Issuu

Autumn/Winter 2020 Issue 3

Front Cover Photo: Wren Mouat Also see Pages 20 & 21: Photos of Jude and Wren Mouat and Sophia Burns Photo credit: Mike Bolam

4-5

Welcome from Gwilym Gibbons, Chief Executive

Virtual Design Thinking Workshop

Christmas Drive-in at The Crichton

6-8

An update from The Crichton

Study with The Open University in Scotland

Doonhame Festival and Doonhame Kids

46-47

The Crichton Briefings

Upskilling the South of Scotland

College Changed My World

10-11

DG Business Awards

Autumn View of The Crichton Memorial Church

Crichton Venue Hire Whatâ€™s On

12-13

32-33

Double Anniversary for Claire

South of Scotland Enterprise

Easterbrook Bistro

14-17

34-35

Tree-Mendous Collection

Chilled Out at The Crichton

Christmas at The Crichton

18-19

36-37

The Crichton by Kate Thomson

Beauty in the Bistro

Weddings at The Crichton

20-21

38-39

True Colours of The Crichton

StaffSafe

The Crichton Community

22-23

40-42

Crichton Central

Highlighting our Support

The Crichton Business Directory

24-27

Back Page

The Story of Elizabeth Crichton

Royal Burgh of Dumfries Tattoo

Seasonal Selection by Mike Bolam

WELCOME Welcome to the third issue of The Crichton Magazine. Itâ€™s difficult to believe that 2020 is almost behind us and for most of us that is welcome. None of us could have predicted the change and challenges we have all had to deal with in our work and personal lives this year. Whether we entered 2020 in good health, with a full schedule of work commitments and an exciting social calendar, the chances are that this has changed. We have lost our freedoms, we have had to change our daily routines, cope with uncertainty and rethink our plans. While there have been devastating consequences for some, for others it has given us a chance to reflect and an opportunity to change things for the better.

hygiene procedures and made the most of this opportunity to reflect on what we do, appreciate what we have and make informed decisions about what we do going forward. As you will read in this issue of The Crichton Magazine, we have much to be grateful for. Most of us remain in good health, we have an amazing public asset and a beautiful outdoor space, we have a strong sense of community and growing desire to collaborate, we have been financially supported to help us get through the year, we have retained and supported most of our team, we have progressed with our new Crichton Central development, we have used our venues to support charities and the regional response to Covid-19, we have trialled homeworking and new technologies, we have been successful in a number of awards, we have reviewed our organisational structure and we have come to appreciate the legacy and resilience of The Crichton.

Helped by a stunning Autumn, we have continued to see an increase in leisure visitors making the most of our beautiful grounds and we hope you will all continue to use the grounds and the gardens to protect your physical and mental wellbeing as we navigate our way out of this pandemic. Throughout this magazine we will start to share findings of our recent tree survey and we invite you to join us in exploring the legacy of the unique tree collection we have here at The Crichton too.

We are now in the process of developing a new 18 month plan for the transition to our emerging future and a core part of our plan is to focus on the wellbeing of our people, place and planet. We have some exciting projects to roll out next year which present an opportunity to form new partnerships and collaborations and we hope you will make it your place to connect with us and to help shape the future of The Crichton.

As Chief Executive of The Crichton Trust, I have spent much of this year working with our trustees and executives to address the day to day challenges resulting from an immediate loss of events, a decline in demand for hospitality services and a reduction in corporate footfall on site. As a result, our financial forecasts and our staffing models have had to change and we have had to temporarily close some of our venues. Despite all of these challenges, we end 2020 with an air of optimism. The recent news of a vaccine gives us fresh hope and as a team we are determined that we will, just as our predecessors have done in the past, to review and build back better.

In the meantime, thank you to our colleagues, tenants, partners, suppliers, customers and trustees for your help, understanding and support in 2020. I wish you all a healthy and peaceful Christmas and all the best for 2021. Stay safe.

Gwilym Gibbons Chief Executive

We have streamline our services, reviewed operational arrangements, changed our staffing levels, enhanced our cleaning and

#TheCrichton #APlaceToBreathe #TheCrichtonCommunity #BuildBackBetter 55

AN UPDATE FROM THE CRICHTON by Gwilym Gibbons, Chief Executive, The Crichton Trust

This update is being written, just as we are hearing encouraging news about a new Covid-19 vaccine and although we have all had different challenges to contend with in 2020, I hope we finish the year with a renewed sense of hope and an enthusiasm to build back better together.

The legacy of The Crichton As I have said many times before, the legacy of our 85-acre parkland estate has certainly been an asset for the local community to enjoy this year and we are delighted that so many people have been utilising our outdoor space to improve their physical and mental wellbeing. In many ways, it takes us back to our roots and makes us appreciate what we have. Although safer, the drop in temperature makes it more difficult to meet outside, so we have continued to improve access to outdoor seating in some of our verandas on site including, most recently, our new picnic spot on under the Grierson House veranda.

As an organisation, we are proud to have been shortlisted in a number of awards in 2020. At a local level, we were delighted to pick up the Outstanding Social Enterprise Award at the DG Business awards in November and to see other members of The Crichton Community taking home awards in their field too (see page 23 for details).

Developments and Achievements While there has been a significant change in day to day operations at The Crichton throughout this year, we recognise that there have also been some important developments and achivements. Perhaps our most significant development this year has been the redevelopment of Criffel View, (formerly Fresco Café). We are truly excited about the potential of our new Crichton Central co-working and collaboration space, which is due to open early in 2021. You can read more about this on page 22 and we look forwarding to bringing you fully up to speed with our plans for Crichton Central in the new year.

Having fairly recently started out on our journey to obtain Investors in People (IIP) accreditation, we were also delighted to be a finalist in the Best Newcomer category of the national Investors in People Awards for 2020. On a personal level, I was also very touched to have been nominated by my team and to have reached the finals in the IIP Leader of the Year category. Like all other occasions this year the results were announced online and although we didn’t claim any awards, it was an amazing achievement for The Crichton Trust to have reached the finals in two categories. I would like to use this opportunity to add my personal thanks to everyone who helped us on this IIP journey and I know we will continue to progress through the next phase of our IIP action plan with a similar level of success.

The Crichton Tree Survey that we started in 2019, has now been completed and digitised. Thanks to the expert knowledge of local Tree Consultant, Mike Caughlin, we have been inspired to share details of our unique tree collection. Do you know where our tallest tree is located on site or where you will find the elephant’s foot? Keep reading to find out. I’m sure you will start to notice more about our tree collection on your next walk around The Crichton.

continued overleaf...

Credit: Jingles Videography Services and The Wedding Room

backdrop for awareness raising campaigns for various charities and community initiatives and you can read more about this on page 11. Earlier in the Autumn we were also delighted to participate in the Virtual Doors Open Day weekend in association with colleagues from Mostly Ghostly Tours.

Our Venues We are normally busy hosting weddings, live events and party nights, but not this year. We have missed events and it has had a huge impact on our business and that of our suppliers. Easterbrook Hall itself remains closed until at least March 2021, but we are starting to sense a slight increase in confidence and are delighted to share details of new drive-in and outdoor events and festivals being planned at The Crichton (see page 10 for details) and also to be taking new wedding bookings for 2021 and beyond and we canâ€™t wait!

