A historic event took place at Waverley Station to mark the centenary of war poet Wilfred Owen’s first moments in the city on this day a hundred years ago.
Owen was a war poet who came to Edinburgh in 1917 to be treated for shellshock at Craiglockhart War Hospital as a result of his involvement in the war.
The former war hospital is now one of the Edinburgh Napier University campuses where the War Poets Collection is on display.
Professor Andrea Nolan, Principal at Edinburgh Napier, said: “Edinburgh Napier is incredibly proud to continue to honour the legacy of Wilfred Owen’s time within Edinburgh.
“Our Craiglockhart campus and War Poets Collection are both visual and aural reminders of the impact the city had on his work and we’re grateful to be a part of a series of events to commemorate 100 years since his historic arrival.”
To celebrate Owen’s life and work, a reenactment took place beginning with the poet’s arrival at Waverley Station on the sleeper train at 7.20a.m. The poet, portrayed by historian and actor David Clarke, was accompanied on the journey by Wilfred Owen’s nephew, Peter.
Other passengers on the train were entertained last night with talks about the poet. Pupils from Tynecastle High School joined in the celebrations this morning.
The event was organised by Wilfred Owen’s Edinburgh 1917-2017, a committee with members ranging from Edinburgh Napier University, Scottish Poetry Library and other.
Among the welcoming party were The Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh the Rt Hon Frank Ross and Norman Drummond the Chair of Scottish Government’s First World War Commemoration Panel.
Mr Drummond spoke to the assembled gathering and said : “There is no doubt that the war poets and their lives continue to influence and inspire in our classrooms, in our lecture halls and increasingly worldwide across the internet.”
Peter Owen, who is an ambassador of the Wilfred Owen Association said : “Wilfred Owen’s poetry has influenced poets of all times and ages.
“If Wilfred had an afterlife, no aspect would have pleased him more than the way his words have been used and modified by poets that came after him.”
After a short poetry reading by Christine de Luca the Edinburgh Makar, and a violin recital by Thoren Ferguson the group progressed onto Princes Street and along to The Caledonian Hotel.
The violin which was played during the commemoration was made by Steve Burnett from a sycamore in Craiglockhart Wood. Hidden inside the violin is one of Owen’s poems Written in a Wood 1910.
Commemorations continue throughout the day, with a civic reception at Lothian Chambers hosted by the Lord Provost and Edinburgh Napier’s Craiglockhart campus will host a special lecture this evening , when Sir Hew Strachan will speak about the First World War.
Additional writing by Calum Phillip.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
A very nice surprise to see “Wilfred Owen” this morning when I was on my way to work. I recall that it was Robert Graves who accompanied him on the train from Liverpool. Where was Robert today? :o) I have been to Napier to see the Owen Collection; it’s well worth a visit if you are an Owen fan. By the way, as Owen was born is Oswestry, we the Welsh, claim him as an Anglo-Welsh poet. We have to have our share of literary men you see!!
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