NEWS UPDATE

HE CAME, HE SAW, HE CONQUERED!

25 November 2009

He came, he saw, he conquered our hearts. Huge crowds of people turned out to welcome the gentle giant into our midst. It was a day that will never be forgotten, especially by the children who might have been expeceted to be frightened of such a Big Man. In fact the youngsters appeared completely enthralled and even the adults seemed to be besotted by him.

20 OCTOBER - THE BIG MAN COMETH!

08 September 2009

IMAGINE AN 8 METRE HIGH MAN WALKING THROUGH THE STREETS OF INVERGORDON! LEARN MORE ABOUT HIM - VISIT HIS WEBSITE. www.bigmanwalking.com

View Site >>>

INVERGORDON OFF THE WALL HITS ART LOTTO JACKPOT!

21 April 2009

Invergordon reinforced its reputation as the public art capital of the Highlands with the award of almost £200,000 for a brand new venture. The lottery windfall could see Invergordon boasting a public art work.
Invergordon off the Wall has been awarded an initial £9.960 from the Scottish Arts Council with a total of £199,370 ring fenced for public art in the town as the community brings forward ideas.
Invergordon off the Wall has already raised in excess of £120,000 for the Invergordon Mural Trail which depicts giant colourful local scenes painted on the walls of buildings in the town.
We are now proud to unveil ‘Evolution’, a successor to the mural project which will see even more public art created in Invergordon.
Marion Rhind, Vice Chair, said’ We had thought of a guideline of 3 to 5 pieces of art, but it depends on what people come up with during the public consultation. If they would prefer one major piece of art which would be really stunning, we will look at doing that. We want to look at exploring other forms of art, perhaps involving large mosaic, ceramics, light installations and sculptures. It is a chance for us to make a mark and do something just that bit different’.
Sonny Rhind, Treasurer, said ‘We have to seek some partnership funding, but this is a fabulous start. We want to introduce variety to the project and we also want to build on the model that Invergordon off the Wall used as that of art being a catalyst for community cohesion.
Consultation will be held with the local community, as well as visitors to the town, to find out what kind of art they would like to see created.
The project was one of 16 arts ventures out of more than 170 applications across Scotland chosen to receive funding from the Scottish Arts Council’s Inspire Fund.

STATION MURAL SHORTLISTED FOR PRESTIGIOUS AWARD

03 September 2008

Invergordon Railway Station Mural which is a lasting tribute to the Seaforth Highlanders has been shortlisted jointly with Prestonpans to receive the award for station art. The awards ceremony takes place in Plymouth on 19 September 2008.

INVERGORDON MURALS BOOKLET

25 June 2008

Our long awaited mural information booklet is now available, complete with artist Tracey Shough's colourful map of the mural heritage trail.

MURAL DVD NOW AVAILABLE!!

10 April 2008

OFF THE WALL: ON THE MAP

DVD now available to buy for £6 at Noreen's & Kelly's 70 High Street Invergordon IV18 0JX Telephone 01349 852479

LOCAL FILM TO BE SHOWN AT EDEN COURT!!!!

05 March 2008

Invergordon Off the Wall: On the Map, the new film about the making of the Invergordon mural trail will be showing at Eden Court in Inverness

2pm Saturday 29th March 2008

Tickets are FREE and will be available at Noreen and Kelly’s shop in Invergordon or phone 01349 852479 from 11.30 am – 4pm or 07914 725460 to reserve your tickets.

The film has also been show to representatives from community groups in Brora and received very positive feedback.

An extract was also shown at the Highland Council Tourism Seminar in December 2007 to great acclaim.

FLEET FESTIVAL - 15 SEPTEMBER 2007 COME AND PARTY!

03 August 2007

Keep this date free. There will be a series of exciting events which will include The Royal Marine Band. WATCH THIS SPACE for further news!

FIRE! FIRE! STARTS THIS WEEK!

