A former military man who found himself suddenly homeless after the break-up of a relationship has revealed a vision to build a village of low-cost accommodation near Forres.
Robert Law stayed in the Royal Hotel for eight weeks when he separated from his partner, and he said this, combined with the arduous conditions he endured in the Gulf, gave him the idea.
Robert says he wants to build eco-friendly, glamping-style accommodation that helps homeless people gain independence, maintain social acceptance and provide work.
“Everyone deserves a roof over their head. Where the Royal has helped considerably, I want to take that one step further and create individuality rather than communal living, which will give people the ability to fend for themselves and stand on their own two feet.”
He said similar projects, such as the Cass Communiity Project in Detroit, USA and Social Bite in Edinburgh, are doing exactly what he thinks can be done in Moray, where homelessness is still an issue.
“I want to take elements of that, recreate it, twist it slightly, and bring that into Moray.”
Robert has started a fundraising campaign to raise £500,000, which will give him the abilty to buy land and start building the village.
Robert said the scheme would have two aspects, social and commercial, meaning that it could also serve as holiday accommodation and provide homeless people with work and a sense of wellbeing.
Robert is looking for donations, commercial support and sponsorship to raise awareness of his project, and said that it can still go ahead even if he doesn’t reach his financial target.
A confectionery company based in the Cairngorms believes Forres is the sweetest place to open its first new branch outside of Aviemore.
The Kilted Fudge Company opens its doors at 22 High Street today (Saturday 13 April) offering its own range of fudge, tablet, marshmallows, chocolate and ice cream.
The company, started five years ago by Chris Lewis and Steve Bruce, has been making and selling its fudge and tablet from its kitchen shop at Dalfaber Industrial Estate in Aviemore.
Director Chris Lewis said they looked at a lot of towns before settling on Forres.
“Forres is a historic town. It’s situated really well, has a good catchment area, and the feedback so far has been really positive from the people that know we’re coming here.
“We’ve got a good customer base over this way. We do a lot of events in Moray and Aberdeenshire.”
Chris added that he was really excited to have a new ice cream range.
“It’s all going to contain our fudge. I think my favourite is going to be the millionaire’s shortbread. And we’ll also have a vanilla flavour for those that just want something plain.”
A new police inspector in Forres has praised the local community for helping the force tackle local concerns about anti-social behaviour, and making Forres a welcoming place to live and work. Officers in Forres have been carrying out increased patrols and checks as part of a new operation to clamp down on neighbourhood trouble. Following … Read more
Forres Tennis Club is offering free lessons with no obligation in a bid to generate more interest in the game and get new members signing up at the club.
Head coach Jana Brady explained that a new online booking system and gate entry means that anyone can make use of the facility at any time.
The free offer is open to adults and children. An open day is also being held for potential players to come and see the courts, meet the coaches and find out more about joining the club.
Police in Forres will increase their checks on licensed premises this weekend as a number of events take place, including a charity event in a High Street bar and a beer festival. These checks will be in addition to ongoing anti-social behaviour patrols that have recently started in Forres (Two charged after police clampdown in … Read more
A building at the recently-opened Playful Garden in the grounds of Brodie Castle has reached the shortlist of the best buildings in Scotland in an upcoming award for architecture. The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) has announced a shortlist of 19 properties for its 2019 awards which includes the new visitor centre at … Read more
The Rotary Club of Forres collected money at Tesco in Forres on Saturday (30 March) to raise funds to send ‘ShelterBoxes’ to African countries hit by Cyclone Idai. A ShelterBox is a self-contained unit containing emergency survival aid, including a tent, kitchen utensils, pots and pans, hand tools, water purification tablets, dried food and bedding. … Read more
Forres folk of all ages are being invited to get their skates on for a funky roller disco being held in the town – and bright, coloured outfits will be the order of the day. The event, which is being held by Forres Skate Park initiative (FSPI), will be open to roller skaters and roller … Read more
The best contemporary dance by artists and companies from ‘around the globe to just down the road’ is coming to Moray, thanks to Rise 2019.
Curated by Dance North Scotland, Rise 2019 is Moray’s annual contemporary dance festival held at the Universal Hall in Findhorn.
From Friday 3 until Sunday 5 May 2019, audiences will be treated to the best in contemporary dance and performance from Scotland and around the world.
International focus
Critically-acclaimed Festival Fringe act Chang Dance Theatre, all the way from Taiwan.
With a strong international focus this year, the programme includes the critically acclaimed 2018 Edinburgh Festival Fringe hit, Bon 4 Bon, by Taiwan’s Chang Dance Theatre; the clever multi-artform humour of Montreal’s Mandoline Hybride; and the beauty of the Scotland-Québec dance film collaboration from Katrina McPherson (Scotland) and Harold Rhéaume (Québec).
The 2019 programme follows themes of landscape, dance for the screen, the every day and relationships. Some of the works have a tangible narrative, such as the articulate Crystal Zillwood’s These Hands, which has been described by London dance critic, Donald Hutera as a performance that“conjures worlds out of thin air.”; some revolve around thematic content, such as Julie Cleves & Robbie Synge’s low tech and often humorous approach to disabled access challenges; and some are simply hypnotic and alluring, for exampleScreensaver Series by Janine Harrington.
