Published: 25 Oct 2014

THE newly renovated Speirs Centre in Alloa opened its doors last weekend, with a free community fun day for all the family

The centre, which officially reopened on Saturday (18 October), includes a temporary exhibition place, a modern library facility and local and family history facilities with access to all of Scotland’s birth, death, marriage, old parish records, open censuses and more.

It also features customer service facilities for all enquiries, payments and bookings, wi-fi and computers for public use.

Council leader Gary Womersley officially opened the centre, saying, “The family fun day was a great success, throwing open the doors of this wonderfully refurbished building to the people of Clackmannanshire.

“I am delighted that as part of the Making Clackmannanshire Better project we have been able to make the investment in this important but previously underused historic building, which can now be enjoyed by the community and visitors for a wide range of services.”

The first exhibition at the venue is a celebration of the Commonwealth Games and aspects of sport in Clackmannanshire, highlighting the sporting achievements of local people featuring a variety of items from the council’s collection as well as articles donated by individuals.

 Councillor Donald Balisillie, enterprise and environment convener added, “I am pleased with the opening exhibition at the Speirs Centre which explores Clackmannanshire’s long association with sport and the Commonwealth Games. It is a celebration of local heroes and some of the sporting greats in the area.

“Whether you’re a player or a fan, this exhibition has something for everyone and engages not only with a few of the famous faces to grace sport in Clackmannanshire, but also the local heroes and grassroots clubs who truly nurture and continue to develop sport in their communities.”

Items in the exhibition include medals, kit, dresses and other objects from sporting legends such as boxer Tommy Speirs, whom the centre is named after, shooter Robin Law from Alloa, young swimmer Duncan Scott – also from Alloa – and many more.

Scotland’s foremost shooting dynasty, the McIntosh family, have also contributed a wide range of items. Shirley, who was awarded an MBE for her services in sport, and Donald McIntosh, along with their daughthers Jen and Seoniad, loaned many objects to the exhibition.

These include Shirley’s four Commonwealth Games medals, as well as Jen’s, who succeeded her mother as Scotland’s most decorated female in Commonwealth Games history when she won silver and bronze at Glasgow 2014. She claimed two golds and a bronze at the Games in Delhi in 2010.

Also part of the exhibition is the stunning replica of the Queen’s Baton, which was donated to the council when the Relay visited Clackmannanshire on 25 June.

While field hockey was not a Commonwealth Games sport at the time, local residents Kit Gow and Elan Borrowman were skilled players and represented Scotland on numerous occasions in the 1960s and 1970s. They have also loaned memorabilia of their respective careers.

The exhibition remembers the achievements of the late Willie Murray from Alva, the athlete who founded the Alloa Half Marathon and served as a tireless supporter of his own sport and others in the county.

For those who might have missed the grand opening, the objects are on exhibit until Hogmanay. It forms part of an exciting annual programme of temporary exhibitions in the centre. More information about future exhibitions will be available on the council’s website.

Read the original article at the Alloa Advertiser website.