Our trade in Easterbrook Bistro has also changed significantly. We have experienced a reduced footfall due to tenants working from home, from the swimming pool being closed due to social distancing requirements and from the absence of events, but it has been fantastic to see new and returning customers visiting the Bistro before or after they enjoy a walk or picnic in the grounds, so thank you to everyone who has supported Easterbrook Bistro this year and we look forward to seeing you again soon. Our team will be taking well-earned break from 24 December to 6 December, so Easterbrook Bistro will close at 4pm on the 23 December and reopen at 10am on the 7 January.

While Easterbrook Hall has been closed to the public, we are pleased to have been able to support some of our local customers and suppliers by providing them with restricted access to Easterbrook Hall and the Crichton Memorial Church for streaming their events, meetings, services and for creating wedding videos and preparing food parcels. The exterior of the buildings have also been used as the

Ambitious Plans for The Crichton On a positive note, we have ambitious plans for 2021 and beyond and we very much hope that you will all remain or become part of The Crichton Community. As this year has proved, our priority must be to protect, nurture and develop our people, our place and our planet and to protect, respect and appreciate our past. With this in mind, I have been working with the Executive Team and Trustees of The Crichton Trust to create a new 18-month plan and a diverse range of development projects for The Crichton. The challenges of 2020 has forced us to reconsider our priorities and to restructure the organisation and in doing so, we will ensure a healthy and sustainable future for The Crichton. We will build back better from this year with the same drive and resilience as our predecessors and in the new year we will embark on a new phase of our development with an appeal for innovators and collaborators to join us on our journey. To help us achieve this, we are currently recruiting a Chief Operating Officer for The Crichton Trust, so look out for news of this appointment in the new year. It has been a long and challenging year for everyone, but I would like to thank our tenants, colleagues, trustees, customers, partners and suppliers for their ongoing commitment to The Crichton and I look forward to working with you all again in 2021. Our regular meetings will start up again towards the end of January and I would encourage you all to join us when you can. In the meantime, enjoy the rest of the magazine and treat yourself to a festive lunch or afternoon tea before the year is out at the Holiday Inn Dumfries and/or at Easterbrook Bistro. I wish you all a happy, healthy and restful Christmas break.

Sta

y Safe

pect Other

ay Active St

Sta

y Apart

Monthly COVID-19 Crichton Updates With Gwilym Gibbons, Chief Executive of The Crichton Trust 4PM, FIRST TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH Join the meetings on Zoom using meeting ID 838 7652 3626 Covid-19 Updates Future Thinking Briefings and Q&A for The Crichton Community. All welcome

Sta

y Well

Precautio

Sav e Lives

y Home

our Ha

Sta

hY as

ling Unwe l

The 2020 DGBusiness Awards hosted by Lee Medd of DGChamber and sponsored by Cunninghame Housing Association, took place virtually on Friday, November 6th 2020. With 12 awards up for grabs, the judges had a difficult time narrowing down over 150 applications to the final 40, but with four organisations based at The Crichton taking home awards on the night, we were more than happy with the final result! Congratulations to all the winners and finalists and thank you to DGChamber for hosting the event.

The Winners: Genesis Occupational Health and Safety - Outstanding Small Business Qubiti - Most Promising New Business The Crichton Trust - Outstanding Social Enterprise Dumfries & Galloway Councilâ€™s Employability and Skills Team - Best Work Ready Project The Earthâ€™s Crust Bakery - Outstanding Independent Retailer Alpha Solway - Outstanding Customer Service Wigtown Festival Company - Outstanding Tourism Business or Organisation ETB Technologies - Outstanding Large Business Grierson & Graham - Outstanding Family Business Sarah Britton, Brown Brothers - Champion in Developing the Young Workforce Gemma Findlay - Young Entrepreneur John McGee - Outstanding Entrepreneur Award

The Crichton Award Winners 2020

The Crichton Trust

Genesis Occupational Health and Safety

Qubiti

Dumfries & Galloway Councilâ€™s Employability and Skills Team

1111

DOUBLE ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS FOR CLAIRE

Long-term employee Claire Mulraney, recently celebrated 25 years of marriage and at the same time celebrated 25 years of working for The Crichton Trust.

in a cupboard for a week before my parents realised!” Even when we caught up with Claire in The Crichton Gardens to take her photograph, a local cat followed her around and tried to get in on the action!

Claire said: “We’re like an old married couple”, but she wasn’t referring to her husband when she said that! She was talking about her colleague and office companion of 24 years, Janice Thorburn! Claire and Janice are, more often than not, the first point of contact for visitors when they arrive at Crichton HQ in Grierson House and between them they also keep a close eye on the biscuit tin in the Grierson House kitchen!

As well as her love of animals, Claire has a long list of other interests including personal fitness, fast cars, mountain biking and motorbikes! She trained to be a mechanic when she was 21 and worked for Vauxhall and BMW in Stirling. She would go mountain biking at any given opportunity and cycled around a dam in Central Scotland twice a day for years, always trying to beat her personal best. Claire started working for the Crichton Development Company in June 1995, only weeks after relocating to Dumfries. Claire said: “During my first few weeks, I was based in an office at the Council, but within weeks we moved in to Campbell House at The Crichton. A few years later we relocated the office in Grierson House and I’ve been here ever since.”

Claire is well-known for feeding the birds from her office window and pre-lockdown had regular visits from the crows! Claire has always loved animals and wildlife and is the proud owner of three cats. Her first pet was a Tokay Gecko and as a teenager she had her own horses. When she was young, local residents in her home town would bring injured wildlife to Claire to look after. She said: “I had an injured pigeon living

She said: “Having worked here for so long, I’ve got to know most of the team and explored most of the estate, but my favourite spot has to be the rock garden! My interest in plants and gardening has grown as a result of working at The Crichton and I have plants in my own garden from cuttings the head gardener gave to me back in the nineties! I have also donated trees and plants to The Crichton and the gardeners do a great job of looking after them!”

Claire’s role has changed over the years. Her first job was arranging weddings in the Crichton Memorial Church and hiring out Easterbrook hall for events. Claire has fond memories of working with her colleagues at the time; David Campbell and Tom Carrick and laughed when she recalled getting lost on her first ever visit to The Crichton to meet Rev John Johnstone. Claire said: “I have worked with some great people over the years, including the late Morag Williams who had the most amazing historical knowledge of The Crichton.”

She said: “Even after 25 years, 2020 has been the most unusual year. I haven’t been able to celebrate either of my anniversaries with family, friends and colleagues and I’ve been working at home most days since March, so it will be great to get back to the office when we can. I’ve missed my colleagues (and the birds!) and although I’ve enjoyed visits to the grounds and gardens this year, I have definitely missed my daily dose of The Crichton.”

As the organisation expanded, Claire took on the role of managing site telecoms and IT and was also responsible for managing memberships for The Crichton Golf Club, until its takeover in 2009.

Congratulations and thank you to Claire from everyone at The Crichton Trust!

As well as feeding the birds, Claire is now the Administrator at The Crichton Trust and supports the Venues, Property and Corporate Business teams with their IT and administration needs.

