An Auchinleck-based music group has made generous donation to the National Mining Museum Scotland (NMMS).
Strings N Things, an acoustic guitar and ukulele group, based in Auchinleck, made the donation of £830, following a performance of their songs in the Power House.
Band member Alex Douglas presented Henry McLeish, Chairman of National Mining Museum Scotland Trust, with the cheque.
A number of members of the group worked in Barony, Killoch, Kames, Knockshinnoch & Highhouse Collieries, or had relatives who did, so mining is embedded in the songs they write and perform.
As part of the Cumnock Tryst Music Festival, the group were asked to write songs for The Celebration of the Coalfields project.
They worked alongside Sir James McMillan and Findlay Napier and five of the songs were performed at the Tryst in 2022 to a packed hall, accompanied by Merchant City Brass.
During the performance, a local business was so impressed that they offered to provide funds to record the music in a studio.
Furthermore, a lottery grant helped pay for the brass ensemble and the production of the CDs.
A five-track CD, ‘Darkness Into Darkness’, is dedicated to every UK miner who lost their life while working in the country's collieries, was launched back in December.
READ MORE: Cumnock launch for album of music inspired by miners who lost their lives
Band member, Alex Douglas said: "At the start of our song writing project we were very clear that our CD would have to be a fitting tribute to all coal miners, especially those who directly or indirectly lost their lives.
"Hopefully our songs reflect the reality of the profession.
"We are delighted to donate the proceeds of the Darkness Into Darkness CD to National Mining Museum Scotland so that the miners' stories can continue to be told."
Henry McLeish, Chairman of NMMS added: “The Mining Museum is delighted to receive this donation from the Group and celebrate their success.
"This is an excellent and fitting tribute to Scottish miners who lived and died working for their families, communities and their country and a timely occasion as we commemorate the 40th anniversary of the miners strike.”
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