"Quite determined" bidding battle brings hare back to Turriff
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A NORTH east businessman said he was "quite determined" to get the hare he sponsored back to Turriff.
Now in place by the boating pond at The Den, the MrASingh-decorated Imaginhare was bought for £3600 by owner of the Good Sleep Company in Banff Scott Birnie.
Mr Birnie had initially sponsored the hare and said it was "great" to bring the hare back to Turriff after the Aberdeen Music Hall auction event.
The hare was part of Clan Cancer's Big Hop Trail, which saw unique sculptures placed throughout the north east to raise money to support their vital services.
"There was somebody else bidding for it, but I was quite determined to make sure we got it and took it back to Turriff," Mr Birnie said.
"We've relocated it slightly, it's down at The Den beside the boating pond.
"It's just a really nice location.
"So it'll be good for people to enjoy for hopefully for years to come."
Mr Birnie added that it was a privilege to be involved with CLAN Cancer, with this being his second fundraising event after similar Light the North project.
"It's just good to be involved with it because they do such good work," he said.
"I think it's an unsung job that they do because, they're there supporting people who are just having a really hard time of it.
"And I think that it is a really important job that they do.
"Then, when they announced they were doing the Hare Trail, it just seemed like a no-brainer to get involved again, really."
He also praised the auction event, at the Music Hall in Aberdeen.
"It was just a really good event to be involved in really," he said.
"It was a good crowd and the auctioneer, Charlie Hanson, was really, really good at getting them whipped up and everything.
"It was just a great night."
The design of the hare, Mr Birnie said, reflected the importance of imagination.
He added he was glad that the people of Turriff will now be able to enjoy it for years going forwards.
"The Hare's design was done by MrASingh, who is a fairly well renowned artist who specializes in doing big pieces like that," he said.
"And I just really liked the story behind what his plan for it was.
"With the power of imagination and all that kind of thing, and how that can help you when you're going through bad times.
"So I picked that design and it was great to got to work with him.
"We got to help decorate the hare and everything as well.
"And it was just a really good experience."
