Lochinver man's handmade metal unicorn to feature in Chain of Freedom Scotland independence event this weekend
A large, metal unicorn handmade by a talented north-west Sutherland resident is set to play a prominent part in a unique Scottish independence event taking place on Saturday.
Duncan Hutchison of Lochinver will be showcasing the unicorn, which he has spent months making out of scrap metal, at the Chain of Freedom Scotland (COFS) event in the central belt.
And in a symbolic gesture, well-known Scottish journalist, broadcaster and author Lesley Riddoch will break chains binding the unicorn, which is the official national animal of Scotland.
Duncan will be accompanied to Falkirk for the event by his wife Marianne, ward councillor for north, west and central Sutherland, their daughter Franci and her partner Tom Woolley.
The Chain of Freedom Scotland has been coordinated by a small group of grassroots activists led by Judith Reid and William Bowie from Inverness.
It is being billed as an event like no other ever held in Scotland, and will see thousands of people link hand in hand the breadth of the central belt east to west - a distance of some 66 miles.
Duncan, who has worked across the globe as a rope access technician, hit the headlines in 2019 when he attempted to row the Atlantic solo in a skiff he built himself to raise funds for WaterAid.
He survived mountainous seas, brutal storms and even a shark attack, but had to be rescued after his boat’s vital-on board electrics failed.
He was later awarded the President's Award by WaterAid - the highest honour the charity can give and which was acknowledged and signed by WaterAid’s president, the then Prince Charles, now King Charles.
Duncan turned his building skills this year into constructing the unicorn out of scrap metal.
Marianne said: “Duncan enjoys upcycling materials to build new creations and over the past few months, he has welded together many, many old scrap pieces of steel to make a unicorn. It was a bit of fun in what are often dark times.
“On Saturday, October 14, we will be travelling to the Chain of Freedom event with the unicorn. I can’t say I’m looking forward to the journey but it will be different!"
Daughter Franci has also hit the headlines in her own right - she plays for Sutherland Women's Football Club and in April last year succeeded in a challenge to dribble a ball 64 miles from Lochinver to Goslpie, where she trains. She raised more than £2,265 for her team and the Ukraine Appeal.
Franci said: “My dad built the unicorn from scrap metal and would like to showcase it at the Chains of Freedom event in support of Scottish independence.
“It is as large as a horse and will have chains that will be broken by Lesley Riddoch.”
Organiser Judith Reid is reported as saying: “The Chain of Freedom Scotland is, without doubt, one of the biggest challenges in organisational terms for our independence movement.
“We hope to galvanise a chain of independence supporters, with their saltires, to link hand to hand the breadth of the central belt.
“The route to be used is the canal/cycle path which the team are dividing into 11 sections with subsections of approximately a mile each.”
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It is expected that those taking part will join hands at 12.45pm for up to 20 minutes on the day of action.
The event has been planned with specific timing and relies on all those participating - who have been asked to register in advance - to be aware of scheduled timings and specific entry and exit points.