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Eastriggs Commonwealth Week 2022.

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Eastriggs the Commonwealth Village is coming together to celebrate Commonwealth Week from March 12th to March 19th 2022. A number of local organisations are coming together to put on an impressive array of activities over that period. Read more about all the events that will be happening below.

 

Saturday 12th March

Tractor Pull Challenge

10am – 12 noon and 2.00pm – 3.30pm

A Tractor Pull Challenge sponsered by SJ Barbers and Touch of Beauty will be happening at The Devil’s Porridge Museum. Why not come  and see how far you can pull it? There’s a £25 cash prize for both Ladies and Gents challenges.

Commonwealth Entertainment

7:30pm – 12:30am

At Eastriggs Social Club, featuring ‘Back2Back’ and Status Quo tribute Peter Kelly. Tickets £8 from the Club or The Devil’s Porridge Museum. There will be prizes for the best Commonwealth fancy dress!

 

Sunday 13th March

The Time Bandits

10am – 4pm

Learn all about life in World War One with living history performers The Time Bandits at The Devil’s Porridge Museum.

Booking online to visit the Museum is essential to avoid disappointment when we are busy. You can book your visit to the museum here: https://www.devilsporridge.org.uk/product/tickets

 

Monday 14th March

Meet the Curator

6pm – 8pm

There will be a  FREE open evening at The Devil’s Porridge Museum where you can meet Emma Gilliland, the new Curator, and enjoy tastes of the Commonwealth.

 

Wednesday 16th March

Look out for MyPod Youth Bus!

 

Friday 18th March

Quizaoke

Starts 7pm at The Wayside Inn.

Your host for the evening is Harry H. Could you be the Eastriggs Commonwealth Champion? Followed by traditional karaoke – who will be voted the best male and female singers? £60 in prizes.

 

Saturday 19th March

Eastriggs Historic Commonwealth Games.

12 noon – 4pm

Free admission and fun for all the family at Melbourn park!

Poster of activities at The Devil's Porridge Museum from February half term in 2022.

Free February Half Term Fun!

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H.M Factory Gretna was the largest munitions factory in WW1 and with two brand new towns and thousands of workers, crime abounded! Put your detecting skills to the test this half term with a series of fun FREE activites for young people at The Devil’s Porridge Museum.

 

 

Fictional Felons.

Monday 14th February 1pm – 2:30pm.

Join Jo Clarke, author of ‘Libby and the Parisian Puzzel’ for a fun workshop on writing and learn all about H.M. Factory Gretna’s connection to Sherlock Holmes creator, Arthur Conan Doyle.

Learn more about Jo Clarke on her website here: https://jo-clarke.co.uk/

For children age 7 +

BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL. Call the museum on 01461 700021 to book your place.

 

 

Evening Explorers

Tuesday 15th February 5pm – 7pm.

Families with SEN (special education needs), including those on the autism spectrum disorder are invited to join us at a special late evening opening of The Devil’s Porridge Museum outside of our usual opening hours. With the gallery, sounds videos and interactives turnded off, you can explore the museum at a quiter time, free from the general public. You are also welcome to join in with any of the activities being delivered by the museum over February half term.

BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL. Call the museum on 01461 700021 to book your place.

 

Cartoon Club.

Wednesday 16th February 10:30am to 12pm.

Learn how to draw your favourite cartoon character or create your own comic stip. Find out about the marvellous adventures of Scotty-Dog Hamish McDuff & his family.

For children age 7+

BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL. Call the museum on 01461 700021 to book your place.

 

Arts and Crafts Club.

Thursday 17th February 3:30pm to 5pm.

Express your creativity to make something brand new! Join us to paint, draw and so much more at arts and crafts club!

For children age 5 – 12.

BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL. Call the museum on 01461 700021 to book your place.

 

Secrets and Disguises.

Friday 18th February 3:30pm – 5pm.

Do you think you have what it takes to guard H.M. Factory Gretna from German spies? Learn how to decode secret messages in invisible ink, dust for fingerprints and make your own book safe in this fun workshop.

