A SPECIAL project to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Clydebank Blitz has received a £10,000 lottery windfall.

West Dunbartonshire Council’s libraries and cultural team will start work on the scheme in the coming months, which will culminate with an exhibition in Clydebank Heritage Centre within the town library in March next year.

The money was awarded to the council by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) from its Sharing Heritage fund.

The Clydebank Blitz devastated the town, leaving only seven houses completely undamaged in the whole of Clydebank.

The council’s heritage team will work with volunteers and local community groups to explore the existing local history collections and delve further into the stories from the nights of March 13 and 14, 1941.

Between now and March, the staff will also be collecting new stories from those affected by the Blitz, and investigating new ways to develop and interpret this poignant heritage collection.

By recording these stories, it is hoped that future generations will continue to learn about this important event in Clydebank’s past.

The Clydebank Blitz had a profound effect on the sense of identity of local people in the Clydebank area and this has been handed down to successive generations. The heritage team, who are responsible for the preservation of artefacts relating to the Blitz, are keen to hear from anyone with a story to share.

Two local organisations have already shown their support for this commemoration venture.

Dave Carson, chairman of Clydebank Local History Society, said: “Clydebank Local History Society welcomes the announcement that the bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund to support an exhibition to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Clydebank Blitz has been successful. The Blitz of March 1941 devastated the town and its residents. It should not be forgotten.” June Galloway, chairwoman of Clydebank Lifestory Group, added: “Clydebank Life Story Group, publishers of the book Untold Stories: Remembering Clydebank in Wartime, are very pleased to learn that Clydebank Heritage Centre have been successful in securing funding for their proposed Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Clydebank Blitz exhibition. The Clydebank Blitz was a devastating and horrific experience for those living in the town of Clydebank in 1941, and, as such, should never be forgotten. We have confidence that Clydebank Heritage Centre is more than capable of providing a thought-provoking and informative exhibition, which many people will support and find worthwhile.” Colin MacLean, head of the Heritage Lottery Fund Scotland, said: “Sharing Heritage is a wonderful opportunity for communities to delve into their local heritage and we are delighted to be able to offer this grant so that commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Clydebank Blitz can embark on a real journey of discovery.”