Bellfield bandstand war memorial comes under Council’s custodianship.

The custodianship of a war memorial bandstand in Inverness has been handed over to The Highland Council by the Aircrew Association Highland Branch.

Bellfield Park bandstand was opened by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh in July 2000 and in 2004 it was registered as a war memorial.

Aircrew flew from some 32 airfields and flying boat anchorages which were situated across in the Highlands and Grampian during the Second World War and the bandstand was built to commemorate the loss of many of these young men. The Aircrew Association Highland Branch worked in partnership with the former Inverness Project to create the bandstand.

Former Provost of Inverness Allan Sellar, Chairman of the Aircrew Association Highland Branch explained: “Ten years ago, the Inverness Project kindly supported the development of a memorial bandstand by acting for the Aircrew Association Highland Branch and applying for a grant from the Landfill Tax. The Inverness project managed the building of the bandstand and as a charitable organisation they were able to save considerable expenditure on VAT. The Council agreed to lease the land to Inverness Project for ten years.”

The total cost of the bandstand project was around £64,000 of which the Inverness Common Good Fund provided £5,000 support.

Provost Jimmy Gray, Chairman of The Highland Council’s Inverness City Committee said: “I am delighted that the Council has agreed to accept the future care of this war memorial into our custodianship. As the terms of lease of land upon which the bandstand is situated are now concluded it is appropriate that ownership and maintenance of the bandstand comes under the auspices of the local authority.”

The concrete and stainless steel bandstand was proposed and designed by Elgin-based Architect and former RAF Navigator, John Loud.