For children age 7 +

BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL. Call the museum on 01461 700021 to book your place.

 

I Spy.

All day, every day, all half term – just ask a member of staff for an activity sheet, during your visit to The Devil’s Porridge Museum!

Gretna Girl, Ruby, has just moved into Eastriggs to work at H.M. Factory Gretna, but her suitcase has gone missing! Can you find all her missing items and track down the theif so Ruby gets her stuff back? Look carefully at each of the museum’s displays to find Ruby’s belongings, charge the theif AND learn more about her life in WW1 as a munitions worker!

You can book your vist to The Devil’s Porridge Museum here: https://www.devilsporridge.org.uk/product/tickets

Scottish Gaelic Classes

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Do you fancy learning Scottish Gaelic?

Do you know a few words and would like to learn more?

Scottish Gaelic Clases are running Tuseday’s from 7pm to 9pm.

For more infomation about this please contact Lesley Brown.

Lesley.kirtle@btinternet.com

01461 204225

The Fire Brigade at HM Factory Gretna.

Online Talks 2021

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Before the pandemic hit, the Devil’s Porridge Museum used to have a lively and varied programme of events and talks.  We’re now really pleased to be offering these online. We aim to have a talk once a month on a subject which links to local history or the themes of the Museum. All events are free.

Tickets now available for the following.

 

 

 

 

 

Nearly a decade! Fires and Firefighting at HM Factory Gretna

Monday 22nd November 2021

Book online on Eventbrite here:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/nearly-a-decade-fires-and-firefighting-at-hm-factory-gretna-tickets-153631089725

Our presentation begins in October 1915 with the builders discussing fire insurance with HM Government and then we travel through to September 1925 with a large fire at Gretna just a few days after the brigade had been disbanded. Our journey will include looking at the men and women who fought fires, took part in competitions and ensured the safety of H M Factory, Gretna. We’ll see the vehicles, stations and uniforms used. Likewise details and photographs will show the diversity of incidents including travelling miles to assist local communities in areas where proper fire fighting apparatus and crews did not exist or were rudimentary. 

Gretna had different levels of fire teams ranging from the professional brigade through to the assistance offered by police officers, both male and female, military guards and officer workers. Within the factory area, all workers received basic training whilst others more in depth instruction. Some of these workers showed exceptional bravery and quite correctly were presented with awards and we’ll look at these. 

Unfortunately any explosive factory was a place of danger and accidents fatal and causing injury were common placeHowever that the workforce and residents in the purpose built townships and other accommodation also suffered from house fires and accidents including those caused on the railway and road. Ambulances based at fire stations attended to the injured, taking casualties to hospitals in Dumfries and Carlisle if the medical facilities within the factory could not cope. 

Lasting about 50 minutes, Nigel Crompton, MA’s presentation includes photographs, copies of maps and other documents relating to the fire brigade and fire fighting at HM Factory, Gretna. 

This event will be held via Zoom and a joining link will be sent on the day.

Photo advertising Arts and Crafts club at The Devil's Porridge Museum in 2021.

Arts and Craft Club at The Devil’s Porridge Museum.

By Events

Come and join us for some Arts and Craft fun at The Devil’s Porridge Museum.

 

This great free after school activity is on Wenesdays from 15:45-16:45.

There will be a diffrent arts and craft activity each week to be enjoyed.

For ages 5-12.

 

To book your place or enquire for further information please contact lauran@devilsporridge.org.uk

Poster for Games club at The Devil's Porridge Museum in 2021.

Games Club at The Devil’s Porridge Museum.

By Events

Come along for some traditional and modern games at The Devil’s Porridge Museum. Perfect for after school!

 

The Devil’s Porridge games club runs on Thursday after school from 15:45-16:45.

We have board games, card games and more! Your child is also welcome to bring along any games they enjoy and want to play with others!

For ages 7-16.

 

Book your free place on eventbrite here:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/games-at-the-devils-porridge-tickets-172636940737?aff=ebdssbdestsearch&fbclid=IwAR3F80gGioXjbu9v_YGFGNnbr8gHC9p6lyUsa2sEIwCvZnNTgReqWWTXGwE

The royal visit to H.M. Factory Gretna during World War One with lots of happy munition workers.