24 June 2007

Anna Smith who painted the 'Pipes and Drams' mural is back in town to start on the Fire! Fire! mural. The community group involved in the design is, appropriately enough, the fire brigade

COME AND JOIN US - BE OUR FRIEND!

17 June 2007

Do you have the interests of Invergordon at heart?

Would you like regular updates on what is happening in Invergordon and in particular updates on the mural and station projects?

By becoming a friend of Invergordon off the Wall you will benefit by meeting with like minded people with a common objective - to improve Invergordon for the people who live in the town as well as help attact more tourists to the town.

We are looking for people who support our aims and objectives and who want to contribute to the regeneration of Invergordon.

Become a FRIEND - great things are happening over the next few months in Invergordon - be a part of this exciting venture.

CAN YOU ORGANISE A FESTIVAL?

25 May 2007

FESTIVAL CO-ORDINATOR - INVITATION TO TENDER

Professional event co-ordinator wanted to deliver Invergordon's Fleet Festival 15 September 2007.
Experience co-ordinating parades, marketing events and the ability to lead on the day are all desirable attributes.
Please call 01862 842927 for the festival co-ordinator pack. The closing date for entries is 5pm Friday 8 June, 2007.

BRING ALONG A MEMORY!

20 May 2007

Do you remember:

The Royal Hotel?
The "Waterless Fountain"?
The Town Crier?
The Royal Marine Band

Come along on Saturday 26 May to the Museum, between 10am and 12 noon and, over refreshments provided by Invergordon Business Association, share your memories of Invergordon High Street in days gone by.

ALAN'S BACK IN TOWN

09 May 2007

Alan Potter has made a start on the "Century of Sport" mural. The design is fantastic and hopefully will appear on the website soon.

If you call in for fuel at QI petrol pumps, you can't miss it!

DO YOU HAVE ANY SPORTING MEMORIES?

29 April 2007

Invergordon’s Century of Sport mural starts next week with the arrival of artist, Alan Potter, for a reminiscence evening at 7pm until 8-30pm Monday 30th April.

The Century of Sport mural group hopes to gather stories and copy photographs from people with memories of football, rugby, sailing, bowling, tennis and cricket in Invergordon during the last century.

These will help local sports groups working with Alan, to create a design for the mural to be located next to the Q8 garage in Invergordon. Invergordon Off the Wall and Invergordon Museum will be looking out for stories to record as part of a joint oral history project for Invergordon.

Do you remember sports games between the navy and the army at the recreation grounds? Or sailors bowling? Are you one of the people who remember people Highland dancing on the pontoons at the Sailing Regattas? Do you have photographs of any sports clothing from the past century? Did you play at the tennis courts when they were in use? Do you have a photo of the old cricket pavilion? Do you have memories of playing golf in the past and what people used to wear? Do you remember the outdoor swimming pool in Invergordon and have any memories of this time?

Come along on Monday evening or contact Helen on 01862 842927 and we can arrange to catch up with you another time.

HERITAGE OF THE FIRTH MURAL OFFICIAL OPENING

10 November 2006

On a very wet Saturday, 28 October 2006, a large crowd witnessed the offical opening of the Heritage of the Firth mural at the Invergordon Naval Museum and Heritage Centre.

Sonny Rhind, a committee member of Invergordon off the Wall, read out an email he had received from the artist Steve des Landes, outlining his thinking and interpretation of the six panels.

In his speech, Mr Rhind congratulated the members of the museum board and volunteers on the creation of the Invergordon hospital and the Invergordon Mutiny exhibitions which were also being opened that day.

"GATHER ROUND"

08 October 2006

Despite the atrocious weather a large crowd gathered round for the official opening and naming of two of our recently completed murals on Sunday 1 October.
"Gather Round" was the name chosen for the mural depicting the Invergordon Highland Games.

Cutting the ribbon was Sheila Burgess, whose late husband Pipe Major John D Burgess is portrayed as the lone piper.

