GLASGOW AIRPORT HELPS BRING LOCAL HISTORY TO LIFE.

A local project which aims to digitally capture the history of parts of Renfrewshire has got off to a flying start following support from Glasgow Airport’s FlightPath Fund.

Inchinnan Historical Interest Group, a committee made up of local volunteers, is dedicated to promoting the history, culture and heritage of Inchinnan and its surrounding areas. The group plans to produce a digital archive and website containing details on a number of projects. The first of which is an oral history project about life in rural Inchinnan from the 1930’s onwards.

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Oral history is the recording of people’s memories, experiences and opinions and the £1,020 donation from Glasgow Airport’s Flightpath Fund will be used to purchase technical equipment for filming interviews and capturing scenic shots of the area.

The project, which will examine life through the decades, will gather information from residents and relatives and try to understand what it was like to live in the rural environment of Inchinnan farmlands. It will also focus on the development of Erskine community – which was built in the early seventies – and the impact it had on the local community and economy.

Ronald Leitch, head of security and terminal operations at Glasgow Airport, said: “This historical project is a fantastic community initiative and will definitely allow more people to learn about the history of the area. As a neighbour, Glasgow Airport is only too happy to offer assistance and get this exciting project off the ground.”

Councillor Iain Nicolson at Renfrewshire Council said: “Inchinnan Historical Interest Group is a good example of a community working together to promote the local history of the area. To do so, in such a public way is a terrific idea and demonstrates a great sense of community. I am sure the archive and website will prove extremely popular with residents of all ages.”

Bill McCallum, farmlands project leader at Inchinnan Historical Interest Group, said: “Talking to the various people we have interviewed for this project, has been very interesting and enlightening. Asking people to go back down their own memory lane is, in the main, a very pleasurable experience for them, and sharing that journey is both a privilege and rewarding for the project team. We are creating our own piece of history as there has never been an oral history of Inchinnan before, and receiving support from the FlightPath Fund is very encouraging to our project team.”

Once complete details of the project, which are expected to generate interest from local residents, schools and community groups, will be available from the Inchinnan Historical Interest Group’s website and will include photographs, video clips and interviews with residents living in the area during this time. Information will also be available at Inchinnan Parish Church.

Courtesy of Glasgow Airport.

Picture: Glasgow Airport’s Ronald Leitch (centre) and Councillor Iain Nicolson meet members of the Inchinnan Heritage Interest Group, pictured with the camera is Bill McCallum.

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Founder of Paisley.org.uk in 1998 and constantly strives to change peoples attitudes to the town, Brian is a self described Paisley Digital Champion who promotes Paisley via any means necessary. You can also follow me on X