Tam Gilzean was a charity fundraiser. He always said that he was raising money “for the children”.
And he dared anyone to pass him without making a contribution to the tin he rattled for the Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity.
He was decorated for his actions during the Second World war, receiving the Legion d’Honneur from the French Consul General in 2016 at the City Chambers. He was a frequent visitor there and also received the prestigious Edinburgh Award.
Each day he would go to Gordon’s Trattoria for his lunch having spent the morning outside Jenners or on the High Street rain hail or shine.
Now a replica of the figure which artist Chris Rutherford created in 2019 for the Oor Wullie trail in Edinburgh has been placed outside Gordon’s on the Royal Mile in his honour.
All monies raised from the sale of the statues went to Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC) to fund vital medical equipment and research, family support services and innovative play programmes for children and young people at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children.
Read more about the project here.
Picture Alan Simpson
An Oor Wullie Themed Statue of Edinburgh Fundraiser Tom Gilzean was unveiled on the Royal Mile by the Rt Hon Lord Provost Robert Aldridge
Picture Alan Simpson
Artist Chris Rutterford poses with the Oor Wullie Themed Statue of Edinburgh Fundraiser Tom Gilzean was unveiled on the Royal Mile by the Rt Hon Lord Provost Robert Aldridge
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