Sheila said she was very proud that John had been singled out for this honour and that Alan Potter had created a very good likeness.

"OUR LEGACY"

08 October 2006

Despite the atrocious weather a large crowd gathered round for the official opening and naming of two of our recently completed murals on Sunday 1 October.

"Our Legacy" was the name chosen for the mural depicting the Natural Heritage of the Firth. A group of primary school children who had entered a competition for the prize of actually working with the artist Tracey Shough, attended the ceremony.

The experience of helping to create such a striking piece of art and the environmental message taught by Tracey will be a memory to treasure.

Each child was presented with a scroll and a medal by Green Party MSP Dr Eleanor Scott to commemmorate the occasion.

NAMING CEREMONY OF NEW MURALS

26 September 2006

On Sunday, 1 October 2006, two of our mural groups will be 'unveiling' and naming their mural.

The Highland Games Group and the South Lodge Community Group jointly briefed the artist Alan Potter for the Highland Games Mural sited on the gable wall of the launderette at the corner of Castle Road and the High Street.

The Invergordon Environment group briefed artist Tracey Shough for the Natural Heritage of the Firth mural which is sited on the gable wall of Albyn Housing Society Limited in Miller Street.

The ceremonies will commence at 2:00pm at the Highland Games mural, followed at 2:30pm at the Natural Heritage of the Firth mural.

PRIZEWINNERS' PAINTING WEEKEND

23 September 2006

In June, primary school children from Park School, South Lodge School and Newmore School were invited to draw a picture depicting the firth. The prize for the winners was the opportunity to work with the commissioned artist Tracey Shough.

The Natural History of the Firth mural came first in the community vote - Invergordon Environment Group were the community group involved in briefing the artist.

On Sunday, 20 August 2006, the twenty-four winners joined Tracey on a nature walk at Foulis Ferry. This was followed by two workshops with Tracey, developing their ideas for the mural: it was the children's idea to place a bird's nest on top of the burglar alarm.

Last weekend, the children in small groups each had one hour on Saturday and one hour on Sunday painting the mural - great fun for them, an experience to treasure.

The mural is sited on the gable wall of Albyn Housing Society Limited on Miller Street, Invergordon

MURAL PROGRESS

30 August 2006

All four artists are now on site.

To view other photographs of the Distillery Pipe Band mural click here.
To view other photographs of the Highland Games muralclick here.
To view other photographs of the Heritage of the Firth mural click here.
To view other photographs of the Natural History of the Firth click here.

CHILDREN'S ART COMPETITION

23 August 2006

Children from the three local primary schools were invited to draw a picture depicting the wildlife of the Cromarty Firth. To view the winners'drawings, please click here.

DISTILLERY PIPE BAND MURAL

09 August 2006

Anna and her assistant Lucy have started work on the Distillery Pipe Band mural on Noreen's & Kelly's gable.

ARTISTS HIT TOWN!

06 August 2006

Invergordon is set to burst into colour this week as four artists start work on their appointed murals.

First to start will be Alan Potter, who is working closely with the Highland Games Committee on their mural, which is to be positioned on the launderette gable, very appropriately, as it will be seen by everybody en route to the games - the draft design looks quite stunning!

Last year Alan was commissioned to create a mosaic at the entrance of the new County Hospital building with which many will be familiar. He has set himself a very high standard with this - it is simply quite beautiful.

Anna Smith, the artist selected to paint the Distillery Pipe Band mural, is to start work on Noreen’s & Kelly’s gable. Anna and her assistant arrived on Friday evening.They are working with the Social Club Group and some of the original band members, who are involved in the design process.

Steve des Landes returns this week to continue work with the museum group. He has the Herculean task of depicting the Heritage of the Firth, which will adorn the six panels on the south side of the museum, the former Royal British Legion. We’re quite sure he’s up to the challenge, and Steve will be working closely with the Heritage Group who will help with all the facts and figures. Rumour has it that he is at this very moment holed up somewhere frantically reading up on “This Noble Harbour”.

