About

Friends of Stoneworks Orkney is a charity dedicated to supporting the local community. It is managed by John Hamilton, a skilled stonemason and Ann Sutherland (Queen Ann).

Find out why the charity started in John's Story
Discover Stoneworks purpose and what it aims for
Dive into Stoneworks Stories which includes John's work and the support given to others
Check out some of the groups that have received support

John's Story

John Hamilton is the founder of the charity Friends of Stoneworks Orkney and these are his words....

In late 2016, I had to resign from my job after witnessing an assault at a site I was working on. My ex boss and his son decided to make my life a misery because I refused to lie to the police for them.

I fell into a state of severe depression in late 2019 to the stage I couldn't leave the house. The worst point of this happened after my tools were stolen, false allegations against me were made, I was punched in the head, and banned from half of Orkney. All because I did the right thing and went to court as a witness.

Suicide is real...

I decided enough was enough. I wanted to help people in Orkney who were struggling as I did and get back into my work.

5 years later and I'm feeling a lot better...

Ann (Queen Anne) and I run the charity together. It's thriving, the feature garden is taking shape, all thanks to the support we've received from near and far.

Our Purpose

We are a charity situated on the Orkney Islands established for the benefit of the local community.

We’re on a mission to:

Bring relief to those impacted by poverty, age, ill health, disability, financial hardship, and others.
Encourage and support community development for the people of Orkney.

We make this happen by supporting fundraising activities. Money raised goes towards donations and gifts, so that groups, organisations, and charities across Orkney can make a difference.

Stoneworks Stories

Stone Replica 1950s Chevy

John crafted a life-sized stone replica of a 1950s Chevy pickup, which he proudly showcases in his garden on Sunnybank Road. Following a successful crane lift, the chevy was positioned on a custom-made plinth. John has received inquiries from enthusiasts worldwide eager for details about his creation. A pickup owner from the USA helped John with precise measurements to replicate the stone pickup.

Stoneworks in Shetland

After raising more than £80,000 for various causes, John and Ann traveled to Shetland.

“The Shetland people have helped us a lot by donating and bidding on things so we decided to come up to say thanks.”

John and Ann led two live feeds from the West Side and Sandwick on different nights. A charity auction was held for a hamper of Orkney goods, which included Orkney whiskies - Highland Park and Scapa.

Proceeds from the adventure went to Shetland mental health charity Mind Your Head.

Orkney Chairs in Stone

This picture was taken during the construction of stone Orkney chairs for Stonework's garden, where visitors are welcome. These are now features in a walled area with a pond, a waterfall and a seating area.

Orkney chairs were originally made hundreds of years ago from readily available natural materials. They were intended as functional chairs consisting of a straw back with a wooden seat and support structure.

These Orkney chairs are a major attraction in the gardens and well worth a trip for a bit of meditation next to the pond.