What a pity so many of the VE Day celebrations had to be cancelled or altered due to our current circumstances. However, thousands across the country came together at 11 am this morning as a mark of respect.

Ten years ago Gargieston pupils were responsible for securing a memorial bench in Culzean Crescent where 4 civilians died in May 1941 during the only night Kilmarnock was ever bombed in WWII.

The children traced relatives of those killed and held an emotional unveiling ceremony attended by these families, the children’s parents, residents of the street and many more.

Some of you may like to take a walk up to Culzean Crescent during your daily exercise to see the bench and the street.

We are living in extraordinary times right now and no doubt we will look back at 2020 and remember what was happening in our town.

The last time the country experienced anything like this was during WW1 when Spanish flu swept across Europe carried by soldiers. The Dick Institute was used as a hospital back then for the soldiers coming back injured or ill, as these two grainy photos show…. 

This short video clip was taken outside The Dick Institute in 1922.

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