Clan BookBench Trail

Clan Book Bench

A Seat for Connection and Reflection

The Clan BookBench Trail features book-shaped sculptures across the North East to raise vital funds for Clan Cancer Support . Our permanent Town Square bench, "Fit Like?", was created by local artist Michelle Mann . Here is her explanation for her design:

"When deciding whether to submit a design for the Clan BookBench trail all I could think of was the difference I might be able to make, in any small way, with a design that meant something to someone and would help Clan to raise vital funds.

Clan has always been a charity close to my heart, with cancer having had a significant impact on my family so the desire to get involved with a project that supported them felt important to me.

'Fit like?' is inspired by my upbringing in Aberdeen and my life now in rural Aberdeenshire. Farming is a way of life that can be demanding, unforgiving and often lonely, add in a cancer diagnosis and this could be catastrophic, I wanted to highlight the need for the farming community to sit down and talk or just to ask, how are you? and then really listen to the answer. It felt only right to do this in Doric, the dialect of the North East.

One side of the bench, and inside of the book, depicts a typical scene at the end of a busy day on the farm, muddy wellies, jacket and bunnet off for the day, the farm cat and dog asleep after mousing and rounding up sheep for their day. The farm cat depicted is inspired by our own hard working feral farm cat Pusskin, she has become a familiar presence on the farm and as well as carrying out a vital role in pest control, she can be found watching over you in the workshop or making you smile as she sits waiting patiently at the end of a day for her tea.

The dog is inspired by our own canine companion, Pops the collie, he was rehomed by us at 8 months old from local charity DAWGS and although not a working dog as such he plays an integral part in our farming family life and his enthusiasm and happiness can always brighten up a day. For me this choice was due to the long running relationship between a farmer and dog, the Border Collie has long been associated with farming, highly motivated and intelligent they make excellent herding dogs and are also incredibly loyal, and in an industry that can be very isolating, companionship and loyalty can mean everything.

The back and cover of the book were designed to symbolise the changes both seasonally and over time in farming, from ploughing through to bringing in the harvest and from horse to machine, some things have changed enormously but others follow the rhythm of the seasons and rarely change much.

The Clydesale is such a symbolic animal of farming yesteryear in the North East of Scotland that it felt very natural to chose that as the way to show farming past. I was incredibly lucky to be able to go and see these magnificent animals at work before starting on the bench, this helped me to really see and feel the power of the horses but also the amazing relationship between horse and handler and help make me feel my work was more genuine and authentic.

To show the move towards modern times but also the change in seasons I went to the harvest being done with a modern combine harvester. I’ve also seen these machines up close at work and they are an impressive piece of technology, becoming more advanced all the time as the industry strives to improve efficiency and maximise yields.

I really hope that the bench provides an insight into farming and rural life, on both a personal level and as a wider industry. The aim was to help start a conversation, a reminiscence or just a moment of reflection, all with the thought of the work that clan does in the area for all communities and walks of life making sure no one feels alone in their time of need."

CLAN BookBench Trail 2025

Who's behind benchmark kintore

Organised by Kintore & District Community Council, Benchmark Kintore is the collective name given to the 12 Kintore based businesses who contrubuted equal donations to help Kintore be part of this exciting CLAN Bookbench Trail 2025.

IMPORTANT DATES

Welcome Kintore Bookbench- 26th June

Official Trail 30th June - 22nd August

De-install of Kintore Bookbench- 1st September

Farewell -20/21st September

Final CLAN Auction of all Bookbenches 25th September.

Benchmark Kintore is the official name to represent the 12 local businesses listed below that have come together to raise the required £6000 to allow the Kintore town square to display a colourful Clan 'BookBench' during Summer 2025.

Kintore will be officially on the Clan BookBench Trail Map 2025 thanks to the generosity of these Official Sponsors below.

Benchmark Kintore - Bringing Art into the Heart of Kintore

Clan BookBench Trail - Kintore Official Sponsors

OEG KINTORE

OFFICIAL

BUSINESS SPONSOR

OEG Offshore are Official Sponsors of the Kintore BookBench.

Kintore based OEG Offshore is the world’s number one owner and lessor of reusable offshore DNV certified containers with a diverse fleet of 75,000+ cargo carrying units, enabling the safe transportation of essential cargo to and from offshore energy installations.

Thank you OEG Offshore

GENNY HIRE LTD

OFFICIAL

BUSINESS SPONSOR

Genny Hire Limited is an Official Sponsor.

“Genny Hire is an equipment

rental company specialising in

the hire, sales and service of

power solutions suited to a wide

variety of applications”

“Whatever the industry,

We have the power to deliver”

Thank you Genny Hire

JIM REID VEHICLE SALES & SERVICE

OFFICIAL

BUSINESS SPONSOR

Jim Reid Vehicle Sales & Service is an Official Sponsor of the Kintore Bookbench. Jim Reid, buys, sells, hires, services , MOT's and valets all cars & vans , new, nearly new and pre-owned active supporter of the Kintore Community.

