HUNDREDS HAVE SUPPORTED the first few days of the long-awaited public opening of a major attraction widely expected to provide a major boost to tourism in Moray.
Years in the planning and a great deal of hard work led to the Morayvia interactive flight, science and technology exhibition finally being opened on Saturday.
The centre at the former Kinloss primary school was busy throughout its first couple of days with several VIP visitors calling in for a first look at the aircraft – and in particular the star attraction on display, a Sea King SAR helicopter that had until very recently been employed on rescue missions around the country.
“It was a busy weekend and we are all just delighted to finally get the show up and running for the public here in Moray, who have backed us so magnificently is very many ways over the last few years,” Mark Mair, the chairman of Morayvia said.
He added: “We were delighted on Saturday that our visitors included members of the Braemar Mountain Rescue Team, who of course had a particular interest in our Sea King having so worked with SAR crews so many times over the years.”
Also calling in on Saturday was newly elected independent Moray councillor Dennis Slater, who has a particular interest in the site as a founder member of the Moray Coast Tourism Group.
Morayvia are represented on the group which seeks to promote tourism all along the Moray coast. Dennis said: “It was great to see everything coming to together at last – we are delighted for all the Morayvia volunteers who we have seen working around Moray and beyond at so many events – all with the long-term aim of creating this centre.”
The centre will be open again today and tomorrow from 12noon until 4pm then again from October 17 until October 20 at the same times.
After that the centre will open each weekend.