Greyfriars Bobby Memorial Day

Greyfriars Bobby Memorial Day, the first of the events to mark the 150th anniversary of the setting up of the One o’ Clock Gun went like clockwork, thanks to the ground plan prepared by 105th Regiment R.A. (Volunteers).

The gunners also brought a field gun down from artillery headquarters at Colinton which left passers-by in no doubt as to what the civic ceremony was all about. The cadets of George Heriot’s Combined Cadet Force under the command of Major Bain formerly of the Royal Scots, provided the honour guard at the gate. Lieutenant Colonel Huthwaite the commanding officer of 105th Regiment R.A. (Volunteers) welcomed the guests including a contingent of juniors from George Heriot’s School just before one.

After Sergeant Shannon the District Gunner fired the One o’ Clock Gun from the Mills Mount Battery, the Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh underlined the importance of the time-gun and the story of Bobby in attracting thousands of visitors to the capital every year.

Mark Lazarowicz MP spoke of the importance of the time-gun to the Port of Leith in the past and how the time-ball on the Nelson Monument still links the port and the city. After Dr. Frazer the minister of Greyfriars Kirk explained the significance of Bobby to the area, Bombardier Blue assisted by Sarah Anderson laid the wreath at the world famous dog's memorial stone. The guests including Mark Smith the Curator of Firepower were then piped to Greyfriars Kirk by Pipe Major Anderson where Isobel Skeldon presented the ‘Legend of Greyfriars Bobby’ to an appreciative audience. The photograph taken by the Army Press Office shows Lt. Colonel Huthwaite giving Bombardier Blue the go-ahead to lay the wreath.