A Forres Heritage Trust volunteer has been awarded a Heritage Hero Award. James Greig who regularly helps out with renovations and updates to the Tolbooth was given the honour by Moray Council.
James received the certificate after attending an eight-week employability course called ‘Xplore’, which aims to help people build on their range of experiences.
James was linked with local historian, Lynda Dean, who gives local history tours of the area for the award which requires participants to engage with history and reflect on their experience of this. James’ work with Lynda focused on Elgin Cathedral and the history of witchcraft in the area.
Jennifer Innes, Adult & Family Learning Co-ordinator, Community Learning and Engagement with Moray Council said: “James has been one of our regular attenders at the sessions and his confidence has grown greatly, especially in communicating with others.
“Now that the eight-week block has finished, we are looking to see what the learners will progress to next. James has also been working with me on his Communications Award, which is SQA accredited and is making really good progress and will soon be ready for assessment.”
George Alexander, chairman of the Forres heritage Trust said: “It was through a contact that one of our volunteers had with James’s mother that led to James becoming a regular attender with the Forres Heritage Trust volunteers at the Tollbooth on a Friday morning. It took some time before he settled in and felt comfortable with the group but once he became familiar with the building and the people he soon settled in and is now an integral part of the team. I totally agree with Jennifer Innes when she says that James’s “confidence has grown greatly, especially in communicating with others” and this is very evident since James joined the Friday Gang.”
Speaking of his award, James said: “I am very pleased. I really enjoyed my time working with Lynda and I learned a lot about Elgin although I didn’t expect it to be so gruesome. My gran used to live in Elgin and I enjoyed sharing what I learnt with my dad.”
James added: “I have been volunteering with the FHT for about three years now and I really enjoy it. I have found out a lot about the Tolbooth and Forres.”