LIVING ORKNEY ARTICLE ON IDENTICAL TWINS JUDITH AND JANE GLUE

Judith Glue Islander ad feature final draft St Magnus Cathedral is probably the most instantly recognised symbol of Orkney. It is certainly one of the most visited attractions in the islands. And naturally Judith Glue’s large shop immediately opposite, is another extremely popular tourist attraction. The first thing visitors to the cathedral see on leaving is the inviting window display of the best of Orkney products. Many visitors, particularly those on cruise liners, are on very tight itineraries, and they appreciate finding in one place, just seconds away from the cathedral, a complete range of Orkney’s best products. As in the summer the shop is open seven days a week from 9 am until 8 pm from June until August, they need never be faced with “closed” signs on the door when their schedule brings them into the centre of Kirkwall. Whether visitors are simply looking for postcards or unique Orkney souvenirs and handmade crafts, souvenirs, Orkney fudge, or Highland Park Whisky, delicious Orkney ice-cream made from the milk from Orkney dairy herds, locally made Orkney wine and preserves, exclusive hand-made woollen goods or Orkney oatcakes, cheese and biscuits, they will not leave empty-handed. Shopping there is even less expensive for non-EU visitors, as they will be provided with a tax-free service which enables them to claim back 17.5 percent VAT on purchases when they leave the UK, and if they wish Judith to mail to their home address then she can deduct the VAT tax directly from their purchases.

A visitor from Italy, Franca Fresia, who completed a questionnaire in the shop last summer, was very enthusiastic. “It is lovely,” she said of the shop. “Everything is displayed in an attractive way and things are not too crammed up.” Asked if she could think of anything that needed to be added to the stock either in the shop or the website, she had replied: “It’s almost impossible to think of anything else.” A visitor from Aberdeenshire, Mrs G.P. Foster –Axten, summed it all up with the comment: “Excellent range of goods and friendly service.” Indeed what Judith offers, she says, is not just the opportunity to find the best of Orkney in one shop, but a shopping experience. “Free Orkney food and wine tasting, browsing the racks of hand-made woollen goods I have personally designed, inspired by the scenery and colours of the islands, choosing gifts including prints and original paintings of local scenes by Jane Glue, for whom we are the exclusive Kirkwall outlet, and while listening to live performances by young players creating the musical sounds of the islands, make coming in here a unique event,” says Judith.

Jane Glue – Judith’s twin sister - is a talented artist, and has this year moved to her new premises in Finstown, half-way between Kirkwall and Stromness. She has extensively renovated an old stone building where she now has her teaching studio at which she runs art classes. There is a gallery which displays her original water colours and a sales area for those folk who wish to buy gifts, prints and arts materials. Judith’s father used to say to the twins that they would never make any money out of being arty. “But,” says Judith, “he would be proud of us now.” Stepping in through the doorway from Broad Street is not the only way into the shop. Judith has installed web cameras and visitors who can log on to her website ( www.judithglue.com) can feel they are right there without leaving home. While browsing her site you can also listen to Orkney music and read about personal recommendations from Judith’s customers on where to visit, stay and eat and drink in Orkney, the best beach to walk on or the most interesting and unusual places to see or to buy something different. Whether you live in Norway or New Zealand, Japan or the USA, you can order on-line via the website or add your details to her mailing list whilst you are in her shop and she will be happy to post you her brochures. Judith who has been mailing world-wide her knitwear and gifts for over 26 years says this has resulted in many loyal customers. Judith introduced the concept of Orkney Food and Drink Hampers for UK residents many years ago. Ranging in price from under £20 up to £165 for the “ Orkney Grand Deluxe” version, full of quality Orkney produce made by local producers - much of which you simply will not see sold anywhere else. The hampers are proving extremely popular. Judith has seen demand soar from 1,500 per annum a year ago to over 2,000 in the last 12 months. They are particularly popular as Christmas presents.

Who is the guiding light behind this most successful and enterprising business? An attractive dark-haired mother of two, Judith Glue is the daughter of the late Donald Glue, whose garden nursery and the flower shop in the centre of Kirkwall are now run by Judith’s brother Donald and his family. At school her passion was art and by 18 she had a small shop where she sold leather goods which she designed and made. Wanting to expand the range of goods on offer she took the plunge after only two years to move to the premises she currently occupies, and branched out into knitwear design. Orkney Island Knitwear was the result. A team of 15 knitters, finishers and linkers on the Orkney mainland and the North Isles produces hand-framed knitwear on small domestic knitting machines, working to Judith’s designs which are inspired by the environment she loves and the colours found in the countryside. At the rear of the shop is the workshop where all the pieces are collated and then sent out to finishers to be linked or sewn together. Cathy Gray presses and labels the finished woollens. Sylvia Rendall has been with Judith for 17 years and as well as being in charge of the workshop, looks after the firm’s books. Suzanne Oatley is in her second year with Judith Glue’s and helps to operate the mail order business and, like Sylvia, works in the shop as well. Saturday and holiday assistant is Judith’s seventeen years-old daughter Annie whose striking looks have resulted in her featuring in the firm’s brochure, modelling many of the unique clothing items.

“Seventy-five per cent of what I sell is produced in Orkney,” says Judith. “I believe in helping to sustain Orkney’s thriving community. I don’t want money going out of Orkney. I would rather it was turned round and went back into the islands’ economy.” Clearly, whether you have all the time in the world to spare, or just 10 minutes after the cathedral visit, before the tour bus moves on to its next destination, you should on no account miss the Judith Glue experience and the best of Orkney.