PULK is the Norwegian word for a sledge, more specifically a sledge pulled along by a skier, a dog, or sometimes a reindeer; the Sami people call them puhlke the Swedes pulka. In lands covered by snow for large parts of the year, skis were/are often the only way of getting around, and if you had things to take with you on the journey you would put it in the pulk.

In days gone by there was a long held tradition in most Scandinavian countries that one of the family (usually father) would make a pulk to be used by the family, the children were often the first to be towed along before they could walk or ski themselves, the pulk would be repaired and replaced as required over the generations.

Founder of our collection, Mick Tighe, met an old Norwegian man called John Revold in Narvik, North Norway, many moons ago and the talk drifted onto pulks. John had the family pulk in his house and with no descendants to leave it to he asked Mick if he wanted it – he did!

There was a wonderful twist in the tale as John had been attached to the Special Operations Executive (SOE) during World War Two, spending some time based in North West Scotland, where it seems there had been a brief love affair with a local lass. He told Mick that his when his pulk went to Scotland a little bit of his heart would go with it.