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Rosemarkie rises to Halloween challenge as coronavirus and Donald Trump inspire Black Isle pumpkin creations


By Hector MacKenzie

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No prizes for guessing the inspiration for this onee...
No prizes for guessing the inspiration for this onee...

THERE were a few double takes at one of the spookiest times of the year in a Black Isle village this year.

And for once – thanks to the coronavirus crisis – it had nothing to do with ghoulish guisers who had been asked to stay at home this year to help curb the spread of Covid-19.

Rosemarkie's Beach Cafe, which had over the years established a popular tradition of pumpkin parades, revisited its competition this year and asked locals to get creative closer to home.

Creativity aplenty was shown.
Creativity aplenty was shown.

That resulted in a quirky pumpkin trail which challenged households to come up with their own creations across a variety of categories and display them where folk could see them.

Amongst the head-turners was a representation of a certain Donald Trump who has been in the headlines almost as much as coronavirus during this strangest of years.

He was created by the Fea family, prompting plenty of smiles from everyone who spotted him. America's most notorious individual was however trumped by Zander Ferguson's Jack Skellington in the Famous Person category.

Judges were challenged by the weather with some creations being taken indoors to avoid the worst of it, resulting in a few gaps in the photographic record.

The Rosemakrie Amenities Association declared Rosemarkie's Pumpkin Trail "a howling success".

Anne Phillips said: "The community rose to the challenge of an event within Covid-19 guidance so pumpkins were displayed in windows and gardens while the judges walked around in the rain.

"When the Halloween display on Manse Brae was dismantled, the whole pumpkins were distributed to be used as food and the straw bales went out for pet bedding – nothing wasted." She thanked everyone who took part and said the level of creativity was "stunning".

Spiders created by Rory and Islay Urquhart were adjudged scariest and under the catoegory 2020, Shona Leggatt NHS Three on a Bench got the nod. Grace Rafferty's originality was acknowledged.

Related: Rosemarkie tees up pumpkin challenge


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