Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, has tabled a motion in the Scottish Parliament congratulating pupils from Castlebay School in Barra in garnering support from Dame Judi Dench to save the iconic Screen Machine.
Mrs Grant, who has been campaigning herself to save the mobile cinema said “The Screen Machine is a much loved asset for many of our rural communities. It provides so much pleasure, allowing people of all ages from smaller communities to access what many of us in more urban areas take for granted.
“A trip to the cinema is a real treat and provides temporary escapism from the daily chores and stresses that we all deal with.
“The Screen Machine has integrated itself into the fabric of rural life over the years and any, and all, support to save it is very welcome.
She concluded “Good on the pupils from Castlebay who took the initiative to contact Dame Judi for her support. I hope it pays off.”
The text of the motion is detailed below:-
Motion Number: S6M-12009
Lodged By: Rhoda Grant
Date Lodged: 29/01/2024
Title: Castlebay Pupils Fight to Save the Screen Machine
Motion Text:
That the Parliament congratulates the pupils from Castlebay School, in Barra, on writing to Dame Judi Dench and encouraging her to support the campaign to save the Screen Machine; understands that the mobile cinema, which needs to be replaced, provides entertainment to people in Scotland’s most rural communities; believes that, as the UK’s only 80-seat, air conditioned mobile digital cinema, which visits more that 40 locations in the Highlands and Islands, it is both innovative and educational; thanks Dame Judi for lending her support to save the mobile cinema, and wishes the pupils from Castlebay well in their efforts to save the iconic resource.