The 100th anniversary of one of Montrose’s most iconic buildings will be celebrated next week.
The Traill Pavilion at Montrose beach was opened on August 8 1913 after a generous gift of £2,000 by brothers John and David Traill, who were born in the town but left to pursue successful business careers.
Montrose Society will try to recreate the excitement of the opening ceremony next Thursday, with a day of celebrations starting at noon.
Local historian Forbes Inglis will tell the story of the Trail brothers and Montrose Society member Sandy Munro will speak about the architecture and history of the pavilion.
Vintage photographs from the building’s opening will be on display and period tunes will be played. The Traill brothers left Montrose to work in Australia and John rose to be the head of a large firm of steamship owners in Melbourne.
David returned to Britain for a career in banking in West Bromwich.
In September 1911 The Courier reported that the men had responded to a press appeal to Montrosians to help beautify the town by donating a cheque for £1,000 a huge sum in those days.
The reaction was one of sincere gratitude from residents and council officers at the time and a committee was formed to decide how to best use the funds.
The Traill brothers saw the press coverage and were so overwhelmed by the reaction, they decided to send an additional £1,000 to improve their childhood town.
Writing to ex-Provost Foreman, the chairman of the bequest committee, David Traill wrote: “I have recently had letters from my brother expressing the great pleasure it has been to him to receive all the letters and documents he has had from Montrose.
“He greatly appreciates the distinction that characterises the members of your committee and only regrets that the contribution of £1,000 is not adequate in its expression.
“He thinks also that this amount is not commensurate with the schemes that the committee would like to undertake for the beautifying of the town.
“Accordingly he advises me that he is sending me another contribution of £1,000 to aid in some measure in remedying these defects.”
The first project undertaken was the creation of Traill Drive, which runs across the beachfront, which opened in May 1912 at a cost of £600. The road had been an ambition of the council for several years but it had lacked the funds.
The pavilion, which was known then as a shelter, was built at a cost of £1,000 and several thousand residents attended its opening.
At the time Councillor Foreman said the committee had “no difficulty” in deciding the majority of the money should be spent at the beach.
He said there was a need for a “proper pavilion where visitors and townspeople could find cover in the case of rain, a cool place from the heat of the sun and a quiet spot from the throng outside”.
The Traill brothers were granted the freedom of the burgh the highest council honour as recognition of their donation. People attending the 100th anniversary celebrations are encouraged to share their memories of the pavilion in its heyday.
Montrose Society president Andrew Orr said the celebration was open to all, with people encouraged to wear a hat or bonnet.
“We hope for a good turnout of interested people to remember the Traill brothers’ gift to the town,” Mr Orr said. “Everyone is welcome.
“It would add to the occasion if a hat or bonnet appropriate to the unveiling 100 years ago could be worn a boater, a top hat or a bowler hat for the men and, for the ladies, an extravagant bonnet.
“We hope to reproduce the spirit of the original opening.”