Actress Joanna Lumley unveiled a statue of Peter Pan in the town which inspired the character’s creator.
Author J.M. Barrie spent time as a child at Moat Brae House in Dumfries, and later said it was “an enchanted land” which was “certainly the genesis” of his work, Peter Pan.
A major fundraising campaign was launched last week by the Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust (PPMBT), which hopes to draw in £4 million to turn the Georgian mansion and its grounds into an international centre.
A 12-foot wooden statue of the boy who battled pirates and could fly was unveiled in Dumfries town centre. The statue is made from spruce with a sandstone plinth.
Ms Lumley, who is the trust’s patron, said: “I am absolutely delighted to be here today to be part of this fantastic achievement. The statue is absolutely wonderful and a real delight for the town and people of Dumfries. I am amazed by it.”
PPMBT project development director Cathy Agnew said: “It was terrific with more than 150 people at the unveiling. Joanna was in terrific form, full of admiration for the project and thrilled to unveil the statue.
“The People’s Project has worked for three years on the idea of having a statue on the bypass to alert the public to Dumfries’s association with J.M. Barrie and Peter Pan and it’s great it has come to fruition today.
“It is so good that the trust and the People’s Project are working together to promote Dumfries as the birthplace of Peter Pan.”
The People’s Project is a campaigning organisation promoting Dumfries and Galloway.
Mark Jardine, chairman of the People’s Project, said: “Joanna was absolutely fantastic and it is great to have her on board to promote Peter Pan and Dumfries and Galloway.”
The trust was set up in August 2009 after it was announced that Moat Brae would be pulled down to make way for housing because it had fallen into disrepair. An action group was formed by residents who successfully campaigned to save the building and garden from demolition. The trust eventually bought the site from Loreburn Housing Association.
Fundraising is the first stage of the project. The PPMBT said it hopes to open a fully restored building and garden in 2015.
Plans include a Peter Pan experience exhibition, a children’s library and opportunities to house literary residencies and arts activities that celebrate and promote children’s literature.
There are also plans for a Neverland outdoor play area where “every plant will tell a story”, as well as a café and shop within the house.