Last, but by no means least, Tracey Shough, who is passionate about the environment, is to create the mural entitled 'The Natural Heritage of the Firth', which will be on the wall of the newly upgraded Albyn Housing office. While she is here, Tracey, who has spent the last five years running mural projects and other art workshops for schools, youth groups etc, will run one or two workshops for local children. The Environment Group was the obvious choice to collaborate with Tracey in the design process.

So, four murals started in four weeks and Invergordon will have entered this transforming new phase.

Next year Alan Potter, Steve des Landes and Ken White will be returning to Invergordon to create three more murals, namely, A Century of Sport, Fire! Fire! And Saltburn’s Past.

The High Street mural is still in the melting pot.

If anyone locally captures any good pictures of the process be sure to send them into the web site ://www.invergordonoffthewall.co.uk

ARTISTS’ RESULTS

06 August 2006

On Saturday 20 May, Invergordon off the Wall, together with representatives from the Community Groups involved, interviewed the ten artists who had been shortlisted from an impressive list of applicants.

After great deliberation the following are the results of the interviews:

Distillery Pipe Band - Anna Smith

Highland Games - Alan Potter

Century of Sport - Alan Potter

Heritage of the Firth - Steve des Landes

Fire! Fire! - Steve des Landes

Natural Heritage of the Firth - Tracey Shough

Saltburn’s Past - Ken White

The decision on the Invergordon High Street mural will be made at a later date.

VISIT OF INTERNATIONAL ARTIST KARL SCHUTZ

28 July 2006

International artist, Karl Schulz, who was the motivating force and the instigator of the now world-famous Chemainus mural trail, is going to visit Invergordon whilst he’s here in Scotland for the Global Arts Festival.

He will be giving a series of talks. Come along to the Invergordon Arts Centre on Friday, 11 August 2006 at 7:30pm to hear this inspirational speaker. There is no charge and all are welcome.

Global Arts Festival

28 July 2006

In August an array of artists and community groups from all over the world will descend on Prestonpans, which is this year, hosting the prestigious Global Arts Festival.

Invergordon off the Wall has been invited to make a presentation about the Invergordon Mural Project - a real feather in our caps.

2006 GLOBAL MURAL CONFERENCE,
August 15th - 19th, will be in Prestonpans, Scotland

2008 GLOBAL MURAL CONFERENCE,
Sheffield, Tasmania, Australia

Artist Interviews - Watch this space for results!

14 June 2006

On Saturday 20 May, Invergordon off the Wall, together with representatives from the Community Groups involved, interviewed the ten artists who had been shortlisted from an impressive list of applicants.

It was run in the form of a speed dating session, the artists spending about 15 minutes with each group and then moving on to the next. Although it was an exhausting process and probably very nerve wracking for the artists, there was a real buzz about the place and everybody enjoyed the day.

Channel 4 Big Art Project - Results!

12 April 2006

Thanks to the number of nominations from people far and wide, Invergordon were successful in reaching the shortlist of 12 communities bidding for the Channel 4 Big Art Project.

The six projects chosen were as follows:-

Isle of Mull, Scotland

Waterworks Park, North Belfast, Northern Ireland

Burnley, Lancashire

Prince Charles Quay, Cardigan, Wales

Cooling Towers, Sheffield

Beckton Alps, East London

Congratulations to Mull, the only successful Scottish application.

We look forward to following the progress of these communities when the programme is televised in autumn 2007.

Invergordon Community Vote for Murals - RESULTS!

17 March 2006

Invergordon Community Vote for Murals!

The votes have been cast, the totals added up and now the themes of the next 8 Invergordon murals have been chosen by the local community! Invergordon Off the Wall asked the people of Invergordon to vote for their favourite ideas for the town’s evolving heritage mural trail. Different local community groups put forward ideas for heritage-themed murals and then the voting commenced.