TREE-MENDOUS COLLECTION

Given the heritage and the significant legacy of our 85-acre estate at The Crichton, The Crichton Trust and neighbours have a legal and moral duty to preserve and enhance the tree collection. They are also responsible for managing any risks associated with public access to the trees on site. In 1998, a tree survey was carried out to identify and manually record details of the tree collection. During this past year, a follow up tree survey has been completed by local tree consultant, Mike Caughlin, with the purpose of fully digitising the records, identifying species and accurately recording the location of the trees on site. The survey results have now been fully digitised and it is our intention to include a regular feature about the trees within the magazine and also to develop tree themed trails and walks around The Crichton. In the meantime, we hope you will find this feature of interest.

MIKE CAUGHLIN Mike worked for many years as a forester at the nearby Drumlanrig Estate, which sparked his interest in the diversity of tree species. Mike is now an investment forester with Tilhill forestry and also assists The Crichton trust with the management of the tree collection. Mike has a particular interest and knowledge of worldwide tree conservation and the direct and indirect impact humans have on trees and climate change. Mike has been responsible for carrying out and digitising the 2019/20 Tree Survey on behalf of The Crichton Trust and will continue to distil his findings and knowledge to us through regular features and future Tree Trails. He is keen to rekindle historic links between The Crichton and the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh and get The Crichton involved in the National Tree Collections of Scotland.

CONIFERS AT THE CRICHTON Monterey Pine (Pinus radiata) Standing prominently to the left of Crichton Hall, this pine is over 30m tall and one of the tallest trees on the estate. It is commonly grown around the world for its timber but is actually endangered in its native range. These trees can grow very quickly, but their growth is often restricted when trapped within a forest environment. Here at The Crichton, this tree has had space to grow, so it is wider than most and characteristically, it has very dark foliage. These trees also have layers of hard bark.

Owned and managed by the owners of Crichton Hall

DID YOU KNOW you can identify a pine tree from its needles and unlike Spruce needles, pine trees have needles joined together in a sheath. The Monterey Pine has three needles in a bundle, other pines have between two and five.

examples nearby in the likes of Threave Gardens, Kirroughtree and the Dalswinton Estate. DID YOU KNOW you can identify a Monterey Pine tree by the shape of its cones? They are asymmetric and if you look closely enough they clearly resemble the shape of a hedgehog. The cones on a Monterey Pine gather in a cluster around the branches.

They seem to do well in South West Scotland near the sea, but do less well in very cold climates and although this is the only Monterey Pine on site here at The Crichton, you will find other good

The Elephant’s Foot (Monkey Puzzle - Araucaria araucana) Have you spotted the elephant’s foot at The Crichton? It really stands out once you are aware of it, but I wonder how many of you have missed it! You are perhaps more likely to have been drawn to the great height and curvy branches of the Monkey Puzzle trees, but next time you pass the Monkey Puzzle trees outside Crichton Hall, look down and see if you can spot the elephant’s foot! These trees, from Chile, are also a cause of concern for conservationists, who have had to import seeds from Chile to secure the future of the Monkey Puzzle. These seeds have been grown into small trees at the Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh and planted on different estates and in safe locations throughout the UK in order to reduce the risk of extinction. DID YOU KNOW you can tell the difference between a male and female Monkey Puzzle tree from its flowers? A female Monkey Puzzle has green globe shaped flowers on the upper branches. The flowers develop yellowy spines and take several years to mature. The elephant’s foot that we have described above, is quite characteristic of Monkey Puzzle trees and helps to support the weight of the tree. They are fairly substantial trees and let’s hope we can continue to enjoy them for many years to come. QUESTION: Why are these trees called Monkey Puzzles? Perhaps because their branches look like the tail of a monkey or perhaps, as Mike suggests, they are like a puzzle for monkeys. FAMILY CHALLENGE: Find the Monkey Puzzle trees at The Crichton and send us a drawing or a photograph of the elephant’s foot and the monkey’s tails!

Owned and managed by the owners of Crichton Hall

You may notice that trees feature heavily in many of the photographs published within this issue of The Crichton Magazine and this is just the start of our efforts to acknowledge the significance of our tree collection and to raise public awareness and interest in The Crichton Gardens.

The Chinese Broadleaf (Acer griseum) We often admire the bright colours of the leaves on our trees, but when last did you look closely at the colour of the bark? Very rarely, we suspect, but the self-peeling bark of the Chinese Broadleaf is particularly striking. Not only is it a stunning colour, but thin layers of the bark also peel off and when caught in the sunlight, creates a striking red colour- it looks like the tree is on fire! Take a look for yourself the next time you visit The Crichton Gardens, you will find this tree near the bottom entrance to the estate.

possibly due to the fact that The Royal Botanic Gardens were instrumental in the development of The Crichton Gardens in the early 20th Century. The Crichton benefited greatly from the expertise of their gardeners and from gaining access to their seed sources. I hope to re-establish these links and I am particularly keen to tap into their expertise in rhododendrons to help us identify the varieties we have here.

The Chinese Broadleaf is a Paper Bark Maple from China and can also be found in the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh. It is possible, that this particular tree came from the Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh many years ago.

He added: The tree collection at The Crichton is unique and that’s what makes it so special. We now have a rare opportunity, through digitisation, to make it more accessible. With improved interpretation and promotion, The Crichton Gardens could attract more tourists and visitors to the area.”

It is difficult to tell if this is a maple tree by looking at an individual leaf, but if you see three together it becomes more visible. Mike said: The Crichton has a significant tree collection from all around the world, quite

We will continue to provide more information about the tree collection, but should you have a particular area of expertise or interest or a question or idea, please feel free to contact The Crichton Trust (hello@crichton.co.uk) or Mike Caughlin (mike@mc-forestry.co.uk)

TREE STAMP TRAIL Inside Cover

Hungarian Oak Tree

(Quercus frainetto)

European Hornbeam

(Carpinus betulus)

14a & 15b Monkey Puzzle Tree (Aracucaria araucana) 14b & 16 Paperbark Maple (Acer griseum) 15a & 17 Monterey Pine (Pinus radiata) 19 Beech Tree (Fagus sylvatica) 20a Weeping Cherry 20b Katsura Tree (Cercidiphyllum japonicum) 21 Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum japonicum) 31 Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) 32

Lime Trees (Tilia x europea)

39 Birch Tree (Betula pendula)

1177

Horse Chesnut (Aesculus hippocastanum)

THE CRICHTON NOW AND THEN: PEACEFUL, CALMING AND SAFE

Kate Thomson, Vice-Chair of The Crichton Trust Board reflects on the therapeutic qualities of The Crichton and pulls on her professional experience to lead The Crichton Trust through and out of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Crichton is a safe place for the staff, tenants and visitors to be. This also includes maintaining our strong and supportive relationships with all our partners, locally and nationally. Our second role is more challenging and that is preparing The Crichton Trust for transition to a post COVID-19 time, by reimagining the Trust and how we operate to make sure that we continue to play a significant and influential role in the socioeconomic, low carbon and health advances for our region and nation.

In March 2020 Dumfries and Galloway, like the rest of the United Kingdom, entered lockdown in a combined effort to limit the harm caused by the coronavirus pandemic across our community. Although my previous career in the police service meant I had experience of dealing with critical and major events or incidents, the events of the last eight months has had a profound and long lasting impact on all our personal and professional lives, mine included.

As chair of this working group, it has been a challenging 8 months so far and I suspect there will be more challenging times ahead for everyone. It has made me draw on my career experience time and time again to make sure we are making the right decisions and doing the right thing at the right time. For now, I know that the work we have undertaken and the decisions we have made over the last eight months has been valued by staff, tenants, partners and visitors.

