The newest member to the Aberdeen Weavers Incorporation was admitted as a Burgess of Trade on the morning of the 13th May 2015 at a ceremony in the City Council Chambers in the Towns House.
The Late Deacon Convener, standing in for Deacon Convener Sandy McKinnon, presented the applicant to the Depute Provost:
“Depute Provost, may I present as an applicant for admission as a Free Burgess of the Burgh of Aberdeen of his own Craft only:
Neil Anthony Armour, Weaver, Aberdeen
The applicant meets the requirements for admission and has undertaken to pay the relevant dues to the Common Good of the Burgh and to the Guild Box, together with the customary token of five shillings Scots in a white purse to the Lord Provost.”
The Depute Provost then responded, “Do you Neil Anthony Armour solemnly bind yourself to discharge every civil duty incumbent by law on a true and faithful Burgess of the Burgh of Aberdeen?”
Mr Armour responded according and finally the Depute Provost welcomed on behalf of the Burgh of Aberdeen all the Free Burgesses admitted (earlier seven Burgess of Guild had been admitted).
As part of the process of joining the Aberdeen Weavers Incorporation, Neil completed his ‘essay piece’.
“The piece is a twill, woven over a couple of weeks on our family-room table (as near as I could get to doing it by the fire in a traditional croft !). I used some yarns provided by Deacon Dale, supplemented by some from the Wool shop on Rosemount. Woven on a century-old handloom supplied by Deacon Dale.
I am very grateful to Deacon Dale not only for the use of the loom, but more importantly for his time, patience and forbearance in advising in the whole process along with the advice in relation to the admission to the Weavers Incorporation”
The Essay Piece was done not just as an admission to the Weavers but also as a family memento or heirloom, which is to be framed and hung at home.
As you look at the photograph, the piece has 7 bands. The outer two (pink-ish in colour) are decorative.
The second (grey-ish) is 25 rows deep – when I wove the piece, my wife and I were 25 years married.
The third (red-ish) is 23 rows deep – when I wove the piece, our daughter Ailsa was 23 years old.
The fourth (lilac-ish) is 22 rows deep – when I wove the piece, our daughter Amy was 22 years old.
The fifth (pink-ish) is 19 rows deep – when I wove the piece, our daughter Chloe was 19 years old.
The sixth (dark) is 13 rows deep – when I wove the piece, our son Louis was 13 years old.
Now admitted as a Burgess, Neil can take part as a full member of the Aberdeen Weavers Incorporation.