Forres Local 
A young local girl will compete in a national horse riding competition after qualifying at a regional assessment. Sixteen-year-old Kyla Mantilla-Ross from Brodie entered in the Riding for the Disabled Regional Championships at Cranloch, Elgin, in May – and, with an impressive 67.9%, qualified for the National Championships in Gloucestershire in July. Sonia Howell, Chair … Read more
The Toun Mercat was as popular as ever today (Friday) as it returned to the town centre for the first time since 2018. Crowds filled the street, which was closed to traffic between 5pm and 9pm, and there was dozens of stalls lining the road, with entertainment from the Forres and District Pipe Band and … Read more
A flaming beacon burned on Findhorn Beach last night to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. A large crowd gathered to watch as the flaming torch burned against the backdrop of a fiery sunset and the sound of the Kinloss Military Wives Choir singing a specially-written song ‘A Life Lived with Grace’. The Findhorn Village Conservation … Read more
Business owners in Forres have prepared a royal welcome for everyone this week as the nation celebrates the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. A range of events will take place in the town including the ever-popular Toun Mercat. See this link for full listings of all Forres Platinum Jubilee events (including Findhorn, Rafford and Brodie)
A summer mix of culture and horticulture that aims to encourage people to have fun while growing in pop-up gardens has launched. The ‘Unexpected Garden’ will encourage people in Forres to get together to share food, music and ideas as part of of a partnership between Dandelion, the Scotland-wide creative growing initiative and local organisation … Read more
A couple who gave up a busy cafe to spend more time with their family are back in the kitchen baking their trademark cakes. Gill and Weller de Oliveira, who ran the Olive Tree Cafe for 12 years at Logie Steading, left in February to decide on their next move. The couple ran the popular … Read more
A man who has collected hundreds of ceramic ornaments over a quarter of a century will open a shop this week on Forres high street to sell them off. Ray McDonald, who many know as the founder of Ray’s Opportunities charity, will open his new shop called Keepsakes at 20 High Street on Friday (13 … Read more
Orbex has unveiled the first full-scale prototype of a space rocket on its dedicated launch pad at Kinloss. Locals recently reported mysterious lights and smoke emanating from the forest to the east of the Kinloss Barracks site shrouded in trees. Now Orbex has released pictures of the rocket where it is undergoing ‘dress rehearsals’ before … Read more
Four new councillors have been declared for Forres (ward 8) following the local elections yesterday (5 May). They are: Scott Lawrence (SNP) Kathleen Robertson (Conservative) Paul McBain (Conservative) Dræyk van der Hørn (Green) The two unsuccessful candidates were: James Hynam (Labour) Shaun Moat (Independent) The electorate is 12,511and the turnout was 6126 (49%). We congratulate … Read more
A woman who started a boutique patisserie while she was bored of staying at home during the pandemic, has expanded to open a coffee shop where the views are as divine as the cakes. Katie Urquhart said she has had the idea for years, and dreamed of the venture while working as a European Fisheries … Read more