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CHAMBERS INSTIUTION 150th BIRTHDAY This year sees the 150th Anniversary of the gift to Peebles and Tweeddale of the Chambers Institution by William Chambers in 1859. To celebrate this event, Peebles Civic Society in partnership with Scottish Borders Council Museums and Galleries mounting an exhibition of the lives and times of William Chambers and his brother Robert. In addition the Society is to publish a leaflet on the brothers and their links with Peebles and is making arrangements for the cleaning and restoration of William Chambers Gravestone in Peebles cemetery. The Civic Society has been awarded a grant of £9754 towards the costs by the Awards for All, Big Lottery Fund. Saturday 12th September marked the last day of the exhibition ‘A Generous Bequest’ which celebrated the 150th anniversary of the gift of the Chambers Institution to Peebles by the publisher William Chambers in 1859. This exhibition was mounted by Peebles Civic Society working with Scottish Borders Council Museum and Gallery Service with funding from The Big Lottery. Three thousand people have visited the exhibition since it opened in June, making the most of an opportunity to see objects, paintings and documents brought together specially for the anniversary. More than sixty primary 7 pupils from local schools also visited and were given a tour ‘behind the scenes’ at the museum and library to fully appreciate the gift William Chambers gave to their community. The Peebles Civic Society collaborated with the Museum and Gallery Service to produce a leaflet on William Chambers and Peebles, funded by a grant from The Big Lottery. This was launched on 22nd August and has proved popular with locals and visitors alike. The Civic Society also received funding from The Big Lottery to restore the Chambers family gravestone in St Andrews Churchyard and mark it with a plaque. The anniversary has also been marked by a series of very successful events. The Tweeddale Society sponsored a lecture on the Chambers brothers as part of the Peebles Arts Festival. This was delivered in the Eastgate Theatre by Professor Alistair McLeery Professor of Literature and Culture at Edinburgh Napier University. On 5th September the Chambers House in Biggiesknowe Peebles was open to the public due to the generosity of the owners Mr and Mrs White. Over 130 people made the most of this rare opportunity to visit this fascinating building which brings to life vividly the early years of the Chambers brothers in Peebles. As this year of celebrations comes to an end staff in the Chambers Institution are looking to the future to continue to fulfil the vision of William Chambers for his Institution. 2011 will mark the centenary of the Carnegie extension so we can look forward to further celebrations of the generosity of another of Scotland’s famous and successful sons. .
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