From the early days of lockdown, as Vice Chair of The Crichton Trust Board, I have led a transition working group which has a dual role. Firstly, to focus on the present response to the pandemic and the restrictions that have been introduced, to make sure that

hospital grounds and it felt like a safe place to be.

From a more personal perspective, in March when we were encouraged to exercise outside once a day, I found contentment in a daily walk around the grounds of The Crichton. It reminded me of a time 35 years earlier when, as an 18 year old police cadet, I was seconded to work with nursing staff at The Crichton Royal Hospital as part of my training. I spent four weeks meeting many of the long term residents as I accompanied experienced nurses carrying out their work across the hospital grounds and out in the local communities.

Fast forward to 2020, walking around the beautiful grounds, I still feel the same way about The Crichton as I did in 1985. I often wonder what Elizabeth Crichton would think if she walked around The Crichton today. I hope that she would see that The Crichton Trust is busy being creative, innovative, supportive and ambitious within beautiful grounds that are peaceful, calming and safe. The Crichton Trust is governed by a group of trustees, who dedicate their time and professional experience to support the growth and development of The Crichton. More information about the trustees can be found online at www.crichton.co.uk

As a fully functioning psychiatric hospital, it provided therapeutic and medical treatment, care and support. Despite it being an extremely busy hospital, there was always an air of calm and peace across

The Crichton Grounds and Gardens have been described as a â€œlife-saverâ€? for local residents this year. During the Spring lockdown, families, dog-walkers and those living within walking distance of the estate made full use of the grounds to enjoy their daily exercise. Throughout the Summer it was a pleasure to see people of all ages safely enjoying picnics, family walks, early evening strolls, exercise classes and even horse rides through the estate and during the Autumn, our visitors witnessed an amazing display of yellows, golds and stunning reds. You just need to look at these photographs to see the true colours of The Crichton and the profound impact it has on the physical health and mental wellbeing of our local community. The legacy of The Crichton lives on.

Free and accessible to the public 365 days of the year

A NEW SOUTH OF SCOTLAND HOME FOR CO-INNOVATION AND COLLABORATION As we transition through the current pandemic and into the new world, The Crichton Trust remains focused on protecting the wellbeing of its people, the place and its partners and in creating a healthier and more sustainable future for all. The Trust has a strong vision and ambitious plans to make The Crichton a worldrenowned place for inspiring people, catalysing connection and collaboration, and as a driver of innovation. As part of its plans to enable change and facilitate collaboration, the South of Scotland will soon become home to a new stateof-the-art co-working and collaboration space at The Crichton in Dumfries. The Crichton, an 85-acre parkland estate, is already home to 80+ business, third sector and academic tenants and partners and has stunning grounds and gardens, one of the largest auditoriums in the South of Scotland, a hotel, business park, college and university campus, bistro, spa, bar, church, farm, dairy centre and nearby golf course. It is a beautiful historic estate with iconic sandstone buildings and is perhaps better known as a former psychiatric hospital. The Crichton Trust and partners have ambitious plans to make The Crichton a centre for learning and rural business innovation and the new Crichton Central facility will become an important terminus and interchange for ideas and a central station for collaboration and innovation at The Crichton. Crichton Central will be intergenerational and accessible co-working space in the stunning grounds of The Crichton. It will offer flexible meeting spaces and offices, an events and performance space and a modern café and shop. It will also boast electric charging points and will be heated from the waste generated on site and from The Crichton Royal Dairy Farm. It will also be the first co-working business centre in Scotland to have a Changing Places toilet and shower.

central@crichton.co.uk

Work to transform the existing Criffel View building into Crichton Central is now underway and is being financially supported by the Scottish Government through a substantial grant from the South of Scotland Enterprise (formerly the South of Scotland Economic Partnership). Gwilym Gibbons, Chief Executive of The Crichton Trust, said: “We saw an opportunity for a centre for knowledge exchange that could build on and celebrate the community we have become and help us develop and grow further into the community we want to be. Conveniently located between the academic campus and the business park at The Crichton, Criffel View is the perfect place for informal knowledge exchange between business and academia. It is a beautiful building full of character and history. I am even more confident that Crichton Central will be a great asset to the South of Scotland as we respond to the ongoing challenges of Covid-19. Arguably we have never understood more fully what we miss and don’t miss about the traditional office or the importance of connecting with others. With more people working from home, the demand for flexible and affordable collaborative working space is predicted to rise and as digital connectivity improves, we are less limited by our geographic location – we can live and work in inspirational and physically remote places. Crichton Central will offer a place to encounter and connect with others. It will offer a home from home, with gigabit connectivity, a range of business support services and access to advice and investors. I believe Crichton Central will become a destination of choice for mobile workers, researchers, freelancers, entrepreneurs and innovative thinkers and I can’t wait to welcome them all to the South of Scotland.” Crichton Central is scheduled to open early in 2021.

www.crichton.co.uk

CRICHTON CENTRAL OPENING 2021 AT THE CRICHTON

Crichton Central Café (formerly Fresco)

Outdoor Veranda

Radio Station

Courtyard Pods

Meetings Rooms

Changing Places Toilet

Kitchen

Co-working Space

Members Co-working Space

Toilet and Shower Block

Café, Working and Events Space

Members Self-Service Kitchen

THE STORY OF ELIZABETH CRICHTON BY DAVE DEWAR, CULTURAL CONNECTIONS Part 3 - Dr Browne’s treatment philosophy at The Crichton

Patients had access to a range of leisure pursuits. Ladies could have sewing or dressmaking and selected ones could picnic at Mrs Crichton’s home at Friars Carse. Men could play cards or draughts. Walking in the grounds was encouraged. Later, more and more leisure activities would become available. Classes on reading writing and arithmetic were introduced.

Dr Browne’s humane treatment of his patients was centred on Kindness and Occupation, always with non-restraint. Kindness must involve all staff who dealt with patients, particularly the attendants, while occupation involved keeping the inmates busy. Patients were not to be restrained so no straitjackets and manacles and similar were allowed. Restraint, Dr Browne argued, worsened patients’ behaviour. There were locked and padded rooms to be used if required. Medication was widely used and this could avoid the need for restraint.

Queen Victoria’s wedding in 1840 was celebrated with a dance for patients and staff, with locals from Dumfries invited. Visitors reported that it was not obvious who the inmates were! Having dances and concerts would became commonplace.

Activities at The Crichton As part of Occupation, a regime of five and a half hours exercise was established. This could involve activities such as working in the gardens, the laundry, kitchen and the stables but private patients were not required to exercise or work. Private and pauper patients never mixed.

In 1842 high demand meant no new patients were admitted, while pauper patients had to share beds. High demand would be a recurrent problem, an indication of how much needed The Crichton had become.

In 1843 occurred the first ever theatrical performance in Britain by asylum patients. The farce called “Raising the Wind” was very successful and more theatrical productions would follow. The Dumfries Herald of February 1st 1844 highlighted the “remarkable success of the introduction of theatrical entertainments at the Crichton”. 1844 saw the introduction of the New Moon magazine, unique to the Crichton. Written by the residents and sold in Dumfries, it reaped a tidy profit which helped to buy more library books. With demand for pauper places so great, a new and separate asylum for paupers was agreed to be built. There were by now many activities for residents. Art and music therapy were new additions. The Crichton Art Collection would eventually number around 100 paintings of a high standard, aided by an art teacher. Dr Browne was very proud of this. Music therapy was another important activity and a choir proved to be popular, especially for church services.

