Sculpture of the Turra Coo begins to take shape

WORK has started on a long-awaited sculpture to commemorate one of the north-east’s most famous animals.

The basic model of the bronze Turra Coo has been constructed and a full-size £84,000 sculpture could be on display in the centre of Turriff this summer. The three artists working on the sculpture – David Blyth, Ginny Hutchison and Charles Engebretsen – showed off their progress at the weekend.

The unveiling of the attraction will bring to a close a five-year campaign by the Turriff Tourism Action Group.

Its chairwoman, Kate Ferguson, said: “Once work on the model is finished here, it will go to Edinburgh to be cast in bronze.

“We are hoping it might be in place before this year’s Turriff Show in August.”

The sculpture is based on a Jersey-Blonde cross called Alice who was selected to model for the artists after an appeal for a Turra Coo lookalike last year.

The original Turra Coo hit the headlines in 1911 after farmer Robert Paterson, of Lendrum, Turriff, refused to stamp employees’ insurance cards.

Sheriff’s officers seized one of his cows but a near-riot broke out at Turriff Square when an attempt was made to sell it.

The animal was later sold in Aberdeen and bought by farmers who returned it to Mr Paterson.

The sculpture project has attracted financial backing from businesses and individuals.

It has also been awarded grants from the rural Aberdeenshire Leader programme, Aberdeenshire Council, The McRobert Trust, the Mary Salmond Trust and Turriff and District Ltd.