A sunset ceremony event at one of the town’s tourist attractions will mark the end of a busy season whilst also incorporating a celebration of the man it honours.
Nelson’s Tower which is looked after by the Forres Heritage Trust will close to the public on the last weekend of September.
To mark the occasion, a rare opportunity to access the historic monument at night is being offered along with a chance to celebrate Admiral Lord Nelson whose birthday falls on September 29, with a slice of birthday cake, some bubbly, a ship’s biscuit and a tot of grog.
Nelson’s Tower opens to the public every year from April to the end of September.
This year, it has welcomed over 2100 visitors many who came from overseas.
Peter Haworth, a trustee with the FHT and the volunteer co-ordinator said:
“It was a slower start to the season than in some previous years, as the weather really didn’t play ball, but as the months have gone on, and now following the summer holidays, our footfall figures seem to be on a par with other years.
“Our volunteers work tirelessly to give visitors a really warm welcome and we were pleased to see we had international appeal with people coming from every continent, notably Peru, China, Bali and Alaska.”
Peter added:
“This year, we are going to mark the end of the season with a sunset ceremony on Saturday, September 26.
“There are only 28 tickets over three time slots available.
“People will be able to scale the Tower and enjoy the view and sunset.
“It’s also a full moon then too, so it will be a very special view.
“We will also be offering some birthday cake, a token drink and the chance to sample a ship’s biscuit and some grog similar to that which would have been served on ships like the HMS Victory, Nelson’s flagship, where he was killed by a sniper’s bullet as he stood on the deck during the Battle of Trafalgar.”
The Forres Heritage Trust also owns and looks after the Tolbooth on Forres High Street and each week throughout the summer, tours are offered of the building.
The building has gone through extensive renovations to make sure people can get a glimpse of the how the building was previously used, but also to bring it up to a standard, which has made it a popular venue for events such as book launches, music nights and even a wedding.
It is also the venue for regular groups such as the Rotary Club, Forres Camera Club, there’s an after school club and yoga sessions, whilst the Forres Crafters hold a regular pop up shop.
George Alexander, chairman of the Trust said:
“We have a band of volunteers who all bring their different skills to make sure that both the Tolbooth and Nelson’s Tower are maintained and run smoothly.
“Whilst the Tower is only open for a few months of the year and tours of the Tolbooth are seasonal, the work of the trust carries on all year round and we are always looking for new people to get involved.”
Out with the closing of Nelson’s Tower, the Forres Heritage Trust will host its bi-annual photographic exhibition from Wednesday, September 2 to Saturday, September 5. 10am-4pm
“We have a small team of dedicated curators, who work in our archive room to ensure that the photographic exhibition is offering something new each time.
“It’s one of our most popular events and people love coming in and reminiscing.”
For more information about the Forres Heritage Trust, visit: www.forresheritage.co.uk
