John Swinney MSP, First Minister for Scotland called in early this morning to see us here at The Usual Place before the cafe opened as he was in the region and had heard about the photography exhibition organised by @U3A Dumfries Camera Club and Dumfries Lions Club.
He also wanted to see how everyone is getting on following his formal visit in April last year.

While he was here, The First Minister also met some of the young people training in the cafe.

The First Minister was also keen to meet Bill Walker of Dumfries Lions Club and our patron Dame Barbara Kelly, and to see the photographic exhibition which runs until April 11th 2026.

He had been invited to the launch night but was unable to attend, so decided to call in before starting his regional visit today. He was particularly interested in one individual photographic print in the current exhibition which depicted a montage of images Entitled “They are Remembered, Spean Bridge Memorial”. The First Minister told Bill and Dame Barbara about a family connection to this photograph relating to one of his own relatives who had been one of the last soldiers to be presented with a Victoria Cross towards the end of WW2.