Wrights and Coopers

Wrights and Coopers

CoopersArms-150x150The Wrights and Coopers have always represented a broad church of craftsmen, with men using common materials and tools in their line of work, all falling under the shared umbrella when the Seven Incorporated Trades was established.

These included wheelwrights, millwrights, cartwrights, shipwrights and housewrights – the term once used to describe those in the joinery trade. The coopers represented a sizeable proportion of the membership along with members taken from the ranks of woodturners, carvers and cabinetmakers.

The artistry and talents of generations of craftsmen live on in modern guises through today’s members, adapting to meet modern requirements without losing sight of the commitment to quality the Seven Incorporated Trades of Aberdeen has always promised to uphold and promote.

Current Role of Members and Date Joined:

George H. Petrie1958Scott A. McDonald1993William Beattie2016
W. Allan Duncan1960Graham W. Cruickshank1997Garry R. Murray2016
George S. Stevenson1970Mark A. Constable1999George C. McLeod2016
Roderick M. Garvie1973Graeme A. Thomson1999Michael Rennie2016
Gordon S. Duncan1975Leslie W. Milne2002Harris Sangster2020
Tom S. Ironside1982Alan Steele2008Nicholas Sangster2022
Bryan D. Keith1993Kevin W. Bowie2013  

 

Aberdeen’s talented aspiring young craftspeople recognised at trade awards

Wrights and Coopers

Aberdeen’s Wrights & Coopers Incorporation, in partnership with North East Scotland College (NESCol), recognised and presented awards to groups of the city’s most skilled student craftspeople at a ceremony held at Trinity Hall, the home of the Seven Incorporated Trades of Aberdeen.

The annual awards held on the 19th of September recognise and celebrate the achievements of this year’s students who have displayed exceptional skill and craftsmanship during their studies and early careers.

Admission of City Burgesses – Bill Beattie

News, Wrights and Coopers

On the morning of the 21st of June 2017, Wrights and Coopers member Bill Beattie was admitted as burgesses of Trade at the start of the full council meeting at Aberdeen Towns House.  He was proposed for membership by Deacon Convener George Esson. Having met the requirements for admission and undertaking to pay the necessary dues to the Lord Provost they then accepted the responsibilities incumbent by law as a true and faithful of a City Burgess of the city of Aberdeen.

Deacon Convener George Esson pictured with Bill Beattie (below)

Recognition for Deeside Apprentices

Wrights and Coopers

Deacon Lan Steele, Paul Taylor and Darren ReidThe Wrights and Coopers Incorporation hosted a special award ceremony, in Trinity Hall, to recognise and honour apprentices in their trade.

Deacon Alan Steele, presented Paul Taylor and Darren Reid with certificates.  Both young men are employed by local companies and attend North East College on a day release basis.  The Wrights and Coopers have a strong association with the College and encourage students along their journey.

Darren was named runner up in the Gordon Archibald Award, which is awarded annually in memory of Gordon Archibald, a former Deacon of the Wrights and Coopers, who died in 2007 after 54 years membership of the Incorporation.  Paul was presented with a bronze award.

Please read the full story, as featured in the Deeside Piper.

Trades House of Glasgow welcomes Aberdeen Trade

Wrights and Coopers

The Coopers Trade of the Trades of Glasgow  held their Annual Dinner Dance on Friday 2 March in the Trades Hall. Deacon John Balding welcomed 175 members and guests, including 43 of our associates of the Worshipful Company of Coopers from London and representatives from the Irvine Incorporated Trades (Coopers) and of the Seven Incorporated Trades of Aberdeen (Wrights and Coopers). A very successul evening was enjoyed by all.

An excellent key-note speech and toast to The Trades House of Glasgow was given by James Wardrop OBE DL and a fulsome reply was provided by John R Steele, Deacon Convenor. The company welcomed a visitation by the Deacon and Collector of the Incorporation of Tailors in Glasgow. Collector Iain Lockhart gavea the toast to The Ladies and the evening concluded with dancing to the music of “The Rhythm Kings” Jazz band.

The event raised two thousand pounds for the charity Quarriers Epilepsy centre in Govan.

Second McDonald Prize Winner for Aberdeen Wrights & Coopers

Wrights and Coopers

Unity of the ‘Incorporation of Trades'

Alan Steele of the Aberdeen Wrights & Coopers is the second member of the organisation to win the McDonald Prize for Carpentry, Joinery & Glazing Studies.
The Incorporation of Wrights in Glasgow presents prestigious annual prizes for excellence in Carpentry, Joinery and Glazing work.
Following on from Tom Ironside who won in 1977 for the Mort Cloth Cabinet situated in Trinity Hall, Alan won the prize in 2008 for his Essay Piece produced as his admission test piece to the Trades. For the full article, please click here.

 

The McDonald Prize for Carpentry, Joinery & Glazing Studies

Fleshers, Wrights and Coopers

In 1997 Tom Ironside of the Aberdeen Wrights & Coopers Incorporation won the McDonald Prize for the design and manufacture of the Fleshers Mortcloth case in Oak.
The Incorporation of Wrights in Glasgow presents prestigious annual prizes for excellence in Carpentry, Joinery and Glazing work.
The work put forward for judging must be the finished article in wood or glazing which demonstrates the skill of the entrant as Carpenter, Joiner or Glazier. There is a first and second prize for Carpentry and or Joinery Work with an additional prize for Glazing. For the full article, please click here.

Kevin Bowie’s Essay pieces

Wrights and Coopers

On the 21st August 2013 Kevin Bowie completed his application process as a member of the Wrights & Coopers, by completing the two excellent examples of craftsmanship below.  Having joined the Trade earlier last month, his admission as a Burgess of Trade was carried out at the Towns House this morning.  Kevin now has full rights as a member of the Wrights & Coopers Incorporation.

…

Kevin Bowie’s Essay piecesRead More »

Trades Boost for Deeside Alzheimers

Charity News, Wrights and Coopers

WrightsCoopers.Alz

In May 2013, the Wrights and Coopers held a successful race night in the historic Trinity Hall. Attendees dug deep and the monies raised were presented to Fran Kelly, a representative of South Aberdeenshire Service of Alzheimers Scotland by Deacon Graeme Thomson.

Alzheimer Scotland helps people with dementia, their carers and families. They provide local services such as information and advice, support groups and day centres, which provide the chance for sufferers to socialise and enjoy activites and outings and giving carers a break.

A full article was published in the Deeside Piper

Copyright © 2021 Seven Trades of Aberdeen. All rights reserved.

Scroll to Top