Forres Heritage Trust is offering the chance to guide visitors around two of the town’s most historic buildings

The operator of two of the town’s most popular tourist attractions hopes more volunteers will give visitors a friendly welcome.

Forres Heritage Trust (FHT), which owns the Tolbooth and looks after Nelson’s Tower, needs more people to help when the buildings open to visitors at the end of March.

Volunteer coordinator, Peter Haworth, confirmed the onus is on them to be welcoming - not to have a huge knowledge of the building’s history and heritage.

He said: “Volunteering is a lot of fun and such a rewarding thing to do. We meet so many people from all over the world and we need more people to give them a fantastic, warm Forresian welcome.

“The tower is very much a self-guided tour, with visitors scaling the steps so they can enjoy the views. We provide volunteers with information packs if they wish to learn more about the building, but what we really need are people on hand just to say hello. “

To help encourage more volunteers, FHT will be holding four drop-in sessions next month for people to find out more about what is involved.

Nelson’s Tower was built by public subscription as a memorial to Admiral Lord Nelson. The foundation stone was laid by James Brodie of Brodie on the August 26, 1806.

The monument is owned by Moray Council but looked after by trust. It will open for the season on Saturday, March 29 and is then open every day from 2-4pm through to the end of September.

After a sell-out event in February when the trust trialled opening the tower in the evening, it will again be open from 7pm on March 29.

Peter explained: “It’s a fantastic experience and gives a very different view of Forres and of course the skies.”

FHT is also preparing to relaunch tours through the Tolbooth. Over the last three years, FHT has offered tours from the old police office and cells, through the back corridors, up via a room where visitors enjoy a model of the old Forres railway and station then head into the courtroom. The visit is then finished outside, on the parapet of the clocktower where people can enjoy views over the town.

FHT chairman, George Alexander, reiterated that volunteers do not need to have a vast historical knowledge of the tower or Tolbooth.

He said: “The volunteers at both buildings are there to be friendly and make sure people have a nice experience. Current volunteers and trustees help those who lend a hand, and any new volunteers are paired with someone who has previously helped us.”

The drop-in days will take place in the Tolbooth on Friday, March 7 from 2-4pm, Saturday, March 8 from 10am to midday, Friday, March 14 from 2-4pm and Saturday, March 25 from 10am to midday.

For more information, visit www.forresheritage.co.uk/support/ or email Peter at FHTvolunteers@outlook.com.