Greyfriars Bobby – Leith Academy reopens – Council Budget Consultation – Cairn Energy – Horse trials
A plaster model of Edinburgh’s famous Greyfriars Bobby is being sold at Lyon & Turnbull on the 26th January 2013 as part of their Interiors Sale. It is believed that it was originally made for Edinburgh Council to approve before the final statue, cast in bronze, was unveiled at its current location in Candlemaker Row.
The plaster model was owned by Chief Constable Willam Merrilees OBE of Lothian and Peebles Constabulary. He was given the model by the company who made the famous statue after he offered his help with making the 1961 Walt Disney film about the famous dog.
On a visit to America, Chief Constable Willam Merrilees met and became friendly with Walt Disney, and when the Disney Studios decided to make the film “Greyfriars Bobby”. Disney contacted Merrilees to consult him on suitable locations for the film. To thank him for his help, Walt Disney gave Merrilees the star of the film, a Skye terrier named “Wee Bobby”. “Wee Bobby” paid regular visits to the children at Trinity Lodge in Edinburgh, as well as appearing at various charity events to raise funds for good causes. He was joint ‘best man’ at Chief Constable Willam Merrilees marriage in 1968!
Margaret Cumming who is selling the statue and is the granddaughter of the owner said “Wee Booby” had a very special place in our family and the statue is a happy reminder of him, but sadly in the future I will not have space to keep him, so I need to let it go.”
The catalogue listing reads:-
A brown painted plaster model of Greyfriars Bobby, on a circular wooden base, overall 51cm high; together with a VICTORIAN HAND TINTED PHOTOGRAPH, depicting a female with a Skye terrier, purporting to be Greyfriars Bobby, signed ‘Crowe and Rodgers, Stirling’, in a glazed frame, 32 x 25cm (2)
£500-£1,000
The Reporter was at the recent event held in Greyfriars Kirkyard to commemorate Greyfriars Bobby’s birthday and you can watch video from the event here.
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Leith Academy School (and Nursery) will be re-opened for pupils today Wednesday, 23 January 2013 at 8.30am. Heating issues have been addressed.
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A mere 336 people have responded to the council’s online budget survey, although other responses to the council’s monetary plans were also received by other means such as post and email.Today’s meeting at the City Chambers of the Policy Development and Review Sub-Committee of the Finance and Budget Committee will discuss the report on consultation feedback.
It has been proposed that council staff will in future be able to make cost cutting recommendations. There will also be a long term arrangement where anyone, whether a member of the public or a group involved in council work, will discuss what are described as ‘key budget issues’ such as transport, education and care for vulnerable people. The way that this will be done will be proposed at the February meeting of the committee.
The council’s draft budget will be discussed and ratified at a meeting of the council to be held on 7 February 2013
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Cairn Energy the Edinburgh based oil exploration company seems to be on a roll with its many exploration sites across the world. The company has issued the following statement about its future exploration plans:-
‘Over the next five years the Company expects to spend US$1.5 – US$2bn on its development assets (which will be partially debt funded); plus a rolling average annual programme of exploration and appraisal to average between US$250 to US$300 million (net of any Norwegian tax refunds).”
Cairn will issue its preliminary 2012 figures on 19 March 2013.
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The Courier reports that the Central Scotland Horse Trials are being relocated to Dalkeith Country Park from their long-established base at Scone Palace. The first event is due to take place in 2014.
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