The Forres Heritage Trust is encouraging people to become volunteers to give visitors a friendly welcome.
The FHT which owns the Tolbooth and looks after Nelson’s Tower needs more people to help when the buildings open to visitors at the end of March.
The Trust stresses that the onus on volunteers is to be welcoming and that it’s not necessary to have a huge knowledge of the buildings’ history and heritage.
To help encourage more people, they will be holding four drop-in sessions next month, where people can find out more about what is involved.
Peter Haworth a trustee, who helps to coordinate the volunteers said: “It’s such a rewarding thing to do. We meet so many people from all over the world and all we need are people to give them a fantastic, warm Forresian welcome. The Tower is very much a self-guided tour, with the visitor scaling the steps so they can enjoy the views. We do provide volunteers with information packs if they wish to learn more about the building, but what we really need are people on hand just to say hello. The volunteering is not onerous and is a lot of fun.”
Nelson’s Tower will officially open for the season on Saturday, March 29. It is then open every day from 2-4pm through to the end of September.
Of interest, after a sell-out success in February when the Trust trialled opening Nelson’s Tower in the evening, it will once again be open from 7pm on March 29 as Peter explained: “We were absolutely thrilled that our first evening opening of the Tower was a sell out, so we are doing it again at the start of the season. It’s a fantastic experience and gives a very different view of Forres and of course the skies.”
Nelson’s Tower was built by public subscription as a memorial to Admiral Lord Nelson, with the foundation stone being laid by James Brodie of Brodie on the 26 August 1806. It is owned by Moray Council, but is looked after by the Heritage Trust.
Preparations to open the Tolbooth for tours are being put in place. Over the last three years the Trust has offered tours of the historic building which take visitors on a journey from the old police office and cells through the back corridors, up via a room where you can enjoy a model of the old Forres railway and station and then head into the courtroom. The visit is then finished outside, on the parapet of the clocktower where people can enjoy views over the town.
George Alexander, chairman of the FHT said: “As Peter has said, people do not need to have a vast historical knowledge. The volunteers at both buildings are there to be friendly and make sure people have a nice experience. The current volunteers and trustees will provide help to those who do offer to lend a hand, and anyone new coming to volunteer will be paired with someone who has previously helped us.”
The drop-in days will take place in the Tolbooth on Friday, March 7 from 2-4pm, Saturday, March 8 from 10am to midday, Friday, March 14 from 2-4pm and Saturday, March 25 from 10am to midday.
You can also email Peter at FHTvolunteers@outlook.com.