SWRI at Highland Show - SWRI Press Release

Scottish Women’s Rural Institute Keep Age Old Crafts Alive at Scotland’s Royal Highland Show

Scottish Women’s Rural Institutes (SWRI) will be returning to Scotland’s premier farming and food event which kicks off tomorrow (Thursday 25 June 2009) to share their unique skills and demonstrate traditional crafts. The Royal Highland Show is Scotland’s largest outdoor event and is held over four days (25 – 28 June) in Ingliston, near Edinburgh. This year sees SWRI managing the Handcrafts Pavilion for the first time.

Running since 1822, the event embraces all things related to farming, the countryside and rural living. Over 166,000 people are expected to visit the show over the four days and experience the best Scotland has to offer. There will be over 5,000 animals at the show including sheep, ponies and Galloway cattle, not to mention hundreds of exhibitors showcasing everything from Scotland’s finest food and drink to plants and outdoor living. The Show will feature a wide range of entertainment for all of the family to enjoy including, terrier racing, equestrian, BMX demonstrations live music, animal parades and cookery demonstrations from leading chefs.

Federation members from Aberdeenshire, Angus, Arran, Argyll, Ayrshire, Banffshire, Berwickshire, Bute, as well as Caithness will be on hand to share their knowledge and bring age-old crafts back to life.

Marion Davidson, Chairman of the SWRI says, “We are looking forward to the challenge that taking on the management of the Handcrafts Pavilion has brought, with the introduction of new classes, and some modern touches to former ones. The Royal Highland Show is the largest annual rural event in Scotland and attracts visitors from 20 different countries around the world of all ages and backgrounds. It gives rural people a chance to come together and share their experiences and just enjoy the diverse rural community of Scotland. It also gives SWRI members the perfect opportunity to demonstrate near-forgotten Scottish crafts and traditions in action. We are all looking forward to what we anticipate will be an extremely exciting and successful event.”

The Royal Highland & Agricultural Society of Scotland assisted by SWRI, in their new management role, has a feast of talented and experienced demonstrators lined up for the Show. The crafts being demonstrated are machine quilting, beadwork, lacemaking, canvaswork, papercraft, New Pitsligo lacemaking, calligraphy and glass engraving.

Visitors to the Royal Highland Show interested in joining the SWRI can speak to any of the members on the stand for more information on their local institute.

More information on the SWRI can be found at www.swri.org.uk, or by calling SWRI headquarters in Edinburgh on 0131 225 1724 or
email swri@swri.demon.co.uk