - house, garden and estate - should not be divided, as it is in their entirety that they form a unique setting.

There are very many uses for a properly restored house - a tea room (much in demand by visitors), a venue for workshops (currently there are very popular and successful art workshops run at Geilston), a conference centre and the like.

It would be a great pity, if a peaceful gem of a garden which is enjoyed by members and public alike should fall into the hands of a private individual or developer.

Alison Hillis (Friends of Geilston House and Garden)

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If you want to stand out from the fashion crowd, improve your sewing skills or just want a fun way to raise money for charity, the British Heart Foundation (BHF) has the perfect solution.

I’m calling on all keen and novice sewers to take part in The Big Stitch this July by heading to your nearest BHF shop, buying an item and injecting your own fashion flair to it by practicing sewing and dressmaking skills.

Every item bought and re-vamped throughout July will bring us one step closer to ending the devastation caused by heart disease. Every year, heart and circulatory disease kills around 15,500 in Scotland and currently, 670,000 people in the country are living with its burden so the need to find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat these terrible conditions is more urgent than ever.

What’s more, if you post your ‘before’ and ‘after’ picture on social media throughout July, tagging the BHF on Twitter, Instagram or on the BHF’s Facebook page and using the hashtag #TheBigStitch, you will be in with a chance of winning a Special Night Out at a London West End show with YouTube sensation, Just Jodes for you and a friend.

With around 750 BHF shops nationwide, join thousands of style seekers across the UK, all while learning invaluable skills and helping the BHF fund life saving research into heart disease.

For more information on The Big Stitch and to find your nearest BHF shop, visit bhf.org.uk/TheBigStitch

Paul Loughran (Area manager at the British Heart Foundation)

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It is more than a little ironic that as Scotland, through being part of the UK, prepares to leave the European Union, Estonia, with a population around a quarter that of Scotland, took over the EU presidency on July 1.

The presidency is responsible for driving forward the EU’s work, ensuring the continuity of the EU agenda, orderly legislative processes and cooperation among member states.

During the next six months this will focus on key areas, including single and digital markets, the energy union and closer integration of Eastern partners into Europe. It also want to focus on the promotion of e-solutions and the information society in EU policy areas.

Interestingly its prime minister, Jüri Ratas, has declared that Brexit is not a priority for the Presidency - a sign that the EU is moving on from Brexit, with bigger issues to deal with.

Estonia, which next year will celebrate its centenary of becoming independent, takes over from Malta in holding the presidency of European Union, an island with a population less than that of Edinburgh.

During the independence referendum, the Better Together camp claimed that the only way to guarantee Scotland’s place in the EU was to vote to remain in the UK. Indeed, Scotland was to “lead the UK”, not “leave the UK”.

Times have indeed changed since September 2014, and we are, despite these assurances, heading for the EU exits.

Of course, we could have the best of both worlds, part of a single market with the rest of the UK - as promised to Northern Ireland in its relations with the Republic of Ireland - and still being members of the EU.

For that to happen of course requires the confidence, as Malta and Estonia have demonstrated, to take full control of our own affairs and be the masters of our own destiny, leading, not leaving, the EU.

Alex Orr, via email

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This July, SSAFA - the UK's oldest military charity - is celebrating the centenary of women in our armed forces.

The charity, which has been supporting our troops and their families for more than 130 years, was there for the first women serving, and we’re still there for them now.

This year, we are recognising the vital role that women have played in the military, during two World Wars and in more recent conflicts.

I have worked alongside some truly inspirational women in our Armed Forces and I am extremely proud of the work they do; we rely on their strength and courage to keep us safe every day.

I am proud to be Ambassador of SSAFA which supports these women and their families.

SSAFA has branches working across Scotland that are made up of volunteers and provide practical and emotional support those currently serving, veterans who have settled in the area and their families.

Dame Vera Lynn, SSAFA Ambassador

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I am one of a group of people who, about six months ago, set out to re-launch Pensioners for Independence (P for I) - one of the pro-independence groups that existed before the 2014 independence referendum but subsequently seemed to disappear from the radar.

We now have active campaigning groups of P for I in Edinburgh and Lothians and in Glasgow and the West of Scotland, and are keen to set up similar groups based on the other cities in Scotland and eventually to spread our influence into more rural areas.

If any of your readers would like to know more and to be kept informed of progress, they are invited to contact us at pensionersforindependence@gmail.com.

Peter Swain, Pensioners for Independence