Musings from the Merse
Saturday, June 30, 2007
ROOTS-The Concert
As promised Huttonian attended the concert at Paxton House by the 'Descendant Youth group. Despite almost non existent publicity it was pretty full, albiet mainly of people who were part of the Descendant's entourage. As well as delightful singing and dancing by a very young team of Grenadians-or of Grenadine descent there was an exhibition of posters and articles about the slave trade, the Grenada connection and the revolt of 1795/6 in which, a former owner of Paxton House, Ninian Home was killed. Also famous Grenadians were featured including Lewis Hamilton the Grand Prix driver and the only winner of a VC in the Iraq conflict.The Laird got to his feet at the end and mentioned the historical connection between Paxton House and the Slave Trade and said how 'deeply ashamed' he was of his forebear Ninian Home. This went down well with a representative of the group who accepted that the slave trade needed to be kept in a historical context and not resurrected as part of a modern retrospective blame game.So no aggressive rattling of chains nor angry demands for reparations-a pity more was not made of this very moving celebration. Had it been better advertised I am sure you could have filled the Picture Gallery many times over.
Part of the exhibition were paintings by the children of the Scottish/Grenada connection-mostly palm trees and Saltires but at least one youngster had a go with the Ninian Home angle-presuming that is the intention of the image of an 18th Century gent and his lady.
I suggest you click on the images to get the fine detail
Labels: Grenada, Merse, Paxton House, Slave trade
Comments:
What are the Paxton House Trustees up to?
An event funded by public money not being properly advertised so we the public could attend? These young people descendents of Grenadian slaves were worth seeing and supporting. WHY WAS IT NOT ADVERTISED?
I can only assume that the Home team was afraid of adverse comment/publicity and decided to keep it quiet. What a shame to have to describe so-called independent trustees as the “Home team”!
It will be interesting to find out:
1. was the decision not to publicise taken by all the trustees and why?
2. Is the failure to publicise consistent with the Trust’s own Constitution and Rules and the conditions of the grant for the event?
The wicked Baron Hard-up may well be ashamed of his ancestor’s slave-trading exploits which funded the original purchase of Paxton House. Not ashamed enough to stop him accepting well over £1million from Joe Public for the place. It is a great pity that Son-of-Ninian still has his sticky fingers in Paxton House business.
I wonder if he will be wearing an eye-patch and wooden leg for next week’s performance?
Watch this space!
An event funded by public money not being properly advertised so we the public could attend? These young people descendents of Grenadian slaves were worth seeing and supporting. WHY WAS IT NOT ADVERTISED?
I can only assume that the Home team was afraid of adverse comment/publicity and decided to keep it quiet. What a shame to have to describe so-called independent trustees as the “Home team”!
It will be interesting to find out:
1. was the decision not to publicise taken by all the trustees and why?
2. Is the failure to publicise consistent with the Trust’s own Constitution and Rules and the conditions of the grant for the event?
The wicked Baron Hard-up may well be ashamed of his ancestor’s slave-trading exploits which funded the original purchase of Paxton House. Not ashamed enough to stop him accepting well over £1million from Joe Public for the place. It is a great pity that Son-of-Ninian still has his sticky fingers in Paxton House business.
I wonder if he will be wearing an eye-patch and wooden leg for next week’s performance?
Watch this space!
# posted by 
: 3:05 PM
: 3:05 PM
What a waste of a wonderful opportunity. Why were local schools not invited/involved?
As to why was this event not advertised - they did not need to make money on the event as they were given a grant for it. The place is run by a bunch of total money-grabbing amateures content to sit back and let public money give them a cushy number.
Post a Comment
As to why was this event not advertised - they did not need to make money on the event as they were given a grant for it. The place is run by a bunch of total money-grabbing amateures content to sit back and let public money give them a cushy number.
# posted by : 9:44 AM
: 9:44 AM