Today the tables were turned as I was invited along to New Cumnock Primary School to be interviewed by pupils of Primary 6 on the families they have been researching.

Sharing information

Having collected vital data from the headstones the class visited the Burns Monument Centre (BMC), Kilmarnock a few weeks ago to access vital resources to aid their research.

Each team has since created a ‘spider’ diagram with key information on their subjects spreading out from the centre of their diagram . They prepared questions to be used during our interview with the view to me helping them fill in some the gaps.

The interviews were conducted in a very professional manner and began with introductions and a polite request to ask questions. With 10 interviews we had to work to a five minute schedule per interview and while one team asked the questions with microphone in hand, there was excellent team-work on show when a member of another team took control of the video.

Bank House – Home of the Hyslop Family

Many of  the questions clearly demonstrated great ownership of their chosen subject and the development of their research from the day at the kirkyard to the visit to the BMC. During the interview team members took the opportunity to show some of the records and the photos they had brought from their day at Kilmarnock.

Hopefully I was able to fill some of the gaps, including a promise to forward more specific information, and add to their ‘spider’ diagram. Certainly, the process helped fill gaps in my knowledge and yet again I thoroughly enjoyed another rewarding day with Primary 6 – thank you for a great day!

Finally, look out BBC Scotland, ….. 10/10 for interviewing skills at New Cumnock Primary School.

Following on collating data from headstones of ministers and soldiers buried or remembered in the Auld Kirkyard a trip to the Burns Monument Centre, Kilmarnock was arranged to access their wide range of resources.

Scotland’s People

Mary and Ian check out Scotland’s People

• Old Parish Records – baptism records from 1706 are available for the parish of New Cumnock
• Birth, Marriages and Death from Statutory Records from 1955 onwards
• Census Records -1841, 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891, 1901 and 1911

Newspaper Archives

Helen and Mattie reel through the Cumnock Chronicles

• The BMC hold numerous Newspaper reels with of course the Cumnock Chronicle the paper of choice

Archives

Archivist Christine gives an overview of the archives

• Our focus was on Ayr Presbytery Records and ministers of the parish of New Cumnock

• Here is a snippet from the record of Reverend James Young and his ordination on 3rd May 1758.

Reverend James Young ordination record

Thank you to all at Burns Monument Centre, Kilmarnock for another fascinating day.

• Why not pay them a visit here