Like many heritage sites, Dryfesdale Lodge Visitor Centre has struggled over the last year with forced closures and then restricted re-openings.
It has now been shut since October 2019 and planned renovation work was also affected by the pandemic.
However, a £500 donation from Russell Roof Tiles, based just up the road at Lochmaben, is helping to ease some of the strain.
Explaining more, Dryfesdale Trust secretary, and local historian, Timothy McCracken said: “When we closed up after the 2019 summer season, we never imagined we would still be closed in 2021. As a charity we rely on donations and with no visitors this has been difficult. So, the donation of £500 from Russell Roof Tiles is greatly appreciated.”
The trust hopes the cash will help with the planned renovation work that has had to be halted so far due to Covid-19.
Timothy added: “It seems likely that the lodge will have to remain closed for a while yet as the renovation work is carried out, but we hope to develop and build our online following through our website, www.dryfesdalelodge.co.uk and our social media accounts @dryfesdalelodgevisitorcentre.”
Meanwhile, Russell Roof Tiles operations director Bruce Laidlaw said: “It’s our pleasure to donate and support the Lodge. A small token of our gratitude for the good work the centre does in keeping such a poignant memory of the disaster for locals, relatives and visitors to view.
“With recent covid times, we understand that many charities and places that are run relying on donations and volunteers have struggled. Hopefully this will help somewhat.”
The visitors centre contains a memorial exhibition on Pan Am flight 103 and the Lockerbie Air Disaster of December 1988 and is located at the edge of Dryfesdale cemetery, near the Lockerbie Garden of Remembrance.
