News

Forres town centre is now all lit up after a team of volunteers spent the day erecting the festive lights.

The usual annual event where crowds gather to countdown the lights being switched on had to be cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions.

However, the Christmas Lights Committee was determined to still spread some joy to the people of Forres and the lights were switched on at the weekend without the usual pomp and ceremony.

Alan Hunter, chairman of the committee said: “Never did we think that we would be have to switch the lights on in secret, but it was the only way to do it safely and we are delighted that they are now up and on.

“It was massively important to us that the lights still got switched on this year, possibly more than any other year as we need something that will cheer up these dark nights.

“There is nothing that we would have loved more than to have been able to have our usual community event, but unfortunately like so many other important Forres events, this year it was not to be.”

Traditionally the lights have always been switched on, on the last Saturday of November with crowds congregating at the Tolbooth around the Christmas which is donated by Moray Estates and delivered by Tommy Gill.

Last year’s event included a Christmas market in the town hall, a fancy-dress parade, Elgin City Band, the Forres and District Junior Pipe Band, Kinloss Military Wives Choir and performances from pupils from the town’s schools.

“Over the last two years we have started to expand on what we offer to the community,” explained Alan. “We had hoped that we would be able to add some extra excitement to this year’s event. However, we are just delighted that the lights are up and we will all have to make sure that in 2021, we come back bigger than ever before. I want to thank every single volunteer who gave up their time.”

Over 20 volunteers spent over nine hours ensuring the lights were erected. Their work was supported by AJ Engineering who donated the use of a cherry picker operated by director and general manager Graham Alexander whilst the Forres Heritage Trust which looks after the Tolbooth allowed the volunteers to use the courtroom as a base for refreshments throughout the day.

Malcolm Simmons who was volunteering for the first time said: “It was a fun day and good to do something for the community as well as lend a hand to those who have been working hard to put up the Christmas lights for many years.

“As a family we always attend the switching on of the lights, so I felt it was important for me to give something back to the community and helping with the Christmas lights was the perfect opportunity to do something that everyone in Forres can enjoy.”  

A £50,000 investment to create a new tourist attraction at a Moray landmark is well under way with the building undergoing significant works.

Scaffolding has been erected around the Forres Tolbooth in what marks Phase 2 of a project to open up the walkway around the clocktower to establish a new visitor attraction for the region.

The project is being funded by the Forres Heritage Trust who own the Tolbooth with other monies being secured from the Berry Burn Community Fund which allocated £20,000 and the Town centre Regeneration Fund which gave £9375.               

The latest works involve fixing the leadworks and stonework pointing of the wall around the clocktower.

George Alexander, chairman of the Trust which also looks after Nelson’s Tower said these works are the most significant to take place in 25 years.

“The Trust is working tirelessly to ensure the future of the Tolbooth and we have done extensive work internally to restore the court room and the old police office and cells amongst other works.

“However, this is the first time since the mid-1990s that any significant work has been carried out to the external part of the building. The walkway around the four faces of the clock is lined with lead supported by a wooden structure. Water has seeped in and the wood has rotted over time which means the lead is sinking. This will need to be replaced. We also need to clean out the joints between the stone blocks on the turret itself and put new mortar in place.”

Mr Alexander added: “When the scaffolding was erected we discovered there was more work required than we had first thought, further up the tower and the Trust has taken the decision to just plough on with that work. We want to ensure that this building which has such huge historical significance for the town and indeed the region is looked after and therefore is here for many more years to come.”

AJ Engineering has already fabricated and installed a new internal steel stairway which will give access to the walkway and Mr Alexander hopes that the whole project will be complete for the main tourist season in 2021.

“The end result of all of this work and investment is that we create a landmark that drives footfall to the town and Moray. We already have a fabulous offering in Forres what with Grant Park, Cluny Hill and Nelson’s Tower, a beautiful High Street and other attractions right on our doorstep. This latest project is only going to add to that.”

Hidden in the depths of Forres Tolbooth are the town’s old police office and cells.
In this tour as part of Doors Open Day, Trustee Sandra MacIver will turn you into a virtual criminal as you are taken from the historic police office to the cells!
This tour has not yet opened to the public so this is your chance to get a first look at this exciting piece of Forres’ history. Ideal for kids!

