Elly
Administrator
Posts: 29,887
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Post by Elly on Jan 8, 2007 17:22:34 GMT 10
Good you are going Neil, look forward to hearing about it.
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Post by neil6147 on Jan 8, 2007 18:28:39 GMT 10
Well if they shout loud enough and the wind is blowing the right way you might just hear it live from Edinburgh.
LOL
Neil
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Post by mcnass on Jan 22, 2007 19:41:48 GMT 10
Thanks for the pictures, Neil. I took me some time to get through your fine reports. Yes, I like Edinburgh and I still remember what happened two years ago. We had B&B (I don't know were) and we went out in the evening to get something to eat. We found a small shop and I talked to the owner about this and that while a heavy rain was outside. When my family and I decided to go back home, the owner of the shop told us to wait for a moment. A few minutes later he stood with his car in front of the shop and brought us back to the B&B. This is that kind of typical Scottish kindness I have met so often! Sincerely, Mike
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Post by neil6147 on Jan 25, 2007 3:08:29 GMT 10
THE grave is overgrown, the memorial plaque long since removed and the once-locked gate now swings open, allowing trespassers to cover the site in litter.
Yet this is the burial place of one of the most important sculptors of the 19th century, the man who created some of Edinburgh's most famous monuments.
Indeed Queen Victoria was so pleased with Sir John Steell's statue of her husband, Prince Albert, which stands in Charlotte Square, that she gave him a knighthood.
Now a leading authority on the Capital's graveyards is campaigning for more to be done to remember him at his neglected resting place in Old Calton Cemetery.
Author Michael Turnbull, who wrote the Edinburgh Graveyard Guide, wants the council to invest in making sure that Sir John's role in Edinburgh is not forgotten.
He said: "It is ironic that such a famous sculptor - who was knighted by the Queen because of his work and created some of the best statues in Edinburgh - is not even remembered in the graveyard that he is buried in.
"His artwork is a monument to him but his own grave is a mess. The grass is overgrowing at it and the gate is never locked anymore.
"I took one elderly lady from America who was a descendant of his to see the grave years ago and she was almost tearful about the state of it.
"If there is no direct family to fund tidying it up then the council should do it. It would not cost much to put up a plaque and cut the grass back."
Council leaders have pledged to tidy up the city's cemeteries, but said individual graves remain the family's responsibility - although it may be possible to look again at special "historic" graves like Sir John's.
Among the other famous works he created are the seated figure of Queen Victoria on the Royal Scottish Academy, the Duke of Wellington on horseback outside the Register Office, Alexander taming Buchepalus outside the City Chambers and Sir Walter Scott at the Scott Monument.
Joanna Soden, curator of the collections department at the Royal Scottish Academy, said: "Sir John was probably the most important sculptor active in Edinburgh for most of the 19th century.
"Pieces he created have formed part of the most iconic Edinburgh street scenes, such as Queen Victoria above the RSA and the Duke of Wellington outside Register House. He has helped create Edinburgh as we know it."
Councillor Iain Whyte, the leader of the city's Tory group, has campaigned for refurbishment of the Old and New Calton cemeteries. He said: "We should always look to ensure that any grave is looked after, especially an important figure from the past.
"It would be good if any relatives still alive could assist with the restoration of the grave, or perhaps some interested groups could do something to commemorate him. The council doesn't specifically have a budget for this sort of thing but if it's a fairly simple thing like putting a plaque up it should be able to do it as part of other upgrading work happening at the same time."
Councillor Donald Anderson, the city's culture leader, said: "Sir John Steell left a highly visible legacy of immense importance to the city. His grave in Old Calton Cemetery is surrounded by others of great consequence, including David Hume.
"The council has recently announced funds for the improvement of cemeteries in general, however individual graves remain the responsibility of the family.
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Post by neil6147 on Apr 1, 2007 4:21:23 GMT 10
Town Crier Contest Edinburgh 2007. ####################### Hi to you all it was the Town Crier Contest in Edinburgh this afternon in aid of the Marie Curie Cancer Fund. This was the first every contest to be held in Edinburgh and we hope this can be the organisers dream of it being a world championship event. However well done to the organiser as he only came up with the idea at the start of the year. Things were already under way when we arrived. This was mainly due to trying to find somewhere to park in the city centre. This is the Town crier who organised the event. He lives in Dalkieth not far from us. And has lead the Edinburgh Festival Parade for many years. John is also the only Town Crier in Scotland. Two of the females who were with some of the Town criers Some of the Town Criers that took part. This Town Crier reminded me of the comedian called Jimmy Cricket. The Town crier on the left from Holland was Runner up and the Town Crier on the right from the Newcastle area was winner of todays contest. Todays winner. Bells up at the end of the contest. All the Town criers went on walk about in Edinburgh after the event. Plus all the Town Criers that I had the chance to talk to were pleased to hear about Tartan Blood. And thought it was a good way to promote Scotland World Wide. Hope you have enjoyed this very unsual event which I personally hope to see become a yearly event. Neil
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Elly
Administrator
Posts: 29,887
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Post by Elly on Apr 1, 2007 17:28:50 GMT 10
Thanks Neil, look like another good day, its a good idea too, something different.
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Post by andi on Apr 1, 2007 18:09:15 GMT 10
Excellent photies!
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Post by dreamy on Apr 1, 2007 21:27:12 GMT 10
Thank you again for some really wonderful photos, Neil. Quite something different this time; I enjoyed them a lot!
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