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Welcome to the website of The Paisley Development Trust.
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Renfrewshire Witch Hunt 1697
Click below for the
The Renfrewshire Witch Hunt 1697 page
As part of the RWH1697 Project end of project large scale public event on the 9th June there will be a seminar in the Paisley Abbey (Panel Room) the title of which is
"Injustice done"
Scottish Wichcraft, Folk Belief and the Renfrewshire Witch Hunt 1697
Saturday 9th June 2012 9.30am
Among the speakers will be Stephen Clancy, Professor Edward Cowan, Dr Lizanne Henderson and professor Hugh Mc Lauchlin.
Pop into the office at 39 High Street Paisley (corner of New St) for more details and tickets or alternatively drop an email to paisley_development_trust@yahoo.co.uk
You can also email us at Paisley_development_trust@yahoo.co.uk
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Russell Institute
What Next For The Russell Institute?The PDT will be undertaking a consultation among the people of Paisley to acertain what we should do with the Russell Institute. We are applying for funds to look into the potential uses of the building, but we need your input.
We need to find out from you what you would like to see happen within the wallls of this prime Paisley asset, we have questionaires and a Facebook page dedicated to the building at ...
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/groups/305377819482995/
Our team will be gathering support for a What next for the Russell Institute campaign during events on Tuesday, Wednesday and saturday this week. On tuesday there is the launch of the RWH1697 Project Schools pack in the Abbey, Wednesday sees the Renfrewshire Creative Network meet in the town hall and on Saturday The Witches will do a smart flash mob drama presentation about the town as part of the Weavingh Musical Threads 2 day event. Also during the RWH1697 costume making occupation of a shop on the ground floor of the Paisley Centre you can pop in and leave your comnments, or indeed in the office at the YMCA 39 High Street (corner of New St). or using our email address paisley_development_trust@yahoo.co.uk get in touch.
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Latest News
Friday 6th April
We have created an online survey in order that you can give your views on the Russell Institute and our plans for the future of it. Please follow the link below to take part. Thanks.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Q5MWDQQFriday 30th March
The RWH 1697 project is really progressing well. We have opened a shop in the Paisley Centre where you can find out more about the project, see volunteers in costume creating marvellous outfits for the cast and where you can create your own costume for the big day on the 9th June. Everyone wants in on the project, at the official opening which was performed by Brian Lawson (leader of Renfrewshire Council) the papparazzi (well the guys from www.paisley.org.uk) were in attendance to capture the event as was the PDE. Our MSP George Adam was there too and our MP Douglas Alexander popped in later for a chat with the volunteers and staff. Our thanks also go to the staff of the Muffin Break (delicious) who took part in the festivities by dressing up in costumes of the period. The project has grown tremedously with lots of community groups indicating their eagerness to take part in the grand re-enactment on the 9th June.
Sunday 26th February
Our team will be gathering support for a What next for the Russell Institute campaign during events on Tuesday, Wednesday and saturday this week. On tuesday there is the launch of the RWH1697 Project Schools pack in the Abbey, Wednesday sees the Renfrewshire Creative Network meet in the town hall and on Saturday The Witches will do a smart flash mob drama presentation about the town as part of the Weavingh Musical Threads 2 day event. Also during the RWH1697 costume making occupation of a shop on the ground floor of the Paisley Centre you can pop in and leave your comnments, or indeed in the office at the YMCA 39 High Street (corner of New St).
Saturday 31st December 2012
A big thanks to all that attended the ceremony this morning.
It was a dreich day but that did not prevent the remaining survivors being joined by about 70 of us in remembering the wee ones that lost their lives this day 82 years ago. Our Tony was emotional as he introduced Bishop Tartaglia and Provost Celia Lawson who said a few words and prayers. Survivors Jim MaCallum and Peter Smith laid the Paisley Development Trust wreath on behalf of the people of Paisley.
