Viking Raiders storm Inverurie's Garioch Heritage Centre

VIKINGS stormed Garioch Heritage centre on Wednesday night writes Griselda McGregor.

But they were friendly ones in the shape of sailing instructor Andy Wrate and a former student Ken Brown who gave the vote of thanks for Andy's illustrated talk.

Andy told the history of the Vikings going back over 1000 years

He said: "What they knew then far exceeds our knowledge today."

One question from the audience " Does the expression 'Don't go sticking your oar in' meaning to meddle perhaps date back to those vilking days ?

Andy thought it entirely possible.

A Viking sailor sticking his oar in against all the others would have seriously altered the course

He also painted a rather different picture of Viking as aggressor - they were more often explorers and friendly traders

For the best material for their square sails they acquired silk from India and he brought along lengths of plaited and woven ropes used to secure the sails to show some of their construction techniques.

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.