RSS Press releases
We publish all of our recent press releases online so you can keep up to date.
You can use special RSS software (or newer web browsers) to subscribe to an RSS feed of our recent press releases . Email pressenquiry@dumgal.gov.uk if you'd like further details on any of our press releases.
If you want to speak to a communications officer, you can find their working-hours telephone numbers and what areas of the council they cover at www.dumgal.gov.uk/pressenquiry.
Read our press releases as HTML >>
Recent releases
At a meeting of Dumfries and Galloway Council on 15 December, councillors will receive the Dumfries and Galloway Council Armed Forces Champion Annual Report.
The report provides elected members with an overview of the activities undertaken by the Council’s Armed Forces Champion, Councillor Archie Dryburgh MBE, and the involvement in the various Veterans’ Working Groups from 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022.
Armed Forces Week 2021 was held through a combination of online and socially distanced in person events. The events were well supported, and included annual Flag Raising and Lowering Ceremonies, and a tour of the Veterans Garden where Elected Members were able to find out more about the work carried out at the garden. Elected members also heard about the involvement Veterans Garden had with the virtual Royal Highland Show 2021, where the Veterans Garden were chosen as the RHS Charity of the Year in 2021.
Launched during Armed Forces Week 2021, Dumfries and Galloway War Memorial Improvement Programme and Competition provided an opportunity to show our region’s support for our Armed Forces and veterans, and to deliver infrastructure improvements to our towns and villages. The project provided outdoor working opportunities for local businesses as well as volunteering opportunities for veterans, cadets and local communities.
The competition had a total of 14 entries across 4 categories, and these community groups received funding to clean, tidy, maintain and improve their War Memorial. The War Memorials that scored the highest under each category were:
- Large Community with Garden – Lochmaben and Dalbeattie (Joint Winners)
- Small Community with Garden – Closeburn and Kirkconnel
- Large Community without Garden – Parish of Penningham (Newton Stewart) and Minnigaff
- Small Community without Garden – Whithorn and Bargrennan.
The annual Lord Dowding Memorial Service was once again held in Moffat, to commemorate Lord Dowding’s birth in the town of Moffat. Air Chief Marshall Lord Hugh Dowding of Bentley Priory GCB GCVO CMG was an Air Force Commanding RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain 1940. The Moffat Dowding Memorial was unveiled in September 1972.
Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday were marked in November 2021, where a wreath was laid at every War Memorial across Dumfries and Galloway on Remembrance Sunday by our Elected Members, or, where that did not prove possible, by Community Councillors on their behalf.
Councillor Stephen Thompson, Convenor of Dumfries and Galloway Council said: “This report reflects the Council’s ongoing commitment to support our Armed Forces personnel, veterans, and Armed Forces community. Despite much of the programme happening while various Covid-related mitigations were in place, the support shown for our Armed forces community has been commendable.”
Councillor Linda Dorward, Depute Convenor, added: “It is great to see the development in the projects highlighted in the report. The community involvement of those wishing protect and improve their local War Memorials was marvellous, and it is clear that there is a huge sense of civic pride and respect for our Armed Forces. I am also delighted that work of the Veterans Garden has been recognised further on a national level”.
The annual report of the Council’s Armed Forces Champion can be seen at: https://tinyurl.com/2jerya8x