Emily Thompson, also a survivor will celebrate her 90th Birthday in April and enjoy a cruise round the Mediterranean in the summer, I’m sure I speak for us all when I all wish her and all of the survivors well in the coming year.
Friday 30th December 2011
As the last day of the old year draws near, it’s time for us to gather at the Cenotaph at 10.30am, near Paisley Cross to honour and remember those that lost their lives in the Glen Cinema Disaster on Hogmanay in 1929.
During the cowboy film ‘The Dude Desperado’ a canister of nitrate film made contact with the live terminal of a battery and began to smoulder, the resulting smoke gave the wrong impression that the cinema was on fire, panic ensued and 71 young children died and 40 were injured in the crush that followed.
On Saturday the 31st December the few remaining survivors of the tragedy along with the Paisley Development Trust, Bishop Tartalia, Reverend Briss and representatives from the council and the community of Paisley will gather to pay our respects to those that lost their lives that fateful day.
Please join us.
Tuesday 13th December
The Renfrewshire Witch Hunt 1697 project continues a pace with the Curriculum for Excellence Schools Pack being distributed among Renfrewshire schools for their appraisal, a full launch of the Pack will be held in Paisley Abbey in February 2012
Tuesday 13th December
The PDT invites all the people of Paisley to attend our annual wreath laying ceremony in rememberance of the 71 children that lost their lives in the Glen Cinema disaster of 1929. We will gather at the Cenotaph near The Cross at 10.30am on the 31st December. There will be a short service with prayers and thoughts from Bishop Tartalia, Reverend Alan Briss and from our Provost Celia Lawson, thereafter there will be some hot refreshments in the PDT office at the YMCA at the corner of High Street and New Street.
Monday 28th November
Regular and steady progress with the PDTs desire to accquire the Russell Institute and use the building to create an Arts and Cultural Hub for Paisley. Meetings have been held with the Plannning Department, Councillors of all the major parties, MSP and MP. There is general agreement that the building would fit the suggested use by the PDT. Everyone is keen to make sure that the Institute is preserved and put into a use that would benefit the Community of Paisley. The sellers are actively looking for a purchaser for the building but have noted the PDTs interest in the Russell. They see us as a fall back position if there is no progress on finding a developers for it.
We could short circuit the whiole thing by raising the £500k required to buy it out right. Any rich patrons or newly made multimillionaires out there?
Monday 28th November
The Witches project is progressing nicely with regular meetings and workshops every Thursday nights at 7pm in the PDT office at the YMCA 39 High Street Paisley (Corner of High st and New St). The is also a Facebook page Renfrewshire witch hunt 1697. Join up and keep up to date with the ever expanding project
Tesday 25th October
The final grand re-enactment and day out of the Witches story will be held on Saturday the 9th June 2012. The PDT has the support of Renfrewshire Council and the Paisley Vision Board for this.
Tuesday 25th October
The PDT is seeking to save a famous Paisley town centre building and take it into community ownership. We are speaking with Renfrewshire council and the owners of this building to see if we can find a course of common good. If you are interested in saving, using, surveying or valuing the building we have in mind, please get in touch with us.
Tuesday 25th Oct
After a very popular and well attended launch of the RWH1697 project the work has started in earnest, the Schools Pack (Draft) has been approved by the PDT committee and volunteering for the various aspects of the research and development of the travelling exhibition and drama parts are well under way and starting to take shape.
Monday 3rd October
There will be a reception and launch of the Witches project on Thursday the 6th October in the PDT office in the YMCA shop at 39 High street, Paisley. The event starts at 7pm.
Monday 19th Sept
The PDT has been looking into the possibility of acquiring a redundant building in the town centre to create an Arts and Cultural 'HUB' for Paisley. We have taken big steps in this direction and we have identified a building that could be brought back into Community use. We are in the process of applying for funds to undertake an in depth feasibility study and to formulate a business plan to take this forward. We would welcome your help and ideas to help take this major project forward. If you think you can help, pop in to the office on the High Street and have a chat.