AWARDS
Well Kept County Awards
Background: 1966-2017
In 1966 an Award for the Best Kept Kinross-shire Village was initiated
by Sir Robert Stewart of Arndean, Lord Lieutenant of Kinross-shire, under
the auspices of Kinross Burgh Council. In 1997 the organisation of the
competition was delegated to the Kinross-shire Civic Trust. The aims were
to encourage a pride in the environment of each settlement and help maintain
the identity of the old county.
The first Competition in 1966 was won by Milnathort, at that time a comparatively
small community. Many more settlements entered and from 1998 the competition
was run in two parts, with categories for hamlets as well as villages.
The following settlements entered over the years:
Villages: Crook of Devon,
Glenfarg, Milnathort, Kinnesswood and Scotlandwell
Hamlets: Blairingone, Cleish,
Carnbo, Easter Balgedie, Keltybridge & Maryburgh, Powmill and Wester
Balgedie.
Entries were taken during April and May each year and three judges, from
outside the County if possible, were appointed to visit each village around
the second week in July.
The winners of each category received cast iron plaque and a trophy, while
the runners up were presented with a certificate. The Village winners
received the Lena Graham Cup and the Hamlet winners received the Donald
Erskine Cup.
In celebration of the 40th anniversary of the competition in 2006, Sir
Robert Stewart donated a new cup for the Most Improved Village or Hamlet.
Arrangements from 2018
Several changes were introduced in 2018 and in consultation with the local
Organisers further changes have been introduced for 2019. The most important
are:
1. The name of the awards is now the Well Kept Village Competition and
the Well Kept Hamlet Competition under the umbrella term Well Kept County.
2. In view of recent increases in populations, Milnathort is deemed a
town rather than a village, and Powmill a village rather than a hamlet.
3. The distinguishing feature of the WKC competitions is that judges are
taken round the whole settlement, following an itinerary that is agreed
between the committee and the local organiser.
4. Judging of villages and hamlets and is performed by different judges,
recruited from outside the county, on different days, on a rotation of
seasons: autumn (2019), spring and summer.
5. Organisers may identify any areas they wish the judges to overlook,
for instance because they are building sites, and also a special new initiative
undertaken in the season to enhance the neighbourhood.
2021 Awards
Villages
First: Kinnesswood.
Joint second: Crook of Devon and Powmill.
Most improved village: Powmill.
Hamlets
Winner: Glenlomond.
Joint second: Drum and Maryburgh.
Judging for the 2022 Awards
will take place in autumn 2022.