Hat’s off to all involved in latest GMB centenary auction event

Two local charities will benefit from an auction of more than 100 handknitted hats from around the world as part of the celebration events for the centenary of Orcadian poet and writer George Mackay Brown.

Alongside the George Mackay Brown Fellowship, Orkney Library & Archive are holding an auction of the “A Hat for George” project to coincide with what would have been his 100th birthday on 17 October 2021. Two local charities will benefit from the funds raised which are Blide Trust and The Youth Café. They were chosen for their work in the local community tackling mental health issues.

The colourful display is in place within the Library’s foyer now until around 22 October.

Orkney Islands Council’s Team Leader (Libraries and Archive), Karen Walker, said: “All hats are numbered clearly with a full list of information available nearby. There are also pdf patterns and charts for seven custom designed hats for those keen knitters who want to knit one themselves. These patterns/charts are priced at £3.50 each and available from the Library and Archive.

“Bids will open on 18/19 October and can be accepted by phone or emailing library@orkney.gov.uk. Bid forms are available from either Library or the Mobile Library for those without internet access. Bids should include postage of £3.50 unless they will be collecting the hat/s and overseas postal rates will be more.”

A walk-through video for online viewing is available on the Orkney Library and Archive website page.

Bids will be checked on 20 October and the highest bidders notified thereafter.

The project encouraged folk around the world to use Mackay Brown’s work as inspiration to create a collection of unique knitted hats.

“We’ve had hats from Orkney all over the UK, and we’ve also received ones from as far afield as Austria, Germany, Spain and the United States,” Alison Miller from the GMB Fellowship said. “I think it’s something that has appealed to people who already knew and were fans of George’s work, but it has also persuaded those who didn’t know him well before to read more of him – especially if they were looking for inspiration for their hats.”

The knitters taking part were encouraged to name their designs after a novel, story or poem by George Mackay Brown, or even a location, character or line quoted from his work. Some hats have been entitled “An Orkney Tapestry”, “Hamnavoe”, “The Beachcomber” and “Greenvoe”.

“Several of the hats have been knitted using his poems as inspiration with recurring themes such as sea, boats, fishing, whales, barley and harvest,” Karen Walker added. “We’ve also had novelty hats, children’s hats and more because the project has appealed to those who just wanted to donate and help us raise money for a local charity.”

The Fellowship was launched to promote new creative writing in Orkney, as well as to celebrate Orcadian writers of the past, but for 2021 it is focusing entirely on highlighting Mackay Brown’s centenary.

Find out more about the “A Hat for George” project via the Orkney Library and Archive website, where you can also see images of the hats that have been submitted.

Find out more about George Mackay Brown and the Fellowship in his name via the official website, which also contains details of all the activities planned for the centenary.

These images kindly provided by orkney.com