Jennifer Herd, an HLHS member, is setting off on a long distance ride today (May 30^th) and riding 100 miles mostly on drove roads with her Highland pony Glen.  She is setting off from Wester Fowlis, where her pony was born and riding to Comrie today. I plan to travel down to Bridge of Orchy on Tuesday (3rd ) and meet up with her as she comes through the viaduct into Bridge of Orchy, then we will walk to Inveroran, where we will spend the night at Inveroran Hotel which was, in fact, a drovers’ Inn. The next day Jennifer is riding through Kinglas to Taynuilt and I will walk some of the way with her and then drive by road to Taynuilt and meet her there. On Thusday (5th) she continues her journey to Oban, arrinving at her destination next Friday (6th June). Jenny is kindly raising sponsorhip for HLHS so  anyone who would like to sponsor her is welcome to download the form below and return it to HLHS c/o Dingwall Mart, Bailechaul Road, Dingwall IV15 9TP. Thank you.

Some photos of her previous long distance rides are included here (Photo: co-rider Morven Lawson)

. We hope to be adding photos from her current ride as she progresses.  

If you wish to sponsor Jennifer and Glen please click here.

Tuesday June 3rd
Met up today with Jenny, near the Bridge of Orchy viaduct and walked to the Inveroran hotel, where I was asked if I was related to the horse! Tomorrow, we go to Taynuilt.
 

Janey Clarke, Archivist HLHS.

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Click here to download the HLHS Archive News - June 2006.

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News Updates 

Royal Support for the Project

Successful public launch of Project appeal

The launch of the Highland Drover project appeal took place on 28 February in the premises of Dingwall Mart. The event was well attended by local supporters and also press, TV and radio, which generated considerable media coverage locally and nationally. The launch coincided with the mailing out of appeal brochures to potential supporters in the UK and around the world.

Major donation by Tulloch Construction

The appeal fund got off to a flying start with the receipt of a generous donation of £20,000 from Tulloch Construction Ltd.

David Sutherland, Chairman of Tullochs, has farming interests in Argyll and Inverness and is a former Vice-President of the Royal Highland Agricultural Society. He commented: “The drovers are a fascinating part of our history, who deserve to receive proper recognition. I hope that our £20,000 will set the ball rolling, and that other companies and individuals will chip in to make this project a reality.”

Captain Roderick Stirling, President of the HLHS said “We are most grateful to Tullochs for this magnificent contribution, who support many worthy Highland causes. We sincerely hope that others will be inspired to follow their fine example”

RPBA support with mail-out

The appeal launch received a major boost when the SRPBA (Scottish Rural Property and Business Association) offered to include the Drover Project appeal brochure in their February mail-out. This ensures that the brochure will be received by the 3,500 members of the Association, who are all country folk with a good understanding and interest in the practice and heritage of the livestock industry in Scotland. Just our kind of folk, in fact! Our warm thanks go to the SRPBA.

The Dingwall Mart Connection

The HLHS is an entirely independent body (a company limited by guarantee, and a registered charity), but it is fortunate to enjoy a close working relationship with Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd., who have been extremely supportive of the project from the outset. The Mart paid for the preliminary designs and model of the proposed sculpture, which will be sited at the road entrance to the Mart. The exhibition/visitor centre and archive will be located within the Mart’s new premises, providing a fine link from the historical to the present-day livestock trade. The future value of these accommodation facilities to the project is estimated to be £5,000 each year. The Mart has also provided invaluable office support to HLHS throughout the set-up, preparation and launch phases of the project. Must be they like livestock.

Public bodies lend a hand

Valuable help has been received from the major public bodies in the Highlands towards the early costs of launching the Highland Drover appeal.  

• Awards for All (Lottery Fund) gave a grant of £5,000 to enable the appeal brochure and HLHS notepaper to be designed and printed
   
• Ross and Cromarty Enterprise earlier awarded £4,250 to undertake a scoping design study and costing for the project’s exhibition and visitor centre
   
• The Highland Council from its Ross and Cromarty Division granted £750 towards the direct costs of the appeal launch and mail-out, and £1,000 for necessary equipment to support the launch (which will later be incorporated into the archive and exhibition).

 
Helpful friends

Other generous and timely support for the launch has been given by:

§         The Heritage Trust (per Rob Gibson MSP) - £250

§         The Scottish Community Foundation (Lifescan Ltd) - £250

We are grateful to all of those bodies that have helped us in the difficult early stages of establishing the project and launching the public appeal. 

Watch this space…..