Qualifications and Awards

Bruce Wilcock is an RSS (Registered Shoeing Smith) and has been awarded the honour of being made an Associate of the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths. He has won many awards at County Shows, including 1sts at the Great Yorkshire Show and the Royal Show and has been awarded medals from the British Horse Society and the National Association of Master Farriers, Blacksmiths and Agricultural Engineers. Bruce has also been 'Great Yorkshire Show Champion', an award given by the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths. He has also gained 1sts for toolsmithing.

History

Bruce started general blacksmithing, toolsmithing and farrier's work in 1969 in the West Riding of Yorkshire. Moving to the Shetland Isles in 1976, he continued to develop the toolsmithing side of the business. Prior to his retirement in 2007, Bruce manufactured a range of high quality hand forged tools for the farrier, blacksmith, woodworker and stone mason using traditional materials such as carbon and alloy steels and shafts made from split hickory. 

Since his retirement, Bruce has enjoyed his other passion, photography, however most of his time has been taken up helping his son Ben with his Highland Sea Charters business. Bruce and Ben have renovated a 70ft 1960's Herring Drifter and made it a comfortable vessel, fully equipped for chartered sea trips for both the experienced fisherman and the novice.

More details can be found on Ben's website - http://www.highlandseacharters.co.uk  

  Bruce also does courses in toolsmithing and blackmithing from the Smithy in Hillswick. See 'Courses' for more details.