A prominent artist and engraver is celebrating 40 years of designing exquisite bangles to raise funds for a children’s charity.
Dr Malcolm Appleby, MBE, has been hand engraving the prestigious Banchory Bangle since the 1970s for Children 1st, Scotland’s National Children’s Charity. And this year he has created an intricate design featuring a heron which will be raffled at the charity’s annual Touch of Tartan Ball on Friday November 18 2016.
Over the years the bangles have helped to raise more than £130,000 to support local children and young people who have suffered abuse, neglect and other traumatic childhood experiences, to recover.
The intricately hand-designed bangles are inspired by Dr Appleby’s first love, nature, and depict different wildlife images each year. He says: "From childhood I was constantly enthralled by the wild life around my suburban home which so enriched my upbringing. I love to pass this enthusiasm to our new generations of children." Last year’s otter themed bangles raised over £11,000.
An appeal was issued in early spring by the artist – who studied at the Royal College of Art in London and has had work commissioned for Downing Street and Bute House - asking for donations of gold from the general public for this year’s nature-inspired bangle.
The unwanted jewellery was melted down and contributed to the cost of the elaborately designed pieces of jewellery which are currently being showcased at the Wee Boorachie in Banchory. Raffle tickets are £1 each and are available to purchase throughout Banchory, including Duncans of Banchory, Deeside Cleaners, and Taylors of Banchory, and at the Children 1st office in Aberdeen.
Juliette Paton, Patron of the Touch of Tartan Ball said: “We have been very fortunate to have the talent and generosity of Dr Appleby for 40 years. His dedication to producing the Banchory Bangle has raised a huge amount of much needed funds for Children 1st, and we are incredibly grateful to him and everyone involved in the Banchory Bangle for their wonderful support. It is thanks to people like them that we are able to continue supporting vulnerable children and their families in the North-east.”
First prize in the raffle is the elegant 18 carat gold bangle plus a silver replica, second prize is a silver copy and third prize is an exclusive pair of cufflinks.
This winning ticket will be drawn Touch of Tartan Ball, which will be held on Friday, November 18 at the Beach Ballroom, Aberdeen.
Tickets for this prestigious fundraising event are limited. To book your table please contact the Children 1st team at northfundraising@children1st.org.uk or tel: 01224 251150.