Highland filmmaker brings lockdown carpet bowls 'championship' to screen – direct from his hallway!
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A Highland couple are making the most of the lockdown by hosting a carpet bowling 'championship' in their hallway.
Film maker Erik Spence, and wife Margaret, a keen champion bowler, set about to ease the pandemic boredom by competing for the Colvadale Championship Cup.
Mr Spence then filmed, commentated and edited the footage for his friends on Facebook, calling it Colvadale Clips – which has now become a sensation.
Mr Spence (74), a former MFR, Grampian TV and BBC film maker said making the video, and posting clips from footage over his decades long career in journalism - were a "bit of a project", but already they have brought smiles all round from friends and family.
Mr Spence, also a superb musician and regular band member around the city, said the whole championship idea started when he was looking for a gift for wife Margaret for Christmas.
Mr Spence said: "Margaret is a keen bowler and it has been a non-starter for her this last year.
"At Christmas I saw an indoor carpet bowls set on the internet and I put it under the tree. Margaret very kindly pretended she didn't know what it was, but I think perhaps she had an inkling.
"We have the space in the house and we have the hallway that is long enough for a championship. So that is where the idea for the Colvadale Championship Cup came from.
He added: "Our house is named Colvadale, it was the place my family are from in Shetland and nearly every house I have lived in has been Colvadale."
The wonderfully shot video then expertly narrates the event, and of course names the Colvadale Championship Cup winner - Margaret Spence.
Mrs Spence is shown holding her trophy with a wry smile.
Mr Spence explained that he started his career in Oban at The Oban Times, before joining the civil service for 10 years. He then rejoined The Oban Times, before joining the staff at Moray Firth Radio. He then started to work as a freelance film-maker working regularly for the BBC in the Highlands and Grampian TV. He laughed: "I had a foot in every camp."
Mr Spence worked up until the last few years.
He has shared wonderful clips from his career including from the Highland Accordion Club, snow on the A9, Up Helly Aa among many delightful pieces of footage.
Mr Spence is known for his 'can do attitude', even convincing a team of speaking, and non-speaking Gaelic journalists to enter a competition in the Royal National Mod.
His enthusiasm for music saw him present an outstanding concert during the last Royal National Mod held in Inverness, while also playing for crowds in Hootenanay's.
Four years ago, Mr Spence took up the chanter, an instrument he has always wanted to learn, and until the pandemic was going for lessons at the Piping Centre in Glasgow.
He is still a member of the "Thursday Club" with former colleagues and fellow journalists in Oban, and when the restrictions allow he hopes to visit the town again.
To see the clips visit https://www.facebook.com/erik.spence.77