In 1847 the Dumfries Flower show was held at the Crichton, an opportunity for locals to visit the grounds. In 1848 cholera hit Dumfries with 1000 people affected and 430 deaths, yet none of the Crichton inmates contracted this. Cholera is a water-borne disease, but the Crichton water supply already passed through sand filter beds on Dr Browne’s recommendation, and these were believed to have prevented the disease. In 1850 Dr Browne issued a terse statement to the attendants. “They should live with the insane and for the insane.” The following year saw workshops opened for inmates interested in learning to be a cobbler, joiner or tailor. In 1852 a professional touring company performed and there was even a Punch and Judy show! In the following year the new pauper asylum was already overcrowded. Dr Browne proposed an extension but Mrs

and a remarkable 581 were discharged as recovered, a success rate of over 45 per cent.

Crichton put her foot down. The following quote indicates Mrs Crichton’s feelings in a letter to her friend and fellow trustee Admiral Johnston.

As a Commissioner he did inspect the Crichton and found it as usual overcrowded, but was concerned at the introduction of restraint which he had outlawed.

We all know of many poor ladies and gentlemen in reduced circumstances and I look upon such as much greater objects of compassion than the regular pauper---we have given the paupers a beautiful home and it must not be added to.

Five years later in 1862, Elizabeth Crichton died aged 83. Dr Browne continued in his role as Commissioner for 13 years until 1870, when a fall from a carriage affected his eyesight and caused his retiral. He died in Dumfries in 1885 aged 80.

A new scheme allowed selected residents to lodge with Dumfries families to prepare them for future discharge, while some could work in Dumfries but return to the Crichton in the evening. The library now had 5000 books with a patient as librarian.

The legacy of Elizabeth Crichton and Doctor Browne Without Elizabeth Crichton’s determination, using her late husband’s bequest, there would have been no Crichton Mental Hospital. In Dr Browne, Mrs Crichton found the ideal Superintendent who made her dream of creating a mental asylum a reality. The outcome was a world renowned centre for the treatment and management of mental illness. In 1890, two visiting Canadian physicians claimed the Crichton to be the best in the world. In 1948 it became part of the NHS. By the 1980’s the NHS declared it surplus to requirements with the move to care in the community. Ironically, the closure would lead to university education being introduced on the Crichton campus, so finally realising Mrs Crichton’s original dream.

In 1854 Dr Browne gave 30 lectures to the attendants on the care of the mentally ill, the first nursing education in Britain, preceding Florence Nightingale. A visit to the Crichton in 1855 by an American philanthropist and social reformer as part of a tour of Scottish asylums brought nothing but praise for the Crichton, unlike many other Scottish asylums she visited. She was impressed by Doctor Browne’s wife’s traditional Scottish recipes which she took back to America! In 1857 Dr Browne announced his resignation. The Lunacy (Scotland) Act of that year had created two Commissioners, to oversee and inspect asylums in Scotland. Dr Browne was to be one of them.

NOTE: For anyone unfamiliar with Dumfries, St Michael’s Cemetery is located just a short walk or car journey from The Crichton.

Dr Browne had been responsible for 1284 patients in his 19 years at the Crichton

VIRTUAL DESIGN THINKING WORKSHOP

Codifying Design as a Process - Design Thinking for Non-Designers

This month saw an interactive design thinking workshop take place with selected Crichton Trust employees and stakeholders facilitated by the Open University. This workshop was designed to uncover users’ needs of the new Crichton Central project, which will be the new hub for regional entrepreneurs as an age friendly space. The project, initially planned as a series of face to face workshops with lots of face to face creative collaboration (see image 1) has been, due to the pandemic, recreated as an online offering using online whiteboard software to try to replicate the richness of a face to face environment uncovering the emotions and needs of users) experiencing entrepreneurial spaces. The project has been supported within the Open University by the Higher Education Innovation Fund and links to the UK governments grand Industrial Strategy challenges on providing solutions for our ageing society. Our first focus within these workshops is to create an age friendly entrepreneurial space. This workshop was the initial stage, and the intention is to build on this experience going forward.

a service, product or process is delivered. It is a holistic approach that considers all the various factors and touch points that influence the context in which a solution is rendered. The design thinking process starts from observing the prevailing situation and identifying problems. To determine new solutions, users and other stakeholders are involved in the innovation process from the outset. This is called “codesigning” or “co-creating”. “Empathy” (see image 2) is also a core concept in a design thinking approach, enabling end users to participate in the shaping of products and services. The design thinking process used here, included distinct phases such as, idea generation, blueprinting and prototyping new practices. Feedback and opinions from participants were gathered in every phase of the process, and are re-assessed to accommodate new insights in a continuous feedback cycle.

The application of creative thinking to solve problems has been a key competitive advantage to organisations embarking on sustainable innovation projects. The Design Thinking workshop offered some new thinking in how charitable organisations can adopt a different, and more creative online approach to explore knotty problems, Crichton Central as an age friendly entrepreneurial space.

This project’s goal was to contribute to social innovation and public sector transformation in the field of entrepreneurship. New solutions were sought by ‘‘co-creating’’ and applying the process of design thinking: A user-centred method of innovation research combining the experience of Crichton staff with the expertise of creative facilitators from the Open University. For these workshops the facilitators developed specific tools, from what was initially designed as face to face activities, to help us uncover insights into the needs faced by the many stakeholders involved in Crichton Central.

The design thinking method was chosen because it is ideally suited for organisations in the public domain; those that provide important services and work in different, often complex, contexts. Design thinking looks at the complete experience of how

If you would like to find out more about the Design Thinking process please contact Hilary Collins H.J.Collins@open.ac.uk or Derek Goldman derek.goldman@open.ac.uk at the Open University in Scotland

OPEN HOUSE UNIVERSITY UWS | DUDGEON & BROWNE HOUSE www.open.edu/openlearn www.uwsac.uk 28

From creative writing and history, to languages and science, all our courses are designed to make learning an enjoyable and rewarding experience. If youâ€™re earning less than ÂŁ25k you could study part-time with the OU in Scotland for free with the Part-Time Fee Grant.

The Open University is a registered charity in Scotland (SC 038302). The Open University is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. 29

SUPPORTING AND UPSKILLING THE SOUTH OF SCOTLAND Diane Cooper, Partnership Manager for The Open University in Scotland.

Recognising the importance and heightened demand for skills - in particular for those living with uncertainty over the security of their job - we have been extremely active in providing new opportunities to increase employability and enhance people’s skillset, with an increased focus on digital skills. For example, from offering short credit bearing microcredentials courses to large-scale skills programmes, many of which are fully-funded. We are reaching out to small to medium-sized businesses across the South of Scotland to apply for training up to the value of £5,000 each, delivered by the OU and funded with support from the Scottish Government’s Flexible Workforce Development Fund. We will help local businesses from the private, public and third sectors with a tailored suite of training in areas of skills gaps. We’re also supporting workers who are facing redundancy or furlough to gain skills for career and employment opportunities. We provide a complete wrap-around support service, from a dedicated skills portal to online webinars, individual advice and access to our OpenLearn platform of free courses.

Skilled people are vital in helping with economic recovery. The Open University in Scotland is committed to providing flexible online education to support and upskill people across the South of Scotland.

