James Hamilton Academy pupils are first to visit new Burns Monument Centre

Mar 20 2009 by Ian Russell, Kilmarnock Standard

A GROUP of James Hamilton Academy pupils was given a preview of the superb new Burns Monument Centre last week.

The teenagers are working on a local history project as part of the New Farm at 40 celebrations.

They were out and about last Tuesday taking photographs of some of the town’s best-known landmarks, and, obviously, the new complex caught their attention.

Centre staff saw the boys and girls peering through the gates of the centre at Kay Park – and invited them in for a closer look.

An impromptu tour followed with the pupils viewing the archive centre and research room as well as giving the magnificently restored Robert Burns statue a thorough inspection.

Teachers were as delighted as the pupils with the new facilities and have already booked time with the local history librarian and archivist to help them discover more about the history of New Farm Loch.

The new Burns Monument Centre is now open to the general public. See pages 24 and 25.