Cumnock Armistice Events 2019

November 2018 saw the 100th Anniversary of the WW1 Armistice where Cumnock History Group in partnership with the Corra Foundation, Cumnock Action Plan and local organisations marked this milestone event by involving the wider community in a series of town centre celebratory, educational and family fun events, workshops and activities on the armistice theme. These were inclusive events for all. 

Read more on our website HERE

Painted Memorial Stones 

We are still researching the stories of the 876 men and women from Cumnock who served in WW1 - 192 never returned. 

To commemorate them we invited schools, community groups and individuals to paint stones with these names and a red poppy - we had a fantastic response from Barshare Primary, Greenmill Primary, Netherthird Primary, St Patrick’s Primary, Logan Primary, Hillside School, MIMA Junior Youth Club, Lisalanna, Colour Splash, The Guides, 0-100 Club, Things Tae Dae, 4 Connections, Bobby Grierson, Mary Little, Shaun Lowrie, Aimee Muggridge and Isobel Shaw.

The stones have found a permanent home around the War Memorial at the new cemetery and at Lugar Church.

Poppy Making

We asked for volunteers to knit, crochet or make felt, material and paper poppies to decorate the Town Hall for the Welcome Home Tea Dance on 10th November. It was spectacular with over 3,000 poppies!

Thanks to the following for making poppies for our beautiful Poppy Curtain.

Morag Gordon, Betty Outram, Sandra Faddes, Maureen Murphy, Roberta McGee, Betty Fleming, Jessica, Abi, Hannah, Mary McClatchy, Margaret Cochrane, Donna Mullin, Mary Hope, Elizabeth Kay, Laura Carmichael, Louise Quinn, Claire Dalrymple, Susan Brown, staff at Queen Margaret Academy, June Black, Lauren Collow, Linda Sutherland, Amanda Dobie, Anne Griffiths, Kim Hill, Catherine McConnell, Evelyn McBride, Maggie Goudie, 0-100 Club, Shaun Lowrie, Sorn Primary School, Co-op Funeral Care, Things Tae Dae and others not wishing to be named.

WW1 Poster Design Workshop

Saturday 27th October - Yipworld, Barrhill Road. We looked at original WW1 posters and used these as inspiration to design a poster for the Welcome Home Tea Dance. Yipworld 

Star Poster Designers are: Ayesha Mushtag, Andrew James, Carlie Smith, Hollie Malone, Kayligh Barr, Leah McHardy, Molly McIlvaney, Niamh Connolly, Nola Pierotti, Paige McGuire, Rebecca Ferguson, Sophie Brown and art tutor Hollie Bates. The posters are awesome!

War-time Cooking

Tuesday 30th October at the Riverside Centre, Ayr Road. Cross-generational and inclusive. Soup and baking. We cooked soup and sweet-bites for 30 guests under the guidance of the Buns R Us group and staff. It was delicious!

WW1 themed evening talks and presentations 

Thursday 1st November – Baird Institute, Lugar Street, Cumnock. East Ayrshire Leisure gave an illustrated talk on their WW1 Collections.

Thursday 8th November – Baird Institute. Cumnock History Group present the story of the Cumnock War Memorials and how they were funded.

Drop-in Reminiscence Events 

Friday 2nd Saturday 3rd November. Baird Institute, Lugar Street, Cumnock. We identified recorded and researched Cumnock Parish Medals, War Medals, photos, letters and family stories.

War Horse Family Film Night 

Friday 9th November. Barrhill Community Centre, Barrhill Road, Cumnock. Steven Spielberg’s epic adventure. A tale of incredible loyalty, hope and tenacity. Great Film!

Welcome Home Tea Dance

Saturday 10th November. Cumnock Town Hall, Glaisnock Street. Based on the dance given for men and women returning from the war in 1919, this was late afternoon entertainment for all ages and was sold-out!

With WW1 themed tunes from Sanquhar & District Silver Band, Strings n Things, Cumnock Academy Orchestra, CAMPS, Heart & Soul Choir and other guests. 
Tea, coffee, cakes, sandwiches and dancing! 
There was a WW1 themed dressing-up box available on the day and people came in their own war outfit and got their photos taken.

The Cumnock Roll of Honour with over 800 names was displayed in the Keir Hardie Room alongside the WW2 Pennylands POW Camp exhibition. 

Remembrance Day Events - Organised by local churches

Sunday 11th November 
Remembrance Service - Lugar Parish Church

Act of Remembrance at War Memorial - Lugar Parish Church

Service of Remembrance - Cumnock Cemetery. Service and laying of a selection of the painted stones around the war memorial. Wreath laying by groups and organisations 

United Service of Commemoration - Cumnock Square & Parish Church. Cadets and Pipe Band in the Square. Welcome and call to prayer. Readings from the Front Line and the Trenches. 

Bugler played Last Post. Prayer and hymn.
Piper played Lament. All Churches rang out their bells across the town for 10 minutes.
Bugler played Reveille then the Benediction.

Our thanks also to:

Sergeant Rab McMillan and Raven for all their military advice.

Baldy Bane Theatre Company for the loan of the fab costumes.

Police Scotland Youth Volunteers for their invaluable help.

Michelle Laats, Craig Brown, Kris LeMay and Michael Shaw of EAL for their services at the Town Hall.

Bruce Morgan and Mari Monaghan of EAL for their use of the Baird Institute.

Tesco’s Auchinleck for help with the Painted Stones Project.

John Senior, Helen Ng and Janice Hendry from Cumnock Action Plan for their generous support.

John Campbell of the Dumfries Arms Hotel for loaning us the crockery.

Sergeant Rab McMillan and Raven for welcoming us to the proceedings with such aplomb.

CAMPS for showing Warhorse on a rainy windy night.

Shaun Lowrie for his fantastic support.

And the people of Cumnock and the surrounding area for supporting all the events.

We are grateful to Morrison Construction for donating the stones and art materials for the Memorial Stones Project.

Cumnock Armistice Events were supported by Cumnock Action Plan and the Corra Foundation.