As scaffolding is removed and the newly restored fabric of Moat Brae House is being revealed – like a present being slowly unwrapped for Christmas, two special, festive events will be held to raise funds for the Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust. A Sale of Works of Art and Experiences at Thomson Roddick Scottish Auctions on Saturday 7th December at 10.30am and the Annual Christmas Concert, Forgotten Carols at St George’s Church on Tuesday 10th December at 6.30pm.
Thomson Roddick Scottish Auctions will include twenty items and experiences donated by local artists and businesses in aid of the Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust at their Christmas Sale on Saturday 7th December at their Irongray Road Auction Centre, viewing from 9am.
The Annual Moat Brae Christmas Concert will feature soloist Kate Howard, Reader Tom Pow and The Feral Choir in a beautiful and atmospheric programme aiming to renew a sense of all the rich meanings of Christmas. Carols will be woven together with readings of contemporary poetry and prose and features “forgotten” carols originating from Britain’s rich folk traditions.
Construction work on Phase A of the Moat Brae Project will be finished by the end of the year and the Trust is already making plans to re-open the house and garden to the public on a limited basis in 2014. Phase B of the Moat Brae Project, leading to the redevelopment of the house and garden as a Centre for Children’s Literature, is now well underway. With the help from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Creative Scotland, the Trust has commissioned architects and engineers to produce designs for the house and garden. Consultants are also helping the Trust to develop activity and business plans and are encouraging everyone to have their say by responding to an online survey at www.surveymonkey.com/s/MoatBrae08.
The Christmas concert is organised by Friends of The Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust who are keen to encourage as many people as possible to support Moat Brae and get involved in the work to open the next chapter for this special House and Garden in Dumfries. Author JM Barrie found it an inspiring place, playing pirate games there as a child which he said were the genesis of his masterwork Peter Pan.
Tickets for Forgotten Carols priced £12 (including refreshments) are available from Midsteeple Dumfries (01387 253 383). You can also book tickets and find out more about Moat Brae and the work of the Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust at www.peterpanmoatbrae.org
