Tain man inspired by success of fundraising labour of love tapestry for Highland Hospice is set to embark on a fresh challenge
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
AN Easter Ross man who created a stunning labour of love tapestry to help a charity close to his heart while he was shielding from coronavirus is now set to embark on another fundraising effort.
George Robinson, who lives on Rhynie Estate near Tain, put weeks of work into his creation consisting of 16,335 individual pieces of wool weaved together to form the scene of a Scottish forest waterfall.
People were invited to buy lucky draw tickets for the one-off to benefit Highland Hospice, chosen by Mr Robinson after he read reports that the fundraising vital for its operation had virtually ground to a halt during the long lockdown.
In the event, his effort raised a remarkable £3200.
Owner of the lucky ticket was David MacMaster, who lives in Dingwall. Mr Robinson handed over the tapestry to him recently.
Mr Robinson is now planning a second charity tapestry this time for a school for deaf children in Malawi that the Ross-Shire branches of the Freemasons supports.
The school, the Mountain View Deaf School, Malawi has also been devastated by a loss of charitable donations during the pandemic. The materials for the tapestry have been purchased and he hopes it will be auctioned in time for Christmas.
Mr Robinson (59), a member of Lodge Averon 866, said he watched all his brothers taking part in fundraising during the crisis and wanted to do his bit. Mr Robinson, who is retired through ill health, said: "During the lockdown I saw a lot of my Freemason brothers doing lots for charity. I was shielding so could not get out to support them, and I wanted to do something.
"I have made a few tapestries before so I ordered the materials and set about doing it. I hoped that I might be able to reach £500 with my fundraising - so you can imagine I am absolutely delighted with how much I eventually managed to make. We raised £3276, which is all going to Highland Hospice."
