Shetland peat cutter, 71, is internet sensation
WHEN Esme Wilcock decided to film her father cutting peats on Shetland, she had no idea the video would go viral and be viewed around the globe. The clip features Bruce, 71, near his Hillswick home working effortlessly to gather fuel – all while dressed in his best tweed jacket, hat and plus-fours.
Mr Wilcock, a master blacksmith, has lived in Shetland since 1975
I had videoed him cutting the peats more as a living memory for myself
Mr Wilcock, a master blacksmith, has lived in Shetland since 1975.
Known for his distinctive style, he makes his own clothes and boots and has even made his own traditional tool – known as a tushkar – to cut the peats, which are stacked to dry before being used on open fires.
The film captures Mr Wilcock, a striking figure in tweed with a matching deerstalker, as he methodically cuts into the ground and stacks the peats on the bank.
The footage has now been viewed more than 100,000 times and has had thousands of shares.
The footage has now been viewed more than 100,000 times
Esme Wilcock thought ti would be lovely for people to see this online
Ms Wilcock, 43, a bespoke jewellery-maker, said: “I’m amazed at the response.
“I had videoed him cutting the peats more as a living memory for myself than anything else.
“I’ve videoed and photographed him doing it the past few years.
“I thought it would be nice to share to let other people watch and never gave it another thought until I picked up my phone.
Mr Wilcock makes his own clothes and boots
“There was a massive amount of notifications, and that’s when I realised that I maybe wasn’t the only one that found it interesting.
“The videos have been shared all over the world. They seem to evoke so many memories in people of smelling the peat fires, and a huge curiosity of what he is actually doing.
“As well, there is such amazing appreciation of someone as old-young as him doing such a manually hard job.
“And, no, he doesn’t need gloves, his hands are like leather.”