Barnwell II

A sense of deja vu about this - see http://www.blipfoto.com/entry/1019854. Today saw the unveiling of the new sculpture to commemorate the first powered flight in Scotland - achieved by Harry and Frank Barnwell in 1909, only a few years after the Wright Brothers, over the grand distance of 80m and the dizzying height of 13ft.

The monument to their success was the brainchild of my Dad. He was the driving force behind the installation of the original sculpture, affectionately known as the marshmallow in 2005. Cliff Bowen's sculpture was vandalised a couple of years ago, but is likely to reappear in a new location soon - pupils at Wallace High please note.

The new effort is a much more robust affair and likely to withstand the vagaries of the Scottish weather and occasional bevvied up teenager. It is the work of Pete Hill and makes a striking addition to the area around Causewayhead.

I am no photographer, as this diary testifies - but you can see the effect I was trying to achieve. I doubt the Barnwells would have managed a flight over the Wallace in 1909, but I'm glad that Stirling's place in the history of modern aviation is again properly marked.

The old man would have approved.