Partnership working is an essential element to the upskilling work we do, working collaboratively across all sectors strengthens our shared goal of reaching and supporting people who will benefit from upskilling.

Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, our partnership and external engagement work was already well-developed within the region. Now with the launch of the new South of Scotland Enterprise Agency, it is increasingly more important to work collaboratively to support people and businesses through upskilling and reskilling opportunities.

If you would like to have a chat about how we can help support you, please get in touch: Diane.Cooper@open.ac.uk. More information:

As a university founded on the ethos of open entry to everyone, we welcome new South of Scotland learners regardless of age, income and qualifications. People who wish to study with The Open University (OU) in Scotland and have a personal income of £25,000 or less may be eligible for the Part-Time Fee Grant, which covers the cost of course fees.

www.openuni.scot/our-work/upskilling-scotland

OPEN HOUSE UNIVERSITY UWS | DUDGEON & BROWNE HOUSE www.openuni.scot www.uwsac.uk 30

SOUTH OF SCOTLAND ENTERPRISE HITS THE GROUND RUNNING

Just over six months since going live, the new South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) has already made it known that it has arrived and is here to stay.

SOSE committed up to £1m to support the Langholm Community Moorland Buyout. SOSE has therefore made it clear that it intends to support the region to recover and look ahead to a positive future – not just through investment but through tailored support that businesses and communities really need.

SOSE, which went live on 1 April, administered over £12m of funding in its first few months of existence to almost 300 businesses across Dumfries and Galloway and the Borders.

Professor Russel Griggs OBE, Chair of SOSE explained: “We are here in the South, for the South and with the South and we truly believe the time is now for the South of Scotland.

In addition, SOSE has already announced that it has committed £2.7m towards the new South of Scotland Destination Alliance (SSDA) and £2.1m on 28 projects across the region which will benefit the local economy - this included over £800k awarded to the Crichton Trust.

“Collectively our region will flourish and the future will be brighter than it ever has been and we want to do this with those who live and work here.”

On 19 October, SOSE announced its second biggest investment committing £1.9m to support the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere to reach its full potential and earlier in September,

SOSE’s support is tailored to individual needs and circumstances, and the new agency is urging any businesses or community groups to make contact if they are looking for support and advice.

SOUTH OF SCOTLAND ENTERPRISE | CARMONT HOUSE www.southofscotlandenterprise.com | 0300 304 8888 32

CHILLED OUT AT THE CRICHTON

HAYDEN CHILLED TEAM: Left to right: Riley Brown (Traffic Planner), Vicki Malcolm (Accounts Manager), Davie Malcolm (Owner/Director) and Aidan Little (Traffic Planner).

Hayden Chilled Limited, relocated to their current office in Eskdale House at The Crichton in January 2020. Moving office is always a big decision, but the view from the office window in Eskdale House made it an easy decision and it looks like they will be here for the long haul. THE FLEET: Hayden Chilled have a fleet of 25 temperature controlled trailers traveling all over the UK every day.

Hayden Chilled Limited, a UK and European Distribution Company, is owned and run by Davie Malcolm. Davie who started the business in 2018, now employs 34 people and manage a fleet of 25 temperature controlled trailers from their office at The Crichton in Dumfries and their distribution depots in Longtown and Newhouse.

The team have daily routes to and from Scotland to the South East and to the West of England where they deliver supplies to the Regional Distribution Centres of major supermarkets including Tesco and Lidl. Hayden Chilled also have contracts with the likes of Amazon, Egger and large food wholesalers.

Hayden Chilled deliver palletised loads of pharmaceutical products, fresh and frozen fish and fresh beef, lamb and pork and other items of food and drink in their dual temperature controlled trailers. They also deliver a wide range of timber and building supplies.

Davie is joined by Traffic Planner, Riley Brown, Traffic Planner, Aidan Little and Accounts Manager, Vicki Malcolm in the office and control room at The Crichton.

HAYDEN CHILLED LIMITED | ESKDALE HOUSE www.haydenchilled.co.uk | 01387 806677 34

When we caught up with them, Davie Said: “We were looking at offices in different locations, but the view from this office in Eskdale House made it an easy decision. The Crichton is a relaxing environment and we are lucky to have an upstairs corner office overlooking The Crichton Farm and a great view of Criffel. We love seeing the cows from the window – it’s a welcome change from our PC screens! We also enjoy the walk over to Easterbrook Bistro for lunch. We miss Fresco Café, but we look forward to the new café opening in Crichton Central in the new year.”

A ROOM WITH A VIEW: The view from the office window sold The Crichton to Hayden Chilled Limited.

and other key workers. The graphics were created by ZeroSeven Graphics and can be seen on our daily travels all over the UK.”

Vicki said: “As a key player in the distribution of essential products to supermarkets and wholesalers, we continue to travel the length and breadth of the country every day. It’s been a tough year for everyone, so during lockdown we decided to make the most of our trailers and change the livery to show our appreciation for NHS staff

APPRECIATED: Hayden Chilled updated their livery during lockdown to show their appreciation for NHS staff and other key workers. To find out more about Hayden Chilled Limited email: haydenchilled@outlook. com or call 01387 806677.

BEAUTY IN THE BISTRO

As well as being the go-to place to meet a friend for coffee, catch-up with a colleague for lunch or take the kids for a hot chocolate, Easterbrook Bistro is also the place to escape for a bit of pampering, relaxation and ‘me time’ at Neuro’s Spa and Beauty.

Wendy established her career in beauty therapy at Mary Jeffrey’s Salon in Dumfries, prior to becoming a lecturer at Dumfries & Galloway College. Wendy said: “I left my job as a lecturer with the intention of working from a single beauty room, but as demand continued to increase, I expanded into the other rooms and now manage the whole salon within Easterbrook Bistro and employ four members of staff; Emma, Katie and Agnes - we are a great little team!”

Located within the leisure complex at Easterbrook Bistro, members and visitors can experience the delights of Neuro’s Spa and Beauty. The salon opened in November 2005, when local beauty therapist Wendy Hughes took the plunge into self-employment. It all started when Wendy, who was a college lecturer and an experienced beautician, took the decision to hire a beauty room from The Crichton Trust within Easterbrook Bistro (formerly Neuro’s Bar, Restaurant & Spa).

When asked about the secret to her success Wendy said: “I always take time with my clients - they should always leave feeling special! Making my clients feel comfortable and relaxed and gaining their trust is also crucial. I like to think my clients enjoy a quality experience every time they visit and they should always want to come back to us!” Wendy added: “The environment and facilities at The Crichton also help. The grounds are beautiful and it’s a lovely place for my clients to come to. The car parking is free and, in normal circumstances, we offer spa packages

Since then, Wendy has built up a growing database of loyal customers and provides regular customers and guests with relaxing spa and beauty treatments including everything from massages, nails and waxing to eyebrows and make-up.

