Celebrations confirmed to mark Rutherglen's 900th anniversary

Plans are in motion to celebrate the lasting legacy of Rutherglen as it reaches the 900th anniversary of the Charter of the Royal Burgh in 2026.

Scotland’s oldest Royal Burgh will celebrate its 900th anniversary and councillors on the Cambuslang and Rutherglen Area Committee have praised the proposals to mark the momentous occasion.

Plans include creating a steering group, led by councillor Robert Brown (Rutherglen South), to develop a programme of community-led events leading up to the celebrations, and to recruit a part-time coordinator to support the Rutherglen 900 steering group.

Clyde Gateway Urban Regeneration Company has committed to funding £65,000 to the programme over a two-year period.

The Cultural Programme is not only a celebration, but it will aim to bring about community cohesion and leave a lasting legacy.

Chair of the Cambuslang and Rutherglen Area Committee, Janine Calikes (Rutherglen Central and North), praised the plans.

She said: “I welcome the report and it’s good to have the expertise of Clyde Gateway on board.”

Councillor Robert Brown added: “I’m very grateful to Clyde Gateway and the council for the support that is coming in on this one.

“I’d like to make the point that this could be the single biggest thing in Rutherglen to publicise the interest and identity of the achievements of the Royal Burgh. It’s something we really need to take a big advantage of.

“There are a lot of opportunities here, and I think it is a prime starter to help us going forward.”

The co-ordinator role will be appointed on a part-time basis where the employee will work two days per week during 2024 and 2025 and three days in 2026.

The role will include elements of strategic planning, administration of the steering group, report writing, funding applications, community and stakeholder engagement, commissioning of activities and may also involve direct delivery of cultural interventions.

A timeline of tasks over the next two years has been created for the co-ordinator to reach the final programme for the celebration of Rutherglen.

Rutherglen’s vibrant base and range of organisations supporting arts, history and culture will be celebrated.

Clyde Gateway has proposed to pivot local interventions with its partner schools, nurseries, community groups and services to include 2026 specific events and sessions.

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