Kelso Connections Unveils Town's Homecoming Plans

Kelso Connections has announced a major new initiative to coincide with Homecoming Scotland 2009 and Return to the Ridings. A programme of over 20 events celebrating the lives and work of people from Kelso has been announced to run throughout 2009. ‘We're from Kelso', the Kelso Civic Week celebrations, and ‘I come frae Kelsae' are just some of the programme highlights.

Kelso's Homecoming Programme celebrating the people of Kelso and their contribution to the world is part-funded by a Homecoming Scotland 2009 grant. This grant was distributed to Kelso Civic Week through Return to the Ridings which brings together eleven of the Scottish Borders Common Ridings and Festivals as part of Homecoming Scotland 2009.

Kelso's 2009 events programme, all of which have a strong Kelso theme, includes exhibitions, children's activities, displays, talks and other events designed to help local people learn more about their heritage and attract the Kelso Diaspora back to the town during 2009. This programme has been created by Kelso Connections, comprising members from local community groups and volunteers.

Ruth Holmes, Coordinator of Kelso Connections and Scottish Borders Council Librarian at Kelso Library, said:

"Kelso Connections has created a fantastic programme for 2009 and we are delighted to launch these events as part of Return to the Ridings and Homecoming Scotland 2009. People who have lived, worked or were born in Kelso have made a huge contribution across the world. I am particularly excited about our two exhibitions ‘We're from Kelso' and ‘I come frae Kelsae' which provide some surprising findings in a who's who of Kelso!

"Kelso Civic Week is a central part of the town's celebrations during this Summer and Kelso Connections is working with Return to the Ridings to encourage the people of Kelso to invite their friends and relatives back to the Borders as part of Homecoming Scotland 2009."

Programme highlights include:

A look at Kelso's fishing heritage in ‘still fishing after all these years' and an exhibition at the Tweed Angling Fair

An Immortal Memory:film tribute to Robert Burns, by Archie McArthur

The announcement of the Kelso Laddie and the Kelso Civic Week celebrations, part of Return to the Ridings.

‘I come frae Kelsae' a display of famous Kelsonians at Kelso Library as part of Local History Week

Kelso War Memorial - their final resting places exhibition - by Kelso Library in association with Kelso Royal British Legion

‘We're from Kelso' displays and competitions in local shops throughout Kelso depicting the lives of people who have lived, worked or were born in Kelso and their contribution to the world.

Ballads along the Border - an exploration of why Border Ballads have stood the test of time in song and verse - narrated by Alasdair Hutton.

A presentation by historian Alistair Moffat on ‘Kelsae'

The New Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border by Walter Elliot. Over the 2 centuries since 1802 when Sir Walter Scott's Minstrelsy was printed in Kelso, poets have been noting lifestyle changes; Walter will discuss how he has recorded this in his book.

Kelso Connections is made up of members from The Kelso Laddies Association, Kelso Library, Friends of Kelso Museum, Kelso Traders, Kelso and District Amenity Society, Sport Kelso, the British Legion, Kelso Angling Club, the Scottish Borders Council Cultural Coordinator team and several individual volunteers, the aim is to promote Kelso's Heritage and attract both internal and external tourism.

For further information on Kelso Connections or the 2009 programme contact Ruth Holmes at Kelso Library on (01573) 223 171 or log on to www.returntotheridings.co.uk.