Shapinsay boatbuilder shares maritime skills in short film

Keeping afloat an age-old maritime skill is the focus of a locally produced short film “From Boo to Starn: A boatbuilding journey with John Leslie”.

The film, which documents the skills required to craft a traditional wooden boat, will be premiered by Shapinsay Heritage Arts & Crafts (SHAC) at the Shapinsay Community Centre on Saturday 24 June at 7pm, which is open to all.

The 40-minute film will also be shown during the Orkney International Science Festival at 4pm on Saturday 9 September in the Stromness Town Hall and at 3.30pm Wednesday 13 September in the Phoenix Cinema, Pickaquoy Centre, Kirkwall.

SHAC joined forces with the North Isles Landscape Partnership Scheme (NILPS) last year to commission the film to document and record local boatbuilder, John Leslie, building what was intended to be the last boat of his career.

John is a retired creel fisherman who built his first boat when he was 16 – an 8ft pram dinghy. He’s now building his last boat – a 14ft ply clinker dinghy for his own use -  and the process was recorded from start to finish by Stromness-based filmmaker Mark Jenkins.

Lenka Mellor, Chair of Shapinsay Heritage Arts & Crafts, said: “Shapinsay has a rich maritime history and we as a heritage group were keen to find a way to document and celebrate this aspect of the island’s heritage. John has been building traditional wooden boats using skills passed down through generations and we were delighted when he agreed to be part of this film with Mark Jenkins.

“We gave Mark an overview of what we hoped to achieve, but this superb film has very much been an iterative and creative process between the two of them. What Mark has produced is outstanding and we’re excited to have this first screening of the film in Shapinsay this weekend. The film documents not only the traditional skills John uses but also beautifully captures this aspect of Shapinsay’s cultural heritage.”

Mark Jenkins said: “I knew when I met John that this was going to be an interesting project. He’s a real, likeable character and very passionate about what he does. One thing that clearly came across was the way that he demystifies the craft, it feels like something many folk could do if they put their minds to it.

“When we started I think we were both a little nervous, but the relationship grew very quickly. John would talk me through his process as he was working, which with all the noise was quite a challenge to record.

“John wasn’t building all of the time and he was very accommodating, waiting for me to film certain things which he thought would be important to show the process. I like to think he learnt a bit about filmmaking too!

“I’d like to thank NILPS and Shapinsay Heritage Arts and Crafts for giving me the opportunity to make this film. I’m very pleased with the result and I think John is too. Hopefully audiences will not only learn about John‘s skills but also his passion, humour and dedication to the age-old tradition. Who knows, someone younger might be watching and willing to take up a hammer, a chisel and a plane and continue what should be a continuing craft in boat building.”

The film soundtrack was composed and played by James Watson.

The project is funded by North Isles Landscape Partnership Scheme, a £4.5m programme funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic Environment Scotland, Orkney Islands Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, NatureScot and the Orkney LEADER 2014-2020. It supports projects that promote the culture, heritage and landscape of the North Isles and will run until December 2024.