TWEED cloth worn by characters in the hit film Braveheart was designed and woven by a Huddersfield couple at their mill on Islay.

Gordon and Sheila Covell, who have been living on the Scottish island since 1981, have also produced cloth for a number of other big-budget American films, including Forrest Gump, The Legend Of Bagger Vance, Far And Away, December Bride and Kidnapped.

Besides reviving and running a successful mill Gordon was also a member of the Islay lifeboat crew for 14 years. When he retired from the crew five years ago he received a certificate recording his part in saving 64 lives.

The story of how Gordon and Sheila found success on a Scottish island after being buffeted from one job to another during the decline of the textile industry is itself suitable material for a film.

Gordon was born in York, coming to live in Crosland Moor with his parents when he was five. Later the family moved to Fartown. On leaving Fartown Secondary School he joined George Mallinsons at Linthwaite as an apprentice loom tuner.

Sheila, formerly Sheila Smith, grew up in Linthwaite, joining C and J Hirsts as a trainee mender on leaving Colne Valley High School. Later she worked as a mender at Elon Crowthers.

Gordon left Mallinsons when he was 22 to work for Dublin Rayon in Southern Ireland. Later he worked for Colne Valley Tweed until the firm closed, then managed a small Pembrokeshire mill.

He was asked if he would be interested in re-opening a small mill which had been derelict for a number of years on Islay.

"I seized the opportunity to be my own boss," Gordon says. "I never took kindly to working for someone else."

He moved to the island as manager of the Islay Woollen Company when he was 39. Textiles had been manufactured on the mill site for more than 550 years. An old building in which linen was woven is now being restored as a tourist attraction. A hand-loom has been installed.