The Miracle Workers Project Update: Mini-Conference

By Events
A chance to hear about the excellent historical research done so far on The Miracle Workers Project in a free online event.

 

 

In March 2021, The Devil’s Porridge Museum launched it’s Miracle Workers Project, which aimed to research the 30,000 people who worked at H. M. Factory Gretna during World War One. Thanks to a generous grant from the D&G Costal Communities Fund, volunteers at the museum have been systematically researching and compiling information on those who worked at Gretna.

This free online event will share what the volunteers have uncovered so far, from women’s football teams at the factory to police to explosives and chemists. We will also be hearing from Dr Chris Brader, who wrote his thesis on the women workers at Gretna, who will be speaking about his research.

10AM – 11AM – short, informal talks by our volunteers, sharing their research.

11AM-11:45AM – talk by Dr Chris Brader, with time for questions.

Booking your free place on eventbrite here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-miracle-workers-project-update-mini-conference-tickets-162272199517

This event will be held via Zoom and a joining link will be sent on the day.

A photo album with a collection of photos of a lightning storm, swimming and a dessert.

Sandstorms, Swimming and Stories: Creative Writing Workshop.

By Events
Draw inspiration from mystery photographs in the museum’s collection to create your own short story.

Can you imagine what it would be like to get stuck in a desert sandstorm, fly an aeroplane, or swim in the Dead Sea?

 

The Devil’s Porridge Museum contains countless old photographs from all around the world. The only thing is we don’t know much about them … but we can imagine what stories the images could contain!

 

Join us at our creative writing workshop run by local writer Kerrie McKinnel, and create your own short story using these images and more as inspiration.

 

Suitable for young people with big imaginations.

 

Kerrie McKinnel is a writer, graduate from the University of Glasgow’s MLitt Creative Writing, and Events Manager for Lockerbie Writers group. She has run a number of successful writing workshops and events. You can find out more about her on her website: www.kerriemckinnel.com

 

Due to Covid restrictions booking your place via Eventbrite is essential.

Book your place here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sandstorms-swimming-and-stories-creative-writing-workshop-tickets-161640243319

Part of a poster for a Tiktok takeover happening in 2021.

TikTok Takeover!

By Events

Join us to take over The Devil’s Porridge Museum’s TikTok account, creating and publishing your own videos!

The Devil’s Porridge Museum will be running a TikTok Takeover where you can create, shoot, edit and publish TikTok’s for the museum!

We will be using historical objects, the museum’s surroundings and dressing up materials to create fun short videos to share history with people worldwide.

Starting Thursday June 10th and continuing weekly, this takeover will run at the museum, and you can drop in to join us anytime between 3:30 and 6pm.  Perfect for young people aged 12 and upwards!

Because of COVID restrictions, pre-booking via Eventbrite is essential. You can book here:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tiktok-takeover-tickets-156915116337

Poster for a past Zine workshop which took place in June 2021.

Zine Making Workshop

By Events

 

Join us at this youth workshop to create a Zine about the life of the Gretna Girls with all the materials you need included!

Zines are DIY magazines that contain words, images, artwork and much, much more! Originating in the 1930s, Zines became a counter-cultural phenomenon in the 1980s, when riot girls rallied against sexism in punk culture in their Zines. More recently the hit Netflix movie ‘MOXIE’ has again brought Zines to the fore.

 

The girls and women who worked at HM Factory Gretna may have lived in a time before Zines, but they too faced hardship, danger and sexism whilst working in explosives in WW1. They also left us art and poems in their autograph books, and in the end of war magazines, the Mossband and Dornock Farewell. Using these and other documents in The Devil’s Porridge Museum’s archives, this Zine workshop will use imagined history to make the Gretna Girl’s come to life!

 

All you need is yourself, a creative outlook and some big ideas to take part in this fun workshop.

 

Pre-book your place on eventbrite here:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/zine-making-workshop-tickets-156666891891?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

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