Findhorn mystery solved
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A CHANCE meeting has solved a local mystery for Findhorn Village Heritage Centre.
A few years back, half a dozen small wooden printing blocks were discovered in a dusty corner of a workshop under a Findhorn cottage. Closer inspection revealed these were etched with designs of village scenes, and had probably been used for printing.
They were donated to the Findhorn Village Heritage Company, but for a long time they sat and remained a puzzle.
Last year, a chance meeting between the heritage chairman, Tim Negus, and Tim Honor, retired owner of Nairn's Piccolo Press, led to a breakthrough in the story.
Mr Honor confirmed that they were old printing blocks – and that furthermore he owned an old printing press capable of producing prints from the blocks.
The printing press itself has a colourful background, being used in the film The Wipers Times written by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman, which tells the true story of a group of First World War soldiers who produced a subversive spoof newspaper to raise the morale of troops in Belgium.
Mr Honor offered to print some of the images. The result is a limited-edition set of high-quality images to celebrate both the discovery and the preservation of the old printing press. Cards featuring these images are available to buy while stocks last from the heritage centre.
However, a piece of the puzzle remains. Each block has the initials "JG" etched in a bottom corner and the heritage company is on an identity quest. The committee believes that JG was possibly a member of the Grant family of Findhorn – a famous descendant being actor Hugh Grant – and is seeking any information that might corroborate this or any other suggestions.
The heritage centre is open between 2-5pm during weekends in May and September, and daily between 2-5pm from June to August.