Thank you Jim Reid Vehicle Sales & Service

STATS GROUP

OFFICIAL

BUSINESS SPONSOR

STATS Group are an Official Sponsor of the Kintore BookBench.

Kintore based STATS Group are market leaders in the supply of pressurised pipeline isolation, hot tapping and plugging services to the global energy industry and are active supporters of the Kintore Community.

Thank you STATS Group.

J&G DOSSETT family butcher

OFFICIAL BUSINESS SPONSOR

Award winning Kintore based family butcher J&G Dossett are an Official Sponsor of the Kintore BookBench.

Makes sure you visit their shop just when you visit the our BookBench during your BookBench Trail.

This fantastic family business in the heart of Kintore are inspirational supports of the Kintore Community. Well done John, Emma and the rest of Team Dossett.

Thank you Dossett's

first photographics

OFFICIAL BUSINESS SPONSOR

First Photographics are an Official Sponsor of the Kintore BookBench.

First Photographics are your local professional photography studio based in Kintore. Print photos or create personalised gifts with First Photographics the photo specialists in the heart of Kintore.

Gary Small and his team are always very keen and active supporters of the local community and it's great to have them on board.

Thank you First Photographics

Official Sponsors

egroup kintore

OFFICIAL

BUSINESS SPONSOR

eGroup are Official Sponsors of the Kintore BookBench.

eGroup is the largest company of its type in Scotland, boasting an array of specialist services including surface preparation, specialist protective coatings, NDT and hydro testing, passive fire protection, steel fabrication, chartek application, TSA application and wall & roof cladding – internally transporting our clients projects between our onsite facilities cutting down costs and time. Servicing both the construction industry and the oil & gas sector – the eGroup is driven to best meeting the needs of our clients in the most efficient and responsible manner.

Thank you eGroup

brimmond

OFFICIAL

BUSINESS SPONSOR

Brimmond are an Official Sponsor.

Brimmond specialises in the design, manufacture, rental and repair of lifting, mechanical and hydraulic equipment for industry from our base in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Giving back is important to us, not just because it is the right thing to do but because we care about the people and communities we work with.

We are committed to supporting local initiatives and regularly enjoy taking part in fundraising and volunteering for good causes.

Thank you Brimmond

the square

OFFICIAL

BUSINESS SPONSOR

The Square is an Official Sponsor of the Kintore Bookbench.

The Square Kintore is a family run establishment with over 200 years of history in the heart of the village.

Owners Allan and Claire pride themselves on delivering excellent customer service, offering fantastic food

and a welcoming environment for all.

Come join us to see what we’re all about.

Thank you The Square

A& L stronach

OFFICIAL

BUSINESS SPONSOR

A & L Stronach are Official Sponsors of the Kintore BookBench.

A & L Stronach Ltd are a well established family run business of over 35 years. We have become one of the most reliable small businesses to serve our customers needs with regards to good quality maintenance, hire, sales and repair of equipment.

SMALL ENOUGH TO CARE, BIG ENOUGH TO DELIVER.

Thank you A & L Stronach

nov

OFFICIAL BUSINESS SPONSOR

Kintore based NOV are Official Sponsors of the Kintore BookBench.

Technology-driven solutions

For more than 150 years, NOV has pioneered innovations that empower the global energy industry, enabling our customers to safely produce abundant energy while minimizing their environmental impact. The energy industry depends on our deep expertise and technology to continually improve oilfield operations and assist in efforts to advance the energy transition towards a more sustainable future.

Thank you NOV.

CRC Evans

OFFICIAL BUSINESS SPONSOR

Kintore based CRC Evans are Official Sponsors of the Kintore Clan Bookbench.

CRC Evans is a leading global expert in the provision of welding and coating services.

CRC Evans provides a unique combination of welding and coating services, equipment, technologies and integrated solutions, with an unparalleled reputation for excellence that has been gained over 90 years.

Thank your CRC EVANS

The Book Bench Trail is coming to Kintore - Summer 2025

The Book Bench Trail from clan cancer support is coming to Kintore in 2025

Benchmark Kintore (part of KDCC) are delighted to announce Kintore will be part of Clan's 'The Book Bench Trail' during Summer 2025.

Kintore Town House will be backdrop for the photos taken at the brightly painted Book Bench placed in the square.

UPDATE 26/06/2024

We are delighted to announce that we now have the 12 Business Sponsors on board to allow us to secure this important opportunity for Kintore.

Thank you all sponsors.

Message us on WhatsApp

The Square, Kintore, Inverurie

07787587422

‘Fit Like?’ Clan BookBench

Clan Book Bench

A Seat for Connection and Reflection