A PAINTING found at a recycling charity’s Macmerry base caused quite a stir at a county flower show.

Attendees at Gifford Flower Show over the weekend enjoyed a blast from the past as they got a glimpse of the painting, which features the show.

Tommy Johnstone, 80, found the work of art at Recycling First, which is based at Macmerry Industrial Estate.

The painting, called Soft Fruits, depicts a woman showing fruits to group of women who are enjoying the flower show many years ago in front of the village’s Tweeddale Arms Hotel.

It is thought the painting is approximately 30 years old.

Tommy was first drawn to the painting after seeing the famous hotel in the background and immediately knowing it was set in Gifford.

He attends the flower show every year and knows how popular it is with both locals and those from further afield.

After buying the painting last Thursday, two days before the show, Tommy, who is from Macmerry, wanted to do something special with it and so took it to Gifford.

He wanted to allow those at the flower show to catch a glimpse of the piece but also help him identify the women featured in it.

Tommy told the Courier: “They asked me if I would leave the painting with them so that people could see it over the weekend, which in fact they did.

“I asked them if in return they could tell me who the ladies who are in the painting were – they came up with every one.”

The women were identified as Ro Henderson, Wendy Prentice, Elizabeth Whiteford and Sue Galbraith.

Tommy said: “When I went up on Sunday they said: ‘Great news Tom, we’ve found out all the ladies’ names and the artist.’

“There’s this guy from Gifford called Alan Armstrong, who is also an artist, who told me who the artist was. It turns out he was one of his friends.”

Tommy found out that the artwork was painted by a man called Alistair Tulloch, who was the head technical teacher at Preston Lodge High School before the original building was burned down more than 50 years ago in 1967.

In fact, it transpired that Mr Tulloch used to teach Tommy in 1953 when he attended Preston Lodge.

And in another connection between Tommy and the painting, the mother of Tommy’s son-in-law used to work for one of the women in the painting.

As soon as Tommy saw the painting, he knew he needed to have it.

He said: “I got my eyes on it as soon as I saw the Tweeddale Arms Hotel in the background.

“When I found out no one had made an offer on it, I made one of my own which was accepted straight away.”

The painting proved a big draw at Gifford Flower Show, with curious onlookers talking about it and asking questions.

And among those who went to see the painting was one of the women featured in it – she had her picture taken beside it.

Ian Grant, chair of Gifford Flower Show, said: “It was very interesting to see, it created a lot of attention. It’s a special piece.”

As for his future plans for his painting, Tommy said: “I’m going to hold onto it. I have been asked if I would like to bring it back to the flower show, which I will do.

“The hotel have also approached me and asked if I would like it hung in there, which I would consider only if they can guarantee the painting’s safety.

“I’m holding onto it at the moment but I am not too sure what to do with it next.”