Banchory Bangle 2008 Revealed

Beautiful Banchory Bangle to raise funds for CHILDREN 1^ST

Award winning jewellery designer and royal engraver Malcolm Appleby has unveiled a stunning Banchory Bangle to celebrate the 21st anniversary of the Aberdeen Touch of Tartan Ball.

The exclusive item, which has become a much sought after accessory across the North-east of Scotland, is created each year from donations of 18-carat gold.

Mr Appleby has designed a new bangle every year since the late l970s for the Touch of Tartan Ball, which has so far raised in excess on £1m for Scottish child welfare charity, CHILDREN 1^ST.

This year’s 18ct yellow gold bangle is a stunning creation, incorporating Scottish garnets from Fife, known as Elie Rubies, into its design of the “Little White Rose of Scotland”.  The eye-catching piece of jewellery is said to symbolise the Spirit of Scotland.

Juliette Paton, who chairs the Touch of Tartan Ball Committee, said: “This year’s Banchory Bangle is a truly stunning piece of jewellery.  Once again Malcolm Appleby has used his amazing talents to design a remarkable creation for the Touch of Tartan Ball and for CHILDREN 1^ST.  This will undoubtedly be a superb addition to the lucky winner’s jewellery box.”

In previous years, the various Banchory Bangle’s have been inspired by nature, including themes such as wild flowers, birds and leaping salmon.

Last year’s ‘Beloved Peacocks’ Bangle also won a Gold Award for engraving and a silver award for prototype production jewellery at the 2008 Goldsmiths Craft Design Council Awards.

Tickets for the beautiful Banchory Bangle are sold for just £1 across the North of Scotland in the weeks leading up the to the Touch of Tartan Ball with the winning ticket drawn at the event which is taking place this year on 21st November at the city’s Beach Ballroom.

The second prize in the exclusive draw is a superb silver bangle also created by Malcolm Appleby.

Emily Johnson of CHILDREN 1^ST said: “The sale of tickets for the Banchory Bangle is always hugely popular across the North-east and it generates a huge amount of funds for the charity.  Those who buy a ticket will not only have the chance to win the beautiful bangle, they will also be helping to improve the lives of many Scottish children.”

In the North East, the charity’s Corrieneuchin services in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire work with children to help them recover from abuse and trauma, while the Fraserburgh Families service protects children affected by parental drug or alcohol abuse.

CHILDREN 1^ST also runs Family Group Conferencing services throughout Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, which bring families together to find ways of keeping children who cannot be looked after by their parents within their extended family instead of being taken into care.