Gerald Tait, Trevor Swan and Will Murray, Coldstream Heritage Ltd.
Nominated for Category D. This award recognises volunteers and professionals, individuals and groups who rescue, record or interpret any kind of historic place.
Lennel church was built prior to the now lost Coldstream abbey around the 1120s and became unused in 1705. Since then the church and its site had become dilapidated, neglected and overgrown with ivy and other vegetation. Two members of the Coldstream and District Local History Society, Trevor Swan and Gerald Tait, however, spent 4 years photographing and transcribing the headstones in the old church yard and when another member, Will Murray showed interest the three of them initiated a Community Interest Company to take over the preservation and management of this local historic asset. They have helped to recreate a sense of Lennel’s identity, the significance of this historic church and the people buried there, some of whom have national significance. The three men have inspired, encouraged and led the way forward and have delivered well beyond the call of ‘duty’.
