END OF ERA LOOMS FOR WEAVER ROB,78
Fears great-grandad’s skills will be lost forever
SCOTLAND’S oldest weaver has told of his fears for the future of the industry with no young people coming through to whom he can pass on his expertise.
Great-grandad Rob Beaton started his career aged 14 as a textile mill apprentice – and uses a loom dating from 1928.
Over the decades, he has worked at five mills in and around Galashiels and Selkirk and at one time he used to make 25 miles of fabric a week.
But Rob says mechanisation has meant older looms like the ones he uses, some of which are nearly 100 years old, have fallen out of use and the knowledge about them has all but disappeared.
He added: “It’s been very difficult as the years have gone by and I’ve had nobody to turn to for help.
“The looms get worn out and all the guys who worked in the loom sheds have passed away. I think it’s going to be difficult to get people in. I had a young lad a few years ago as an apprentice but he wasn’t interested.”
But despite going part-time a year ago, Rob, who has been weaving wool for tartan and tweed products at Andrew Elliot Ltd in his hometown of Selkirk since 1989, has no plans to retire and works five days a week.
He said: “I’m fit as a fiddle. I hope I can go on for a few years yet.”
Rob’s boss Robin Elliot, 49, said: “Rob’s probably the best weaver about, in terms of his knowledge of older looms.
“If there’s an issue with the machinery, he’s got a very technical mind and can fix any problems.
“Rob’s 78 and fortunately he’s very fit but the knowledge he has, we need to get a trainee in so we can carry this forward. It’s very difficult to find somebody to come in but we just need to keep going.”