Under the banner Scotland-Québec Connects, Dance North is partnering with artists and cultural organisations from Montreal, MandolineHybride and the Québec-Scotland screendance collaboration. This would not have been possible without the support of The British Council (Québec-UK Connections Fund), the Québec Government Office in London, Creative Scotland and The Work Room.
Classes for babies to adults
Over the weekend, Rise 2019 will also include dance classes for all ages from babies through to adults. With something for everyone, audiences are certain to see something different, beautiful and unexpected at this year’s festival.
Karl Jay Lewin will perform his Extremely Pedestrian Chorales
Karl Jay-Lewin, Artistic Director, Dance North Scotland said: “While some of the performances include familiar and easily recognisable themes, other pieces play with beautiful visual imagery and music inspired patterns. I believe the programme will have something to suit all tastes. My invitation to seasoned dance audiences and first timers, is to try something new and take a punt on something different.”
He added: “Findhorn and the Moray coastline is incredibly special with the landscape rich both geographically and culturally. While you are here, why not explore it in between shows”
Programme
Friday 3 May 2019 – 7pm – £10/£6 under 26s
Singeries Mandoline Hybride – Catherine Lavoie-Marcus and Priscilla Guy
Trapped in the middle of a videographic fresco in which their image is multiplied and shattered, two women try to stay true to themselves, aping and compulsively replaying their own image so that they don’t completely dissolve.
Friday 3 May 2019 – 8.45pm – £10/£6 under 26s
Bon 4 Bon – Chang Dance Theatre
From subtle memories of family life to their profound relationship with dance, Bon 4 Bon is a heart-warming story of four brothers and their memories of growing up together in Taiwan. It is a piece about family, relationships, trust, home and mangoes.
Saturday 4 May 2019 – 2.45pm £10/£6 under 26s
Passing Through – Julie Cleves & Robbie Synge
Passing Through tells the story of Julie and Robbie’s friendship and artistic experimentation. Leaving the studio behind, the duo attempt to push the limits of what is physically possible as a partnership, bringing materials and their bodies together to create novel solutions to physical access challenges.
Two new screendance works; Paysages Mixtes – a series of duets and solos that, filmed in evocative rural and urban landscapes, move through nuanced versions of the duo’s relationships; and Dix Commandements – an exploration of morality in the 21st century, working with artists from different backgrounds.
Double bill
Saturday 4 May 2019 – 7pm – £10/£6 under 26s
These Hands & Ritual Echoes – Crystal Zillwood
A celebration of the every day – These Hands is inspired by observations of those working on the land and with machines. Ritual Echoes explores the commonality of different forms of religious practice and devotion.
Talented young dancers from around Moray will perform a pre-performance curtain raiser which was made and choreographed by Zillwood during Dance North Scotland’s annual Easter Dance School.
Saturday 4 May 2019 – 8.45pm £10/ £6 under 26s
Screensaver Series Janine Harrington
A hypnotic kaleidoscope installation of sound coding and dance performance, the Screensaver series is inspired by the screen-saving programmes of early computing. Offering activity within inactivity, much like meditation, the perpetual movement references the natural world and metamorphosis.
Sunday 5 May 2019 – Talk – 12 noon – Free
Into the Mountain – Simone Kenyon
Following on from her second Dance North workshop Moving Between: Sensing Body and Environment (1-3 May), Simone Kenyon gives an insight into her remarkable place sensitive performance project, Into the Mountain. Developed in collaboration with women who walk, work and live in the Cairngorms, the project is informed by Nan Shepherd’s lyrical and embodied prose to suggest alternative approaches to being with the mountain.
Sunday 5 May – 2pm – £10/£6 under 26s
Bon 4 Bon – Chang Dance Theatre See Friday 3 May.
Sunday 5 May – 3pm – £10/£6 under 26s
Extremely Pedestrian Chorales – Karl Jay-Lewin & Matteo Fargion
Fresh from the Manipulate Festival, Extremely Pedestrian Chorales presents the prosaic and commonplace experience of the pedestrian as an act of beauty, meaning and gentle comedy. A beguiling mix of high and low art, taking its form and structure from JS Bach’s famous choral harmonies.
Sunday 5 May – 4pm – Free
The Human Clock – Janine Harrington
This human sized digital clock is animated only by the performer’s embodied sense of time passing. The Human Clock is a playful endurance test where the act of ‘keeping time’ is rigorous and captivating, with a wee bit of help from the public. F
Tickets: by telephone: 01309 691661 or online: dancenorth.scot. You can also book in person from Dance North Scotland office or on the door at each performance.
Police in Forres have been reacting to community concerns about anti-social behaviour and have launched a new operation to tackle these. The first stage of the operation launched on Friday and ran through the weekend, targeting areas where anti-social behaviour and general nuisance calls have been reported. They also carried out an increased number of … Read more
