The work party digs in

puggled

the timbers salvaged

now for the slates

heavy to transport

stacked carefully for re-use

including as sponsorship rewards

almost there

a job well done

the nave cleared of timber, slates and debris

we realise we have a special work of art

the Gun Munro memorial is by London sculptor Regnart

Next work party — the ivy on the east dyke

it festoons the railings

and seems impossible to control

it forms a tangled mass

but removal brings rewards

and eventually it is all cleared

Work Party — gable end weather protection

sand bags are knotted into place over membrane

all neatly done — but a faulty design doomed to fail

The Barkly enclosure is a no-go area — Work party needed

the work party get stuck in

the legs of the Barkly tablestones are revealed to once have been painted black

the beautiful carving of the influential Barkly family tablestones

some curious symbols appear on this Barkly tablestone

the heart is clear, but a wheel?

Barkly enclosure all now cleared

Work party to clear old buried fencing

the fencing is well anchored in the turf

all cleared, and security fencing resecured

the original gable covers have failed — a new approach needed

new membrane is held down by netting this time

and the netting is non-degradable

faster, safer, easier and better

the netting is held down by sandbags

and the whole job is quickly completed

a search under the tablestones uncovers a new old stone

transcribed and photographed, the new stone is returned

one of the work party lying down on the job

Work party to clear the overgrown Alexander Ferguson enclosure

the missing railing is found and the tree pruned

the branches have damaged the railing

stones have to be removed

one repaired enclosure!

the Grant of Ardoch mausoleum needs emergency propping

we erect one of the Celtic alphabet trail, admired here by German visitors

the team prepare the corner at Kirkmichael for future marquee usage

stones and bits of concrete are removed, holes filled

evidence of cars not getting round the corner

all ready for the marquee!

the marquee in full swing

stone condition survey from some years ago

an earlier work party — the toddler is now 18!

an early work party when the chancel was completely ivy-covered

an early reading party — Kirsty has now graduated!

and young Gavin here is now heading off to university!