Portsoy Community Enterprise strengthens board with appointment
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Portsoy Community Enterprise (PCE) has announced the appointment of Lorna Summers to its board of directors.
Mrs Summers is a former headteacher of Portsoy Primary School, a position she held from 1997 until her retirement in 2007.
She re-joins the PCE board after a two-year break. She was a director from 2010 until 2019, when she stepped down.
After completing an M.Litt. degree in Ethnology and Folklore at Aberdeen University, which focused on Portsoy’s salmon fishers, Mrs Summers utilised her time out from the board to pursue a Ph.D. study of boatbuilding communities.
This has taken her across Scotland to visit boatbuilders in Anstruther, Irvine, Wick, Glasgow and Shetland, also to meet with Norwegian enthusiasts at their traditional boat festival in Trondheim.
With a keen interest in all things maritime, Mrs Summers remains closely involved with Portsoy’s community. In her role as director on the PCE board, her area of responsibility will be the development of the Boatshed.
Portsoy Boatshed was opened in 2015 by HRH the Duke of Kent with the aim of preserving traditional boatbuilding skills and engaging with the community.
Run by a team of committed volunteers, its ambition is to help keep the boatbuilding heritage of the north-east alive.
Mrs Summers said: “Portsoy has a rich cultural background which is firmly anchored in its maritime roots.
"PCE has done tremendous work over the years to build on the tourism potential of the area.
"Visitors to the coast look for authentic experiences including traditional music, boats and boatbuilding.
"I’m looking forward to returning to the board and supporting them with their future plans.”
As headteacher at the local primary school and with the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival (STBF) on its doorstep, she felt it important to connect youngsters to seafaring skills and traditions.
In 2003 she brought SRYA’s Sailing in the City team to work with pupils at Loch Soy and later at the harbour.
All children from P4-P7 took part. This was very popular, continuing until 2007 and reached out to include nearby schools including Fordyce, Ordiquhill and Aberchirder.
After retiring, jointly with experienced STBF boatbuilders, she set up The Small Schools’ Sailing Initiative.
Here, several dedicated volunteers, worked with primary school children at the Bothy, helping them produce their own Optimist style dinghies.
Sailing, then paddling regattas resulted which were great fun, continuing until 2014, by which time all local primary schools participated.
Over the years of the project, around 60 Oppies were built and approximately 700 children involved.
This successful project triggered unique boatbuilding activities at Banff Academy, where it was offered as a curricular option for senior pupils – and once again Portsoy’s volunteers played a vital part.
Skiffs were built and the formation of Deveron Coastal Rowing Club, run by the youngsters themselves, was a significant outcome.
They were prize winners at the World Championships, in 2015, with great credit brought to both the pupils and to the school.
Another boatbuilding strand led to a practical outreach programme at the Boatshed. This aimed to improve employment prospects for those who found a school environment challenging.
Funded by the Chevron oil company, young people learned crafts associated with boatbuilding and were given the opportunity to develop a whole range of positive, transferrable life skills.
Mrs Summers added: “Boatbuilding has become a big part of my life, encouraging me to study Scottish boatbuilding communities.
“Research has meant visiting a wide range of establishments, giving me an understanding of what’s being done in other parts of Scotland and across Europe.
“As director of PCE, I hope to assist with the development of the Boatshed. It is an outstanding facility which could offer a great range of opportunities for the community.
"I’ve seen first-hand how beneficial practical boatbuilding can be in creating skills which lead to future employment for youngsters.
“Not just for youngsters of course, the Boatshed is open to everyone. Everything from wood working to problem solving and finally producing a boat – or any wooden item – gives a great buzz of personal satisfaction.
“We’re really open to new ideas and suggestions – I want to encourage everybody who’s interested to come and speak to the Boatshed volunteers.
"New projects and new volunteers – experienced or inexperienced, all are welcome. There’s always good craic and a cuppa at the Boatshed.”
Mrs Summers is also a volunteer and part of the management team at the Salmon Bothy Museum which tells the story of commercial salmon fishing at Portsoy as well as showcasing historic activities in the town.
Recently the group set up a unique interactive feature demonstrating the geology, flora and fauna of the area.
She also supports the Bothy Knitters, a social group which meets every Monday from 10am to midday at the Salmon Bothy, to create items for those in need and raise funds from sale of woolly items.
Over the years, hundreds of pounds have been donated to local and national charities.
Mrs Summers said: “Do come along for a knit and a natter. No previous experience required.”
The group is particularly famous for Knitted Portsoy, a large woollen collage of the harbour area, currently hanging upstairs at the Bothy. The successful yarn fest Wool@Portsoy is also run by the group.
David Urquhart, chairman of PCE, said: “We are delighted to welcome Lorna back onto the board. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience and will play an instrumental role in the further development of the Boatshed, whilst supporting PCE in achieving its wider goals in the coming year.
“Our focus remains on achieving successful social and economic regeneration of Portsoy by sharing the incredible experiences and facilities we have available here.
"After two difficult years due to Covid, the board was pleased to bring the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival back to the harbour and welcome visitors from across the region.
“The Caravan Park and The Sail Loft were also very busy over the summer, hosting cycling groups and a Buddhist retreat to the area. Feedback has been very positive and there are plans for further redevelopment within the Sail Loft in 2023.
“Bringing tourists back into the area has also been beneficial for the Salmon Bothy which has welcomed more than 2000 visitors last year.
"It is encouraging to see the green shoots of recovery and we will be concentrating on the growth and development of PCE assets, whilst supporting tourism opportunities and driving economic benefit for the local community.”
Portsoy Community Enterprise is a social enterprise driven by a passionate and committed team of volunteers.
It brings together an array of assets, events and offerings to keep alive the ingrained heritage and cultures of the north-east of Scotland.
The organisation was established following the creation of the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival. Intended to be a one-off event to celebrate the 300th year of Portsoy’s harbour in 1993, it has now become one of the leading events on Scotland’s summer calendar and welcomes thousands of visitors to celebrate the region’s rich cultural heritage.
PCE comprises of the Portsoy Salmon Bothy, the Boatshed, Portsoy Links Caravan Park and the Sail Loft. Working collaboratively, the whole organisation aims to provide economic benefit from tourism for the town of Portsoy and the surrounding area, with all of PCE’s assets belonging to the community.
Visit www.portsoy.org for further information.