Standing high on Cluny Hill, Nelson’s Tower looks down, with some presence, over Forres.

And because the building is closed right now, the Forres Heritage Trust which looks after the monument wanted to ensure that you can still get a chance to take in the stunning view from the top of the tower in the virtual tour.

Learn about how and why Nelson’s Tower was erected as a memorial to Admiral Lord Nelson. Get a look into each of the Tower’s rooms before emerging from the staircase to that breath-taking landscape.

Delve into its history in a virtual tour as part of Doors Open Day, led by Trustee David MacFarquhar.

The Forres Heritage Trust is going virtual to ensure it still has a role in Doors Open Day which will take place online this weekend.

Doors Open Days is a Scotland-wide event run throughout September and usually buildings open their doors to the public.

However, this year, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the event is going online and the Trust was delighted to work with local film company Flying Mirrors to create three tours.

The short films will feature Trustees doing tours of Nelson’s Tower, the Tolbooth and its ongoing clock tower project, and the Tolbooth police office and cells project which has yet to be opened to the public.

The films will be promoted on the Trust website and scheduled to run as via the Facebook page during Sep 19.

Trust chairman George Alexander said: “We are delighted that we are able to still take part in Doors Open Day as it has always been a very popular event for the Trust.

“In 2019, we reported the best ever footfall to the monuments in eight years and whilst we are sad that things have been very different this year, and we have been unable to welcome locals and tourists alike into the buildings, doing a virtual doors open day still enables us to shine a spotlight not only on the wonderful history and stories these buildings hold, but also the great amount of work that goes into the upkeep of the buildings by our Trustees.”

He added: “We are also hoping that the films may be of interest from Forres folk who have maybe moved away, so there are some advantages of being able to do something online.

“Taking part in the films was something new for us, but we have seen making the short tour films as an investment as we will be able to use them to market the buildings at other times as well.

“We were delighted that our Trustees agreed to get involved and thank the three ‘tour guides’ who were happy to appear in front of the camera.”

The Tours

Nelson’s Tower

Standing high on Cluny Hill, Nelson’s Tower looks down, with some presence, over Forres. And just because the building  is closed right now, the Forres Heritage Trust which looks after the monument wanted to ensure that you can still get a chance to take in the stunning view from the top of the tower in the virtual tour.

Learn about how and why Nelson’s Tower was erected as a memorial to Admiral Lord Nelson. Get a look into each of the Tower’s rooms before emerging from the staircase to that breath-taking landscape.

Delve into its history in a virtual tour led by Trustee David MacFarquhar.

The tour will be shown on the Forres Heritage Trust Facebook page and here on the website at 10am.

Forres Tolbooth – Two virtual tours

Built in 1838/39 on the site of the existing Tolbooth which has been in existence for over 800 years.

Looked after by the Forres Heritage Trust, the main features at the Tolbooth include historic paintings, a recently renovated court room, a police office and cells and the latest project which is underway is the renovation of the historic clock tower which will become a tourist attraction where visitors will be able to access the walkway around the clock face giving way to stunning views across the town of Forres.

Join two virtual tours of the Tolbooth on Doors Open Day.

Become a virtual criminal: Get a glimpse into the police office and cells tour led by Trustee Sandra MacIver. This tour has not yet opened to the public so this is your chance to get a first look at this exciting piece of Forres’ history. Ideal for kids!

4pm via the Forres Heritage Trust Facebook page and website

Tour the Tolbooth: Led by Trust chairman George Alexander, you can sit back and relax whilst George takes you off the High Street to show you around the wonders of this historic building which stands proud in the centre of Forres.

18.30 via the Forres Heritage Facebook page and website

A fresh lick of paint is being applied to the famous cannons which stand proud either side of the entrance to Nelson’s Tower.

The decision to repaint the cannons was taken some time ago, but due to Covid-19, the project was put on hold.

However, volunteer Jim Grant has now got the painting off the ground with the cannons being repainted black and an undercoat has been applied to the trolleys.

The plan to make the trolleys similar to the cannon on HMS Victory – a yellowish gold colour, however supply of this specialist paint is difficult, again due to the effects of Covid-19.