The campaign

 

The campaign to set up a statue of Robert Louis Stevenson in North Berwick has begun.

 

If you hear a chap at your door after reading this, it’ll be me with my collecting tin. Young Robert came to the town with his family for their summer holidays as his uncle had a house down at the Quadrant. He might have learned to smoke when he was in North Berwick as it was possible to buy a single cigar from the tobacconist.

 

The local youngsters would buy a Pickwick for a penny, before heading for the deserted cottages near the Lady’s Walk for a fly smoke.

 

Next to ‘Greyfriars Bobby’ my favourite book is ‘Treasure Island’. Walt Disney filmed both stories. It’s reckoned that Robert used Fidra for his map of Treasure Island.

 

I’ll be travelling up to Edinburgh with Isobel and Kit on Wednesday. Brian will be waiting for us at the Waverley to take us to George Heriot’s where we’re presenting the ‘Legend of Greyfriars Bobby ‘ to Primary 3. I’ll let you know how we got on next week.

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