The cast and crew of the “The Bravest Rescue”, the film produced by our four local secondary schools about the life of Willie Angus VC, had their work recognised in the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday 9th January. Local MSP, Claire Adamson, organised this event to celebrate the culmination of the Year of Young People and to mark the achievement of the young film-makers.
The Head Teachers of Saint Aidan’s, Coltness, Clyde Valley and Calderhead attended along with their students and joined an audience of invited guests that included MSP’s, the Minister for Communities and Local Government, Aileen Campbell and Minister for Business and Veterans, Graeme Dey.
The young film-makers demonstrated their creative skills in the prologue to the film. Bryan McKeown, Taylor Porteous, Abby Cockburn and Jack Stewart- who all play major parts in the film- delivered moving dramatic monologues. A specially adapted folk song to accompany the film was beautifully performed by Molly Burton and Caitlin Steven, accompanied by Gabbie Goldie and Samuel Graszyck on guitar. Film Producers Ian Anderson and Gordon Swinton, along with members of staff from the four schools involved also spoke about the impact of the film-making experience and the legacy it will leave behind.
With regard to legacy, the impact of the film continues to spread and Lynne Robertson, Senior Education Officer with Education Scotland, attended the event. Lynne is currently arranging to work with the production team to develop “The Bravest Rescue” as a resource to share with schools across all of Scotland, a real testament to the quality of work that our young people in Wishaw and Shotts have created.
The emotional power of the film on the audience was apparent in the warm reception it received. Our local MSP, Claire Adamson led the praise and commented on how the story had helped to bring back memories of the sacrifices that members of her own family had made in the first war. Graeme Dey, Minister for Business and Veterans, echoed this praise and commented on how the opening scene of the film, in which Willie Angus talks about his war time experience with his grandson, evoked strong memories of his own grandfather. Aileen Campbell, Minister for Communities and Local Government, was also enormously impressed by the impact of the young peoples’ film and pointed to the strong local connections that are part of the story. She went on to advocate more local showings of the film, particularly in Carluke.
Peter Buxton, Willie Angus’s grandson also attended the screening and was impressed by the way that the young film-makers brought his grandfather’s story to life.
The evening was a great success and this celebration of a fabulous achievement by the young people of Wishaw and Shotts was a tremendous validation of the commitment, energy and creativity of each and every member of the cast and crew.
Written by Mr O’Brien and edited by Wiktoria Orlicka.
