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REVEALED: New Ullapool landmark welcome sign unveiled by the world's strongest man Tom Stoltman as tribute to village's fishing port heritage


By Iona M.J. MacDonald

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THE eagerly anticipated unveiling of a long-awaited new welcome sign in a Wester Ross community proved a big attraction at the weekend.

Designed by Jason Paterson and unveiled by World's Strongest Man double title winner Tom Stoltman, the Ullapool sculpture was the brainchild of a local group which promotes the area.

Welcome Ullapool, which has the key goals of promoting the area and helping the village thrive, took on its biggest project to date with the new signs at its entrance points.

The idea first came about in April 2018. Mr Paterson, who has worked with the creator of Falkirk's iconic Kelpies, was commisioned in 2019.

RELATED: Will this be the smartest welcome sign in Ross-shire?

But due to delays associated with the Covid-19 pandemic, the project's timescale was inevitably hampered.

The new Welcome Ullapool sign designed by Jason Patterson
The new Welcome Ullapool sign designed by Jason Patterson

Chairperson of Welcome Ullapool, Diane Rusling said: "The signs will attract more people to the village. I think its going to be somewhere for people to take photographs and that will publicise the village and businesses.

"It's such a big sculpture that people will want to take photos of it. The stone is different on the two different signs on entering the village, and that represents the geological fault in the village, the local stone and sculpture is depicting how Ullapool was founded as a fishing port."

Mr Paterson said: "It took eight weeks per sculpture, and was designed in about four hours. The sculpture is based on Ullapool's heritage of fishing and the 'silver darlings' [a reference to herring fishing]."

The sculpture is on a metre-high stone structure with the word ‘Ullapool’ in metal letters on the stone. There will be lights shining upwards through the fish and on the village name. The majority of the money was raised through Welcome Ullapool.

Mr Paterson has worked on many projects but is known for creating the big 'G' for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2014.

He said: "I'd like to thank the people of Ullapool for putting their faith in me. I hope it brings joy to all who see it every day."

He also wrote a poem for the event, about his love for the natural scenic beauty, and sounds of the Highland village, and his experience of creating the sculpture for Ullapool.

The new sign takes inspiration from Ullapool's fishing heritage
The new sign takes inspiration from Ullapool's fishing heritage

Tom Stoltman made the trip across from Invergordon for the ribbon cutting at the ceremony.

He said: "Thank you Ullapool for the support. It's a privilege to be here and I hope you guys like this."


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