FORMER junior tour guides at one of Scotland’s most historic palaces are to reunite to celebrate 40 years of children in the castle.
Youngsters have been giving expert tours of Linlithgow Palace since 1977, when Bill Hendrie, then-head teacher of Linlithgow Primary, came up the scheme to help children learn about and promote their local history.
It is now a partnership between the school and Historic Environment Scotland (HES), with participants donning period costume and taking on the characters of 16th-century nobles to meet visiting groups at the site, which was the birth place of Mary, Queen of Scots and one of the principle residencies of Scots monarchs.
Now current and former junior guides are to dig out stories, photographs and memorabilia to mark 40 years of the initiative in August.
Discussing the popularity of the scheme, Hendrie said: “We even attracted the attention of TV and radio, with the junior tour guides featuring on Highway hosted by Sir Harry Secombe and Jimmie Macgregor’s long-running Radio Scotland programme Macgregor’s Gathering.
“It is a privilege to see the junior tour guides become such a special part of the history of Linlithgow, with many residents having been involved with the project over the years.
“I hope that we can stir some memories and inspire people to look out their photo albums to help celebrate this wonderful project.”
Closely linked to the Curriculum for Excellence, guide training is designed to increase pupils’ understanding of their local heritage, build confidence and develop transferable life skills.
In recent years the scheme has been developed and extended to other HES sites, including The Black House at Arnol, Doune Castle, Trinity House in Leith and Melrose Abbey.
HES learning officer Elaine Johnston said: “This special anniversary for Linlithgow, falling in our Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology, is a great opportunity to highlight just how successful the Junior Tour Guide scheme has been since its inception as a way of getting children involved in their local communities and engaging with their historic environment.
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