A public voting day took place at the end of September at the Invergordon Arts Centre and 161 people attended the event to cast their votes and offer their comments. People mingled over old photographs and reminisced about Invergordon’s varied past. Many people remembered the days when the Naval Fleet was in town and how busy and bustling the High Street became. Stories about how the shops have changed on the High Street over the years were talked about, and days spent at the old outdoor swimming pool. The town demonstrated their affection for the Cromarty Firth. A place which has seen many significant historical events in Invergordon’s history and whose deep anchorage has provided the opportunity for all this activity and a home for dolphins, seals and bird life.

Following on from the voting day, Invergordon Off the Wall took the proposed murals’ themes to Invergordon Academy where the young people in the area also had the opportunity to vote. South Lodge, Newmore and Park Primary Schools participated in drama workshops with Out of Eden’s drama worker, Islay McCrae, to explore the proposed themes through frozen mural style images and to vote for their favourites.

The final results have been collated and checked for us by CADISPA at Strathclyde University. The 8 winning mural ideas, in this order, are:

• The Natural History of the Firth (wildlife and geology)
• The Heritage of the Firth (early sailing boats, the Navy, the riggs)
• Invergordon High Street
• Invergordon Highland Games
• Fire! Fire! (famous landmarks which burned down in Invergordon – the Royal Hotel, the castle)
• A Century of Sport
• The Seaforths
• Saltburn

Invergordon Off the Wall is the community voluntary initiative co-ordinating the mural trail project. They nominated the Seaforths as a theme, but will seek out additional funding for this, allowing the next on the winners’ list to go ahead – the Pipe Band and Distillery.

The Invergordon Environment group suggested the Natural Heritage of the Cromarty Firth theme, and Maxine Smith, Chair of the group, said,

"The Environment Group were delighted to hear that Invergordon Off the Wall's public consultation about what Invergordon wanted to see as the next murals resulted in the Natural History of the Firth being chosen. The Cromarty Firth is steeped in nature with the dolphins, seals, cormorants, oyster catchers and all kinds of animals and mammals from the deepest sea to the highest mountain.

Our role as a voluntary group will be to work with Invergordon Off the Wall at the outset on the content and choosing a suitable location and artist. Hopefully, in time, the heritage mural trail will attract more tourists to the area and advertise Invergordon's natural assets of which there are many."

Invergordon Off the Wall will be working with winning mural groups to develop their ideas and to commission artists to paint the murals. The project is funded by the Heritage Lottery, Leader Plus and Ross and Cromarty Enterprise.

End Notes:

For further information, please contact Helen Kermode, Project Officer, Invergordon Off the Wall, 01349 853 221 (part-time office) or by email at hkermode@hotmail.com.

Invergordon in running for Channel 4 Big Art Project

18 February 2006

Channel 4 recently advertised for applications from community groups UK-wide as part of their search for six communities to be given nationwide coverage in an exciting new TV series they are launching in September 2007.

This advertisement came to our attention and, along with other enterprising people, we contacted Channel 4 Big Art’s project researchers and put in a bid for Invergordon. Out of hundreds of towns bidding Invergordon was short listed and on Monday 6th February Lucy, Isobel and Dominic from Channel 4 visited the town, interviewed and filmed local people and members of volunteer groups.

There were representatives not only from Off the Wall, but Invergordon Environment Group, Residents’ Associations, the Museum and Heritage Group, Invergordon Business Association, Invergordon Players, Invergordon Community Council, Saltburn Community Council and Association, local church representatives, members of the public, the Invergordon and District Initiative and R.A.C.E.

The Channel 4 representatives toured Invergordon High Street, visited the Museum and then the Town Hall where they carried out individual interviews and held a question and answer session, which was attended by around 30 people.

The idea behind the screening is to find a community which needs a helping hand with a project, which could have a wider impact on the area, in terms of producing a piece of “artwork”, which can range from anything from a sculpture, like the Angel of the North to a day of playlets symbolising something in the town’s history or culture.