NEURO’S SPA AND BEAUTY | EASTERBROOK BISTRO www.easterbrookbistro.co.uk/beauty-treatments | 01387 702 224 36

We asked Wendy about her plans and ambitions for the future and her answer was simple: “I love everything about my job and I love making people feel happy, so I just want to keep building a reputable business where people want to return to time and time again. I ultimate goal is to make my clients feel relaxed, special, safe and important.”

in partnership with Easterbrook Bistro. We are well placed to complement the services offered by Easterbrook Hall and Holiday Inn Dumfries, especially for wedding parties and their guests and for hotel guests who are attending events or enjoying a short break in Dumfries and Galloway.” Wendy also has confidence in the Dermalogica skin care range. She said: “I totally believe in Dermalogica as it has a range of products for every skin type. We have also recently launched a skin supplement brand called the Advanced Nutrition Programme. This is an evidencebased range of supplements designed to support healthy skin and overall wellbeing from the inside out and the manufacturer has used their extensive expertise in nutrition and skin to source the highest quality ingredients suitable for all skin concerns.”

Neuro’s Spa & Beauty is open Tuesday and Wednesday 9.30am-2.30pm, Thursday 9.30am-8pm, Friday 9.30am-3.30pm and Saturday 9am-5pm. Gift vouchers and gift sets are also available. So if you’re looking to treat a friend or relative, give Wendy a call on 01387 702224. NB. The swimming pool within Easterbrook Bistro is managed by The Crichton Trust and is currently closed due to the current safety restrictions that are in place to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

STAFFSAFE INTERVENES, INTERACTS AND ASSURES audible assistance for personalised or pre-recorded on site warnings; through silent assist – where any sound or audible alert could make a situation worse - our people in our monitoring centre become the eyes and ears to support frontline staff and get the right help; our team has the experience and knowledge to provide intervention in antisocial behaviour right through to an immediate lockdown procedure.

Campbell House is home to StaffSafe. You may rather expect to find a company like StaffSafe in a modern technology park, rather than a heritage site, as the company develops advanced technology and employs this in a unique security solution that is used by major brands working in the UK’s quick service restaurant sector, convenience stores, pharmacies and high street gaming branches, amongst others.

Our clients often express their thanks for the continued support StaffSafe brings to their business in terms of data insights that lead to more effective use of manned guarding resource, increased staff morale and productivity, reduced sickness, absenteeism costs, and difficulty with recruitment and retention, and improved brand reputation.

However, when we think of the original mission of The Crichton, there is a strong synergy between the two. Dr William Browne’s vision of an internationally recognised centre of excellence in mental health, research and care mirrors the StaffSafe’s team’s objective of providing a service and product that protects our frontline retail staff from the real impact of physical and emotional harm and the triggers for violence that they face every day.

And what’s really important to us,” Paul highlights, “is the wellbeing of our clients’ teams working at the coalface. Our monitoring centre staff receive the most inspiring and moving feedback from the people they have helped, for example:

Shocking reports highlight that one in six shopworkers are abused on every shift and this is being made worse by the coronavirus pandemic. Shop staff are now expected to enforce age-restricted-sales and new government laws, against a background of mask-wearing, social distancing and increased regulation.

‘A million thank yous for watching over me… I felt safe and calm, so thank you beyond words’.” StaffSafe has over 20 years’ experience of keeping staff, properties and customers safe and is the go-to partner for retailers seeking to protect their staff and assets in the toughest of environments. The security solution is different to the majority of alarm receiving centres that typically provide a simple escalation path to call the emergency services. The StaffSafe team is on hand 24/7 to take control, de-escalate threatening events and reassure staff that help is on its way exactly when it is needed.

Some 62% of shopworkers have experienced verbal abuse, almost a third have been threatened, and 4% have been assaulted – which means 3,500 incidents daily when averaged across all retail workers. StaffSafe’s CEO Paul Cullinan is clear that this is simply not acceptable and explains how the company helps:

If you’d like to know more about what StaffSafe does, or about how they could help your business, please give Paul Cullinan a call on 07885 964841 or email Paul.Cullinan@staffsafe.co.uk

“StaffSafe’s ultra-fast connectivity and advanced technology puts retail staff in immediate two-way contact with our highly trained professionals who intervene, take control, and provide reassurance in dangerous and lifethreatening situations. Our system provides

StaffSafe LIMITED | CAMPBELL HOUSE www.staffsafe.co.uk | 01387 951130 38

Chris Jordan,Â Control Room Team Leader

Paul Cullinan, Managing Director

John Jones, Control Centre Manager

HIGHLIGHTING OUR SUPPORT

STUNNING: A stunning sunset over The Crichton Memorial Church

Easterbrook Hall and The Crichton Memorial Church have gone under the spotlight several times recently to celebrate special occasions and to raise awareness and attract support for a number of charitable causes. Here are some of the highlights!

LIGHT IT IN RED On the 11 August, Easterbrook Hall and many other venues across the country turned red as part of the #Lightitinred and #WeMakeEvents campaign to support the events sector and all those who work in it. With the ongoing risks and restrictions due to Covid-19, it has been a particularly tough year for venues and the events sector including Easterbrook Hall which will remain closed until at least March 2021. While everyone recognises the need to minimise social contact to keep everyone safe, venues, suppliers, promoters, performers and freelancers got behind the campaign to attract the support they need to survive the pandemic. RED ALERT: Easterbrook Hall and other venues across the country turned red in August to highlight the impact of Covid-19 restrictions on the events sector.

DIAMOND WEDDING ANNIVERSARY CONGRATULATIONS: On the 17 September, the Crichton Memorial Church looked stunning in blue as part of the drive-in Diamond Wedding Anniversary celebrations for Mr and Mrs Sorrell as they celebrated 60 years of marriage. A fantastic achievement and a lovely couple.

LIGHT SCOTLAND BLUE FOR PARKINSON’S In normal times, Parkinson’s UK hold their monthly meetings in Easterbrook Bistro. The meetings bring people together to talk about the challenges of living with or supporting friends and family members living with Parkinson’s. Sadly, we weren’t able to support the 2020 Light Scotland Blue for Parkinson’s campaign on site this year as it fell during lockdown, but some of our colleagues turned their homes blue instead. We thought we would let Parkinson’s UK know we are thinking about them by including photos from 2019 in this feature. We look forward to welcoming them back to The Crichton soon and in supporting their 2021 campaign. In the meantime, find out more online at www.parkinsons.org.uk LIGHT SCOTLAND BLUE: Easterbrook Hall and The Crichton Memorial Church turned blue in 2019 in support of the Parkinson’s UK Light up Scotland Blue campaign. WITH THANKS: With thanks to Graeme Henderson of Easterbrook Hall, Chris Gemmell of SVL Hire Ltd, Steve and Abby from Purple Box Productions and 21CC for co-ordinating the lighting for these events. Photography by Mike Bolam.

PURPLE FOR POLIO Easterbrook Hall turned purple on 24 October to support The Rotary Club of Dumfries with their annual End Polio Now campaign. The global campaign has been running for 35 years and aims to raise awareness and funds to eradicate polio across the world. PURPLE FOR POLIO: Easterbrook Hall turned purple to support the End Polio Now Campaign in October.

Andrew Walls from The Rotary Club of Dumfries said: “Polio is a terrible disease with a long-term impact, but thanks to many years of campaigning and fundraising, Polio has now been eradicated from all, but two countries in the world. This is fantastic news, but we want to make every country poliofree.”

Thanks to a donation of bulbs from The Rotary Club of Dumfries, The Crichton Trust also planted 250 purple crocus bulbs outside Easterbrook Bistro in support of the Purple4Polio activities. We can look forward to the purple display outside Easterbrook Bistro in the Spring of 2021.

