Manx National Heritage has today announced the award of grants totaling £33,198 from the Donald Collister Heritage Strategy Grant Scheme.
The scheme was launched in January 2016, following a generous bequest from the late John Donald Collister (Donny), a former Colby resident, who left Manx National Heritage an estate valued in the region of £1 million.
Manx National Heritage undertook a public consultation on the use of funds from the estate, which included both cash and fixed assets including Mr Collister’s former home in Colby.
The Donald Collister Heritage Strategy was later established and provides four funding streams: the Heritage Grants Programme, Local Community Grant Programme, Community Heritage Skills Development Programme and Biodiversity Programme.
Tony Pass, Chairman of the Trustees of Manx National Heritage said:
“Over the last few years, the Donald Collister Bequest has supported over £100,000 in charitable gifts to the local community including a horticultural development at Arbory School and the installation of a new window at Arbory Church commemorating Captain John Quilliam, the most famous Manxman to have participated in the Battle of Trafalgar.
We are now pleased to support a broad range of projects through the Heritage Grants Programme and have received applications from individuals and organisations across the Isle of Man.”
Awards were granted to:
- The Manx Transport Trust, which will receive funding towards restoration work on Donald Collister’s Fordson F83W van, which was first registered on the Isle of Man in 1950. The van will be kept on display at Jurby Transport Museum throughout its restoration, with photographic records shared as the project progresses. The museum is open 10am to 4pm every Saturday, Sunday & Tuesday.
- Manx Transport Heritage Trust in Peel will receive funding towards maintenance work within the museum building and for the provision of replacement audio visual equipment.
- Foxdale Heritage will receive funding towards building works at Foxdale Heritage Centre, to improve environmental conditions in the building and enable the Trust to continue to display photographs and artefacts within the building.
- John Callister will receive funding towards the installation of fencing and a gate to Ballateare Meadow in Jurby, an Area of Special Scientific Interest. The new fencing will help protect the meadow, which is home to rare wildflowers including the uncommon greater butterfly orchid.
- Rushen Heritage Trust will receive two awards. The first award will support an exhibition on ‘Entertainment in the Glory Days of Southern Tourism’. They will receive a second award for software development of iomWalks and use of iBeacon Technology.
- Laxey and Lonan Heritage Trust will receive an award for the redecoration of Lady Evelyn Waterwheel. The wheel is an important heritage attraction in Laxey Village and helps tell an important part of the Isle of Man’s industrial heritage.
- Isle of Man Children’s Centre will receive an award for the acquisition of a trailer, a roller and a single furrow plough for the Community Farm. The award reflects Mr Collister’s interest in horticulture as a keen grower of fruit and vegetables. The farm provides a safe environment for children, families and the local community to connect and learn about the countryside and nature and traditional farming techniques.
- Laa Columb Killey will receive an award towards fitting out the Donald Collister Heritage Exhibition Tent, which was acquired using grant funding from the Donald Collister Community Heritage Grant Scheme. The award will be used to purchase new light weight tables, benches, display boards and Laa Columb Killey commemorative mugs.
Manx National Heritage will launch a second opportunity to apply for funding in early 2017.