It is aimed at bringing communities closer together with a common goal and looks favourably on towns that have already begun to regenerate themselves through volunteer group activity.

Dominic was keen to emphasise that these would be cutting edge documentaries on the impact of art on a community and its inhabitants and could not be categorised as reality TV.

Isobel, an independent curator and researcher for Channel 4 said that so far the team had been very impressed with the turn out and representation from the different volunteer groups and Invergordon seemed to have given it their best shot.

The team then had to rush off to their next destination, which remained a secret.

The final decision will be reached sometime in the next few weeks. If successful the project will commence on 31 March with 6 months of close work with the community to develop the suggestions and come up with a chosen art theme. Whatever is decided upon will be sustainable and the advertising on prime television that the town will receive from this will greatly assist the regeneration efforts of the town

MURAL ARTS TOWN HITS JACKPOT

25 February 2010

Inspiring Communities was developed during Summer 2008: Almost 300 applicants seeking over £51 million in support were offered the opportunity to be reconsidered against the Inspiring Communities criteria of connecting people and their communities through the arts and encouraging long-lasting links between people, places and ideas.

A major lottery award from Scottish Arts Council to develop 3 public artworks is a real coup for the people of Invergordon; the ‘Evolution’ project was one of only nine chosen.

Evolution - an arts explosion generating creative expression by attracting and engaging locals and visitors alike. This 18-month project will develop a series of functional public artworks rooted in the industrial history of Invergordon, reflecting the community’s past while building new creative skills in metal, stone and reflective mosaic. Amount awarded £200,739

CONSULTATION DEADLINE - 15 SEPTEMBER

08 September 2009

DEADLINE 15 SEPTEMBER - TIME’S RUNNING OUT.

HAVE YOU GIVEN US YOUR BRIGHT IDEA YET?

THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

FILL IN YOUR CARD TODAY AND RETURN TO IOTW SHOP AT 89 HIGH STREET INVERGORDON(put through letterbox)

EXTRA POSTCARDS CAN BE PICKED UP AT

INVERGORDON SERVICE POINT
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SOMERFIELDS
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INVERGORDON RECEIVES RAILWAY AWARD

21 April 2009

Our long-running community effort to brighten up our railway station with a mural depicting the historical World War 11 story of the Seaforth Highlanders at St. Valery has culminated in receiving the “Most improved station 2008” accolade.
Members of Invergordon off the Wall visited Inverness to accept the award from the Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership.
This award has been earned not only by the mural group but by the whole community.” Efforts to establish the Seaforths mural at Invergordon Station, one of a number in the town, began when local solicitor Janet Wilson worked to get three rail companies to enter into an agreement to keep the mural for 10 years, which was a condition of funding. Tracey Shough’s wonderful mural depicting the Seaforth’ journey involved input from local Seaforths and their families. Higher arts from Invergordon Academy designed and painted the railway posters.
We also received contributions of surveying work from Ewan Man of the Torrance Partnership.
Many local groups – including Invergordon Bowling Club, Invergordon Highland Games Committee, Invergordon WRI, 1st Invergordon Brownies, Old Town residents, Invergordon Environment Group, Birchwood Highland and Kilmuir and Easter Logie Guides – have been involved in adopting, planting, weeding and watering the planters at the station.
Our station is now welcoming, attractive and a great tribute to the Seaforths. A big thankyou to all who gave of their time freely to make our station one to be proud of and well deserving of this award.

THE SEAFORTH MURAL IN PROGRESS

04 October 2007

Artist Tracey Shough is currently in the process of painting a wonderful tribute to the Seaforth Highlanders at the Invergordon Railway Station.

ROYAL VISIT - 4 SEPTEMBER 2007

19 August 2007

Invergordon off the Wall are honoured and delighted to receive a royal visit from HRH The Princess Royal to launch the Invergordon Mural Trail.

FIRE! FIRE!

29 April 2007

Fire! Fire!