Find out more and support the appeal online at https://www.rotarygbi.org/donate/

IMPORTANT: If you purchased tickets for the 2020 Tattoo, you have until the end of December 2020, to refund or exchange your tickets for the 2022 Tattoo. Tickets can be refunded or exchanged via The Midsteeple Box Office in Dumfries. Midsteeple Box Office: Email: midsteeple@dumgal.gov.uk or Tel: 01387 253383 Find out more: www.dumfriestattoo.co.uk

4433

GOING TO COLLEGE CHANGED MY WORLD When we asked Philip what he would say to others thinking about studying at The Crichton, there was a lot to like: “The college staff and facilities are great including a gym which is free to use. There is a super ethos with regards to gender equality, race, respect etc and the college has a team of staff to help students with grants and Council Tax paperwork and they are always really helpful - they saved me a lot of time and hassle. The canteen staff and the food are excellent too!

“I could fall deeper into the rut, find the slippers and drift away or I could change my world.” That was the choice faced by Philip Need when he turned 50. Thankfully, he took the option to change his world and enrolled to study at Dumfries and Galloway College. Like many final year students in 2020, Philip missed out on his final weeks of face-to-face teaching and assessments and sadly missed the opportunity to formally graduate due to Covid-19, but that didn’t dampen his spirits. Philip couldn’t have been more positive when we asked him to tell us about his experience of studying at Dumfries and Galloway College.

Of course, the building is important to studying and it has a modern structure with large windows and lots of natural light. I think parts of it resemble an ocean liner on the side facing Criffel and the views and sunsets are amazing!

Philip admits that he didn’t really enjoy school when he was younger and that he was never truly happy in any of the jobs he did after leaving school. When he turned 50, he decided to change that and to explore the possibility of becoming a wildlife photographer. He didn’t know where to start in his search for a course, but he soon discovered that Dumfries and Galloway College offered an excellent range of courses and he enrolled to study an HND in Photography in 2018.

The location of the college on the edge of Dumfries, with mature trees to the sides, and looking over farmland to the hills, is gorgeous. There are ample buses going to and from town to the College, but I used to walk up from the town most days though Castledykes Park and The Crichton grounds – it’s a lovely walk.” The courses give students the opportunity to develop their own interests in their wider subject area, so when Philip was introduced to conceptual photography as part of his course, he loved it. Going to college was just the start of life as a student for Philip, who is now studying for a degree in Fine Art at The University of Cumbria. “I am very excited about the future.” he said. “I don’t know where I will be in 5 years’ time, but I now know where I want to be! I have years of studying and income-making ahead of me and I am facing higher academic challenges than I ever thought I would, and I love it!

Philip said: “I already had Highers, so I was able to enrol on the HND programme, but other students started on a National Certificate course, which acts as a gateway to HNC/HND. I think it is important to let people know this, as there are so many different ways to achieve your goal. It may take a bit longer to get there, but it is possible and it’s worth it!” After signing up, Philip worried about being ‘too old’ for college, but when he started he realised that the average age of students was higher than he expected. He said: “After my initial fears of being ‘too old’, I found that students of all ages worked well together. There is no age discrimination and, on the whole, we all faced similar challenges. Even at my age, I soon realised how much I don’t know!”

That well-worn expression that the more you put into something, the more rewarding it is, is so true.” Well done to Philip for making the decision to change his world – it sounds like it was the right decision!

The Crichton is a multi-institution campus shared by Dumfries and Galloway College, University of the West of Scotland, University of Glasgow, SRUC and The Open University in Scotland. Each institution offers a different range of courses and they welcome enquiries from anyone interested in exploring their options. Contact details can be found online at www.crichton.co.uk in The Crichton Business Directory.

Philip was full of praise for the lecturers and said: “The tutors wanted me to succeed and that really helped to build my confidence. All the tutors in Creative Industries are inspirational and clearly enjoy teaching. They all have real-world experience, many still practicing their discipline alongside their college role. I see this as an advantage for students, but more than anything I valued their support. They want you to succeed, so they build you up! I certainly grew in confidence knowing that my tutors believed in me.”

DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY COLLEGE www.dumgal.ac.uk 46

NOW TAKING BOOKINGS FOR 2021 AND BEYOND t: 01387 702020 e: events@crichton.co.uk w: www.crichton.co.uk

EVENTS

ALL YEAR

Looking to host a wedding or event at The Crichton? We have limited weekend availability in 2021, please call now on 01387 702020 to discuss your requirements and dates. 48

& u n e M e s r u 2 Co s

a e T n o o n After

Tuesday 1st â€“ Wednesday 23rd December 2020 Served from 11.30am - 3pm, Monday to Sunday

t: 01387 702500 e: takeaway@crichton.co.uk w: www.crichton.co.uk

FesntgivHeours

Openi Wed 9 - Fri 11 Dec: 10am-4pm

Sat 12 - Sun 13 Dec: 10am-6.30pm (Christmas Show Days*) Mon 14 - Thurs 17 Dec: 10am-4pm Fri 18 Dec: 10am-9pm (Christmas Hooley*) Sat 19-Sun 20 Dec: 10am-6.30pm (Christmas Show Days*) Mon 21 - Wed 23 Dec: 10am-4pm Thurs 24 Dec - Wed 6 Jan: Closed From Fri 7 Jan: Open daily from 10am-4pm *Extended hours and show day menus available

t: 01387 702500 e: takeaway@crichton.co.uk w: www.crichton.co.uk

CHRISTMAS AT THE CRICHTON

A choice of stunning ceremony and reception rooms in Easterbrook Hall and The Crichton Memorial Church Landscaped grounds and rock gardens Contemporary Bistro, Bar & Spa

We propose you give us a ring!

01387 702020

Availability for Summer and Winter Weddings in 2021 Limited Availability for Weddings in 2022 Small & Intimate Wedding Packages Find us at The Crichton, Dumfries, DG1 4TL

Photography: ÂŠ Dan Baillie www.bailliephoto.co.uk

GET INVOLVED IN THE CRICHTON COMMUNITY Email: news@crichton.co.uk | www.crichton.co.uk Share your news for The Crichton Blog

Send us details of your events for The Crichton

Tell us about any vacancies you have for roles at The Crichton

Keep your profile up to date in The Crichton Business Directory

Get in touch to discuss contributions to The Crichton Magazine

Look out for your invitation to our regular meetings for tenants

Attend our monthly Crichton Briefings (first Tuesday of the month at 4pm on Zoom)

Use #TheCrichton and tag @thecrichtontrust

Update your colleagues and get them involved in The Crichton Community too! 52

BUSINESS AT THE CRICHTON The Crichton Trust lets high quality commercial properties within the 85-acre parkland estate at The Crichton in Dumfries and is proud to have one of the most vibrant business communities in the South of Scotland. The Crichton Business Park has transformed the historic sandstone buildings of The Crichton into functional and attractive office premises. Retaining the impressive sandstone architecture and original internal features, many of the buildings perfectly combine the beauty of 19th century design with the connectivity and flexibility required for 21st century business. With over 84 organisations on site, The Crichton has a strong business and academic community. Find out more about all tenants and partners in The Crichton Directory online at www.crichton.co.uk. Anyone interested in leasing an office space at The Crichton should email: gordon.clark@crichton.co.uk or visit www.crichton.co.uk

53 www.crichton.co.uk/the-crichton-business-park

This magazine is published by The Crichton Trust Photography by Mike Bolam

www.crichton.co.uk

#TheCrichton 54