Last plea for support as hall TV date nears
By Margaret Carr
(Story dated Thursday, July 8, 2004)

With only a few days to go until the vote for Orkney's Restoration project, the Friends of the Orkney Boat Museum are busy trying to round up support.

The programme, showcasing the Hall of Clestrain, goes on air at 9pm on Tuesday, July 13.

More than 300 Friends have been urged to lobby their own friends, families and colleagues to ensure the hall wins the Scottish section of the television series.

And plans are already in place for keeping the interest alive so the hall will win the final.

"After we win the Scottish heat, we have to mobilise the vote for the finals in August," said Friends chairman, Mick Bain.

"The BBC and the Friends are also keen that we are seen to carry on campaigning after the broadcast.

"This is no problem to us as we are determined, to paraphrase Donald Dewar, that 'There will be an Orkney Boat Museum'," he said.

Radio Scotland broadcaster Tom Morton, who is based in Shetland, visited the hall last weekend.

He is mustering support via his week-day afternoon radio programme.

• To vote for the Hall of Clestrain, telephone 09011 332 222 between 2am on Tuesday, July 13, and midnight, Wednesday, July 14. The cost is 50p per call, with 34p of that going into the Restoration prize fund. There is no limit on the number of votes which can be cast per person.