The 20th Century

10 December 1987

Letter arrives from Scottish Education Department announcing the withdrawal of funding

14 December 1987

• Demonstration outside the Scottish Office.

• Petition bearing 2,500 signatures handed in. 

• Letters of support start to pour in to the College and to appear in the press. 

• Newbattle’s plight highlighted on national news.

13 January 1988

Press conference in City Chambers launches 1988 campaign and receives pledges of wide support.

14 January 1988

• Battlefield Band concert in the Assembly Rooms. 

• Writters and artists from all over Scotland gather to give a concert in aid of Newbattle’s Fighting Fund.

27 January 1988

Demonstration in Edinburgh, with 800 people, followed by a rally in the Usher Hall.

31 January 1988

MP Clive Soley visits Newbattle gaining press coverage for the College’s plight.

10 February 1988

Shadow Secretary, Donald Dewar, meets with Malcolm Rifkind to discuss Newbattle’s fate.

17 February 1988

The Battlefield Band spearhead appeal for funds in Australasia.

25 February 1988

Battlefield Ceilidh in the Queen’s Hall to raise money for the Fighting Fund and generate further support for the College.

10 March 1988

Newbattle Abbey heads demonstration of 3,000 students in Glasgow, arranged by the National Union of Students.

March 1989

Malcolm Rifkind sends a final letter confirming withdrawal of funding.  The Scotsman describes this action as “sad and puzzling”.

March-September
1989

The College tried to keep going using funding from Trade Unions and education authorities and was “within an ace of survival”.  However, it was not enough to sustain the diploma course.

September 1989
to 1998

Newbattle is kept open by a variety of short courses being run by groups such as the WEA.

One of the key elements in keeping the College open and the name alive was in no small way thanks to the Housekeeping and Administrative staff such as Meg Wardrop, Cathy Watson, Sheila Stewart and Maureen Robertson.
Bill Conboy of Ruskin College arrived to re-organise the College and ensure its survival until funding was restored. 

35,000 signature petition is presented at the Scottish Office by  staff and students dressed as Cistercian monks

Students and staff, dressed as Cistercian monks, heighten the campaign by travelling on a Newbattle cart to Edinburgh .

Feb 1998: the Battlefield Band launch an appeal in Australia to ‘Save Newbattle’