Originally from Kent, United Kingdon, Andrew hitchhiked to Orkney in 1966 and after many visits, eventually moved to Orkney in 1975. Since he was young, Andrew has had an appreciation for pottery, archaeology, and John Rae.
He made his first ceramic piece at three years old—a wild mushroom—and still makes them today. Andrew started Fursbreck Pottery in The Old Chicken House on Fursbreck Farm, Harray, which earned him the title of “The Real Harray Potter.”
At the age of eleven, Andrew began studying archaeology and has continued ever since! Combining his love for pottery and archaeology, he often recreated ancient pots he’d found.
When he was seven years old, he learned of John Rae from his father. Andrew has always respected Rae’s ways by hunting, foraging, and learning from “locals.”
Andrew initiated The John Rae Society in 2013 by splitting funds from The Orkney Boat Museum with Friends of Orkney Boats. As President of the John Rae Society, he made the deal to purchase The Hall of Clestrain from its reticent seller, thus ensuring the Hall’s eventual restoration—John Rae’s family home. The recent and vital archaeology there has produced extraordinary results!