Another mural happening this summer is the Fire! Fire! mural which will be developed with the Invergordon Fire Brigade and children from the Invergordon Academy. Artist, Anna Smith, will be visiting at the end of May to discuss ideas with the groups involved, and they are looking for stories or photographs of fire fighting since the 1940s when the station was set up in Invergordon. This could include pictures of old uniforms during this time, badges, appliances, fire engines, and buildings before, during or after a fire.

Do you remember the fire at the Royal Hotel in Invergordon? Or what the hotel was like before the fire? Do you remember the fire at the old bone mill or the Grange?

Again, we hope to gather these stories and possibly record some of them as oral histories for future generations in partnership with Invergordon Museum.
Please contact Helen on 01862 842927 or drop off copies of photographs to Noreen and Kelly’s shop on the High Street.

CALLING ALL EX-SEAFORTHS

18 April 2007

Invergordon off the Wall has commissioned the artist Tracey Shough to paint a mural commemorating the part played by the Seaforth Highlanders in the Second World War. As the Seaforths left Invergordon from the railway station we feel that to be an appropriate site for the mural.

If you have any old photographs or reminiscences/information or would like to contribute in any way please contact our project officer Helen Kermode on 01862 842927 or secretary Ann Crawfor on 01349 852614 or email us at info@invergordonoffthewall.co.uk

P&J article: Children's choice to brighten up Invergordon

18 March 2006

Children in Easter Ross have been offering their ideas for new murals which will be painted on Invergordon walls to form a graphic heritage trail.
The community were asked to vote for their favourite ideas and now the next eight murals, which will be added to the town's evolving trail have been chosen.

The themes include the natural history and heritage of the Cromarty Firth, Highland Games and sport.

A public voting day took place at the end of September at the Invergordon Arts Centre and 161 people attended the event to cast their votes and offer their comments. Many people remembered the days when the Naval Fleet was in town and how busy and bustling the High Street became. Stories about how the shops have changed on the High Street over the years were talked about, and days spent at the old outdoor swimming pool. Following on from the voting day, Invergordon off the Wall took the proposed murals' themes to Invergordon Academy where the young people in the area also had the opportunity to vote. South Lodge, Newmore and Park Primary Schools participated in drama workshops with Out of Eden's drama worker, Islay McCrae, to explore the proposed themes through frozen mural style images and to vote for their favourites.

Invergordon off the Wall is the community voluntary initiative co-ordinating the mural trail project.

The Invergordon Environment group suggested the natural heritage of the Cromarty Firth theme, and Maxine Smith, chairwoman of the group said: "Our role as a voluntary group will be to work with Invergrodon off the Wall at the outset on the content and choosing a suitable location and artist. Hopefuly, in time, the heritage mural trail will attract more tourists to the area and advertise Invergordon's natural assets of which there are many".

Invergordon off the Wall will be working with winning mural groups to develop their ideas and commission artists to paint the murals. The project is funded by Heritage Lottery, Leader Plus and Ross and Cromarty Enterprise.

Lifeboat crew launches towns second mural

10 December 2005

The Invergordon off the wall project took a huge stride forward on Saturday 10 December 2005 when Captain Iain Dunderdale, the Lifeboat Operations Manager unveiled a mural depicting the work of the RNLI.

Renowned artist Ken White who painted the first mural "The Loch" also created the lifeboat mural on the gable end of Wilson Solicitor and Estate agents, which is the second of 10 murals planned for the town.

The mural "Volunteer Spirit", aptly named by the Invergordon lifeboat crew , was chosen to honour the men and women who give freely of their time in the service of the RNLI.
Photograph by Murray Macleod
Photograph by Murray Macleod
Change picture and info

A large crowd gathered to see coxswain Danny Coutts perform the "launch" in the traditional manner; the lifeboat crew added to the occasion by firing off red flares which created a dramatic display.

After the ceremony piper Angus Ross led the procession to the lifeboat premises for a welcome glass of mulled wine and mince pies.