Dudley the Cat Unveiled

I was invited along to this morning's ceremony at Linlithgow Canal Basin. 

The weather couldn't have been worse - the rain getting heavier and heavier. This is the big moment with Fiona Hyslop the culture and toruism minister and local MSP doing the honours.  She was good enough to remove her umbrella for a couiple of minutes so we could get a picture.

They are hoping this will be Linlithgow's equivalent of Greyfriars Bobby and already people have been going up to stroke it or look into its eyes.

The sculptor , David Annand is in the Extra.  I've photographed a few of his other pieces.

Dudley was the cat of Liz Burrows, one of Burgh Beautiful’s founding members, who left a  very generous legacy to Linlithgow  Burgh Beautiful in her will.   It was mosly spent on many worthwhile local projects.  However there was a feeling that the remainder of Liz’s bequest should be spent on something a little less utilitarian and which might be more of a distinctive feature in the town, more obviously reflecting Liz’s generosity and her interest in the arts.  She lived by the Union Canal with her much-loved cat Dudley and was an active member of the Linlithgow Union Canal Society.. The idea of a bronze sculpture of the cat, a local celebrity, a little more than life-size, at this location emerged.