Birthplace of Peter Pan

[Geoff]

MOAT BRAE HOUSE: The first step on an adventure.

When the 13 year old JMB moved to Moat Brae House in Dumfries, the garden opened up his imagination. Perhaps the stories of the young, admirable James Crichton of Eliock House, a few miles from Dumfries, who died at 21 years of age in a sword fight, gave him a basis for Peter. Perhaps John Paul from Kirkbean, a few miles to the east of his new home, gave rise to Captain Hook after hearing all the tales of the Pirate - John Paul (Jones).

The house needs help to survive.
The adventure begins.

http://www.dgstandard.co.uk/dumfries-news/local-news-dumfries/local-news-dumfriesshire/2010/03/31/moat-brae-house-plans-unveiled-51311-26140703/

[Geoff]

PETER PAN AND THE LOST BOYS NEED YOUR HELP
There was a public meeting at Minerva Hall, Dumfries Academy on Wednesday 28th April 2010, the last opportunity for the public to help the Trustees make the right decisions for the future of the House and Garden.

Volunteers were sought for a number of jobs, such as
•Help with administrative tasks - stuffing envelopes for mail-shots
•Answering letters
•general Office duties
•act as receptionist in the office (which is hoped to be open in Moat Brae in the near future
•Help Flora with the Street Party on 29th May when Peter Pan will meet "The Big Man Walking"
•Volunteers for garden tasks to help Allen and Pam
•Membership Secretary - to keep expanding Friends register up to date etc.
•Someone with IT experience
•Someone to keep Website up to date once it is running
So - if you think you can help the Trustees - please let Roger know at:
peterpangarden@aol.com or Middlefield House, by Dumfries, DG1 3SF.)

[Geoff]

'Home to Neverland - A Window on J.M. Barrie'

'Home to Neverland' is being performed at Dumfries Academy  on
Saturday September 18th at the invitation of the Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust.

Barrie moved to Dumfries at the age of 13. The garden of Moat Brae House where the writer played as a boy was described in his memoirs as the magical inspiration for Peter Pan.
He recalled: 'Our escapades in a certain Dumfries garden which was an enchanted land to me was the genesis of this work'.

http://www.splintersproductions.co.uk/shows.html

[Geoff]

PLANS to develop Moat Brae House into a major tourist attraction for Dumfries were put on show way back in March when members of the Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust presented their vision to the public for the first time.  With the backing of The Prince’s Regeneration Trust, the Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust worked up the plans after it was formed in August last 2009.

Suggestions for the house would mean it would undergo a significant facelift.

The basement to become a Peter Pan Experience,
The ground floor to be open for public use.
The first floor to be transformed into office space.
The top floor used for respite care for children and their families.
Half of the garden to become an area for children to play.
A Peter Pan Adventure Area included in the proposals.
The remaining part, a more formal landscape garden.
Keep access to the gardens and house free (the office space will generate an income to do that).