ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Battle won for Black Watch Museum Journalist Maureen Young discusses the amazing £3.5 million transformation of one of Perth’s most loved landmarks with the man who led the charge to preserve Balhousie Castle and the name of The Black Watch for generations to come.
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lfie Iannetta was born and raised in Black Watch heartland. But there any military connection ended - at least until 2009 when the experienced businessman was recruited as Chief Executive of The Black Watch Museum and Balhousie Castle. His task was to oversee the complete overhaul and extension of the centuries-old building and the creation of a 21st century tourist attraction - and help attract the £3.5 million necessary to achieve it. Four years later Alfie has delivered all that was asked of him and he’s ready to take up a new challenge. But the completed project he leaves behind in Perth is not only a legacy to the generations of Black Watch soldiers revered the world over, but also to his years at the helm which brought the project to fruition. “I’m pleased and proud to have played a part in securing an amazing centre for both The Black Watch family and for the city of Perth,” he said. “I believe Balhousie Castle is now one of the city’s main tourist attractions and it can only go from strength to strength.”
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THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2013 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk
The original building at the side of Perth’s North Inch dates back to the 1400s and since falling into the ownership of the Ministry of Defence acted as a Regimental Headquarters, a recruiting centre and a museum. “As an active military building, the museum always took a back seat and it wasn’t until 2006 with the restructuring of the British Army and the amalgamation of The Black Watch into the new Royal Regiment of Scotland that museum trustees realised they had to devise a plan that would secure their world renowned collection within a building that they didn’t own,” explained Alfie. And so The Black Watch Heritage Appeal was launched at the end of 2008 for the purpose of securing an irreplaceable collection of over 8000 artifacts dating back over 300 years and purchasing the building from the MOD. “Despite the difficult economic climate, money poured in from all over the world,” said Alfie. “People were united in their goal to preserve something unique and special and to help create