ANNAN’S future is bright after the town was named Scotland’s Rising Star on Wednesday.
The community was selected as one of the winners at the Visa ‘Let’s Celebrate Towns’ awards in London.
It scooped the ‘Rising Star for Scotland’ title and £10,000 in prize money.
The award recognises up-and-coming towns that are on their way to transforming the economic environment and community. And now Annan the History Town group plan on using the cash boost to help develop their blueprint to transform it into an attractive visitor destination.
The blueprint reviews other themed towns in Scotland, explores Annan’s market potential, and looks at different issues and opportunities for the town.
Annan was one of eight winners selected from across the UK, and Dumfriesshire MP David Mundell attended the ceremony at the House of Commons to receive the award on the group’s behalf.
He said: “Huge congratulations to Annan on this well deserved award which recognises just how much is going on in the town, from the relatively new History Town initiative
to the longstanding Riding of the Marches and everything in between.
“I’ve always found there to be a great community spirit in Annan and it’s really positive to see that recognised nationally. All judges I met at the event in the House of Commons, agreed that Annan’s nomination was excellent.
“Well done to everyone who contributed to Annan receiving this prestigious award.”
Meanwhile, History Town chairman Richard Brodie was delighted at the news and yesterday said: “It is really fantastic. A real reward for Annan History Town and all the work that they have been doing.
“We are going ahead with the history town blueprint and taking it forward.”
The group will be holding the third Summer Festival later this year and it promises to be their biggest and best yet.
Richard added: “There is another Annan summer festival planned. It will be bigger and better than last year.
“There will be two reenactments from the Vikings and the Normans on the Everholm.”
The group also has separate funding which they hope to use to install history hubs around the town. These hubs will form a totem trail at different sites and display images and information.
Richard said: “We have also got funding from the council to draw up designs and receive planning permissions for the history hubs.
“They are designed like sails with information about Annan’s history.
“They will be high quality and visitor friendly.”
