On May 8th, 2024, the ‘KFOR and Kosovo +25’ exhibition installation opened at Elgin Library in Moray. The launch event was opened by The Lord Lieutenant of Moray, Major General The Hon Seymour Munro, CBE, and Cllr Peter Bloomfield, Armed Forces Champion for Moray Council, who had an active role in what took shape 25 years ago when he was working within Air Traffic Control at RAF Bruggen in Germany.
The exhibition installation included 35 images + captions and story narrative from the 200-image full-scale exhibition and presented in a format designed to be portable, to ensure it will be able to tour across the authority to reach a wide range of community venues including schools, libraries and community centres.
Special guests included two of the local Councillors, at right of photo, who had helped sponsor the exhibition alongside Cllr Peter Bloomfield, to ensure it came to Moray. The supporting councillors included: Councillors Amber Dunbar, John Divers, Sandy Keith, Graham Leadbitter, Jeremie Fernandes
HM Lord Lieutenant of Moray, Maj Gen the Hon Seymour Munro CBE LVO, pictured in the photo 3rd from right, said
“ The Exhibition, and especially the excellent photos, help to underline the nature of peacekeeping operations and so help to improve understanding and education of them. I commend the Exhibition to all.”
Cllr Peter Bloomfield, 4th from right in the photo, Moray Council’s Armed Forces Champion, led the campaign to bring the exhibition to Moray and has personal experience of the intervention in Kosovo. He said:
‘I’m delighted to be welcoming you here to Elgin Library today as we see the opening of the ‘KFOR and Kosovo +25’ exhibition.
As you’ll be aware, the exhibition has already had an audience in the Scottish and UK Parliaments. Running for just over two weeks, through the incredibly insightful work of Nick Sidle, we get the chance now in Moray to better understand the experiences of the peacekeeping forces in Kosovo 25 years ago.
I was keen to support this exhibition, not only as Moray Council’ Armed Forces Champion, but as I had personal involvement in the campaign 25 years ago.
In my role as an Air Traffic Controller at RAF Bruggen in Germany I was instrumental in making sure our aircraft departed and arrived back safely whilst the NATO night-time bombing campaign was taking place.
My affinity with Kosovo has stayed with me ever since and I think marking the 25th anniversary of the NATO intervention is a fitting way to pay tribute to all those who were involved in the military and civilian side of the campaign.
Given how exposed we now are regularly, and immediately, to footage and photos of the very real wars going on around the world right now, it’s difficult to remember that 25 years ago we didn’t see military or peacekeeping campaigns up close.
The advent, and subsequent popularity, of 24 hour rolling news channels came in the mid-to-late 90’s – around the same time as the Kosovo intervention – making these images all the more remarkable.
I finish by congratulating Heartstone and all the partners who have made this exhibition possible. Please take the time to absorb it all and encourage your friends and neighbours to come and see it too.’
Lt Col Mark Horrocks, 6th from right, was present on behalf of 39 Engr Regt Kinloss Barracks. With personal experience of the Kosovo deployment, he was able to bring several of the images to life with his own narratives, including the images demonstrating how KFOR protected religious sites, giving all those present another direct insight into what happened.
Sitakumari, Director of Heartstone, 5th from right in the photo, introduced the background to the story, when it was gathered, why Heartstone secured special access at the time, its purpose then and its value today as an effective tool through which to demonstrate the everyday experience of living in a region where intolerance had gone to extraordinary levels. This is what the story is about but it is also about something else – human resilience and hope to be found in the most difficult circumstances, which is why this story and its messages are so relevant now. and why it still has a place today. Its role in helping to bring people together and a setting for local veterans to speak of their experiences was also very clear in this event as well as giving audiences a clear understanding of what a peacekeeping force does and why they remain important. KFOR is still active in Kosovo today and this exhibition is a continuous reminder of their role there but also in other locations worldwide. There is another purpose for this particular Heartstone story – people who were part of the original photodocumentary are able to speak about their role at the time and their reflections today. It is an opportunity to understand what it means to be a refugee or a displaced person. It is also an opportunity to look at what happened 25 years ago and ask the question, was a difference made? Listening to many of those who were part of the story at the time, and how their lives were impacted by what happened, the answer would be ‘yes’. It is at least one example of countries coming together co-operatively to achieve a positive outcome, an impact which changed many people’s lives forever. The exhibition event allows this and many other important questions related to today to be raised and provides a setting for deeper dialogue and discussion.
Above from left: Priyanka Chard, Mark Istance – another veteran with personal experience of Kosovo sent out to RAF Bruggen Germany when the bombing campaign was flown from Bruggen using Tornado Aircraft, Pastor Wilfred Masih, Cllr Amber Dunbar, David Hayden – Principal Librarian, Moray Council, Lt Col Mark Horrocks, Cllr Peter Bloomfield, Sitakumari
Priyanka Chard, Education Support Officer (Dandelion Project Moray- supporting Armed Forces children in education), Moray Council said:
‘I am grateful to Heartstone for creating such an engaging, educational exhibition and to Cllr Peter Bloomfield, who is Moray Council’s Armed Forces Champion, for bringing this learning opportunity to Moray. The exhibition tells an emotive story through powerful imagery, exploring conflict and peacekeeping. It encourages important discussions and is thoroughly thought provoking. Through my role with the Dandelion Project, I had the pleasure of attending the launch with students and staff from local schools. They eagerly joined in to listen to Sitakumari’s presentation, engage with guest speakers sharing their real-life stories and explore the exhibition, all of which breathed life into Nick Sidle’s photos. I look forward to seeing how schools will make use of the exhibition once it becomes mobile.’
Children and young people from primary and secondary schools, where Heartstone Story Circles are in the process of being set up, were present as guests at the launch and were captivated by both the exhibition itself and the different speakers. This was an opportunity to meet and talk to people who had been in the locations covered in the photostory or part of it in another way, hearing new stories at firsthand from individuals resident in Moray.
The exhibition will be touring post the summer break and all Story Circle chools have their own ‘KFOR and Kosovo +25’ Story Module, a 15-image set of laminated images + captions + story narrative, to generate discussion in the classroom and with youth groups, designed to act as a framework for each Story Circle’s own exhibition.
Particularly welcome was Pastor Wilfred Masih, nominated by Interfaith Scotland, who closed the event with a powerful speech highlighting the importance of all communities working together for peace and hope in the current times. His closing statement summarised the need to see past differences and recognise a common humanity, the purpose at the heart of this photostory.
The exhibition launch was well attended with guests from across Moray Council, schools and representatives from Kinloss. The exhibition is now ready to tour across the authority, to start post the summer break. A new exhibition incorporating the reflections of the children and young people participating in the Story Module project will be taking shape in 2025.
Heartstone was particularly grateful for the support of David Hayden, Principal Librarian for Moray Council, and his team who helped set up the exhibition at Elgin Library and make all the necessary arrangements for the launch, Kevin McDermott, Community Services Manager for Moray Council and to Moray Councillors for their sponsorship and support.
Heartstone is working with the assistance of UNA Scotland, Interfaith Scotland, veterans organisations PoppyScotland, Legion Scotland and Officers Association and Edinburgh Interfaith Women’s Group on the ‘KFOR and Kosovo +25’ exhibition and project.
