The unveiling takes place on Monday 7th June

The unveiling of the plaque to commemorate Frederick James Ritchie takes place on Monday 7th June at one o’ clock. The ceremony will take place outside the house at 6 Brunton Place (London Road), Edinburgh where the horologist lived for forty years.

When Frederick was eleven years old his father James Ritchie made him a partner in his clockmaking firm established in 1809 which at that time was situated at 29 Leith Street. Fascinated by electric clocks, Frederick began working on and developing the system invented by Alexander Bain.

In the 1850’s Frederick worked with Professor Charles Piazzi Smyth the Astronomer Royal for Scotland to set up the time ball on the Calton Hill’s Nelson Monument. In 1861 he worked with the professor and Chief Master Gunner Findlay to set up the One o’ Clock Gun.

After improving the Bain system pendulum system in 1872, six years later he devised a system of synchronisation using a slave clock. The plaque will be unveiled by Edward McCarthy who as a bombardier was responsible for firing the One o’ Clock Gun from 1968 to 1972.

Pipe Major Anderson will be present to play after the plaque is unveiled and our mascot Blue will be on parade with his garrison gun. We’d be glad to see you on Monday at quarter to one if have the time to come along.

105 Regt. R.A. (V.) will be firing a salute from the Mills Mount Battery, Edinburgh Castle to mark the anniversary of the coronation of H.R.H. Queen Elizabeth at noon on Wednesday, 2nd June.