Huge financial boost to Burns museum

Feb 6 2009

A MYSTERY donor has pledged £700,000 to the new Robert Burns Birthplace museum.

The generous cash boost is believed to be coming from a retired American man who has a keen interest in Scottish castles.

He has handed over £1.4 million to the National Trust for Scotland – with the condition that half should be allocated to the Burns project.

John Scott MSP is thrilled at the news. He said: “This is fantastic and a real tonic following the successful launch of the Year of Homecoming in Alloway last week.

“The £21 million Robert Burns Birthplace Museum is clearly a very ambitious project, so a donation on this scale – arriving literally out of the blue – is a significant boost to it.

“While the gentleman who has made the donation wants to remain anonymous, I have spoken with the National Trust for Scotland and asked them to convey to him the thanks and best wishes of the people of South Ayrshire for his generosity.”