Cultural connector

Reading time 15 minutes

Visiting Murray’s monument home Newton Stewart Scotland with creative community friends from Vietnam, Brazil, Germany and the former Yugoslavia.

 

Murray’s monument made from Dalbeattie granite, my uncle Jack was from Dalbeattie, partially sighted gardener who couldn’t understand discrimination

When there are no books on the subject

From Newton Stewart the Small Scottish town in the Galloway Forest, home of Alexander Murray FRSE FSA (Scot) D. Div doctor of divinity (1775-1813) a doctor of divinity is an honorary degree, often conferred upon a bishop, (God given knowledge) he was apparently grilled by a panel of academics and church leadership, and was found to have  unquestionable biblical understanding and came away feeling quite disgruntled.

A local shepherd boy who with only a year of formal Schooling became Professor of Oriental Languages at Edinburgh University, in 1811 translated, with approbation, a letter to the monarch George III from the prime minister of Ethiopia Egwala Seyon carried by Henry Salt the Abyssinia envoy. Context the Italo-Ethiopian War was 1887–1889 on-wards. To see the letters in British Library Kings Library.

The heart of the Grade I listed British Library, The King's Library one of the most important collections of books and pamphlets of the Age of Enlightenment. Assembled by George III.

Erected in memory of Alexander Murray on top of a remote hill a short distance from his place of birth in the 300 square mile Galloway Forrest park, Scot’s Pine and the largest forest in Britain.

Dumfries and Galloway mudflats important feeding grounds for migrating birds from Africa and the Mediterranean. the end of the Gulf Stream, overlooking Murrays Isles. 360° view link 2016

Cycling the journey it’s 22km 13mile round trip, he would have walked to school each day in all weathers.

Publications: he Edited Bruce’s Ethiopian Journal and wrote his life..

he knew distinguished abolitionist Henry Brougham PC, FRS who became Lord High Chancellor and played a prominent role in passing the 1832 Reform Act and 1833 Slavery Abolition Act.

They didn’t teach us any of this at school I’m still to discover if he was related to William Murray 1st Earl of Mansfield Lord Chief Justice who outlawed the transportation of slaves in England across the Oceans to Jamaica in 1772, see historic building conservation

Info with assistance from Sir Geoff Palmer human rights activist, first black Scottish university professor and Robert Burns historian.

23rd August is International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition.

A monument in memory to his contribution to society was erected on a remote hilltop In 1835, seven years later a short distance away the pedal bicycle was invented In 1842: Scottish blacksmith Kirkpatrick Macmillan tested his new invention, the world's first pedal bicycle. He rode his heavy contraption 68 miles, over two days, from Dumfriesshire to Glasgow.

The Olympic Games in 1896 - the Games of the I Olympiad - were a landmark in the history of Olympism as the first Olympic Games of the modern era. The same year the trocadiro was built see architecture

The Scottish Inventor of telephone Alexander Graham Bell, both his mother and his wife were profoundly deaf. Continuing His father’s work focused on developing a system of ‘visible speech’, which allowed speech sounds to be written down.

When the monument was damaged in a storm in 1929, when telephones where a rare luxury a crowd of 600-700 people from the surrounding countryside gathered to mark completion of restoration works miles from the closest village or town, Many most likely on bicycles. On the eve of the Second World War fighting Nazi and Fascist ideologies.

The first color photograph made by the three-color method suggested in 1855 by James Clerk Maxwell FRS FRSE who lays in Parton, Dumfries and Galloway

Remote Rosie’s waterfall Forrest hillside Waterfall at base of Murray's Monument, nature reserve wild goats and Deer to the side with visitor from Trinidad

Scotland’s national book town Wigtown is close by, which holds an annual book festival Scots, Gaelic and International Poetry Prize

Galloway Forest Park was established in 1947 and is the largest forest in the UK. The park was granted Dark Sky Park status ("Galloway Forest Dark Sky Park") in November 2009, and subject of a six-part BBC One documentary series aired in early 2018 entitled "The Forest".

Uncle Jack’s garden Colours and scents of flowers for passing people to enjoy

Dalbette where the stone was quarried for Murray’s monument, my uncle Jack lived, he was partially sighted almost blind gardener, his garden drew people coaches from day centres for its beautiful colours of the flowers and grass similar to a snooker table.

A countryside with small towns and villages one of those is Twynholm where Scottish Formula One racing driver David Coulthard won 13 Grands Prix in a career spanning 15 seasons during which he raced for Williams (1994-1995), McLaren (1996-2004) and Red Bull (2005-2008). By the time he retired from driving in 2008, he notched up 535 points, making him the highest scoring British driver of all time.

My Family connected the remote farms with electricity And at one stage owned the home of actor James Robertson Justice Ph.D., journalist, naturalist, an expert falconer, a racing car driver, Famous for his roles playing pompous authority figures in the seven films in the Doctor series in 1940-1950’s

One of my enduring memories was the almost zero crime rate and the pleasant way people where to one another.

While living and caring for my grandmother who was in her 20’s at Prestwick airport. During Battle of Britain one of the Female engineers keeping spitfires in the air before the American entered WW2 keeping Britain a stepping stone corridor for the Commonwealth to retake Europe.

Also Sir James A. Mirrlees FRSE FBA (5 July 1936 – 29 Aug 2018) was born and raised in the small town, won him the Noble Prize in Economics in 1996. for his work on a Fair taxation system to relieve third World counties from burden of Debt,

The local library didn't have a copy of James A. Mirrlees papers but the librarian said I could have tea with his mother, to discuss early child development. See Dyslexia

On James A. Mirrele work on a fair taxation system, Recently Michael Banner a leading academic, and reparation campaigner in Britain calling for compensation to be paid to Caribbean nations for the past crime of slavery. Has calculated Scotland owes Caribbean nations £20 billion in slavery reparations. Link

A Downing Street spokesperson had already ruled out financial reparations. And no royal apology at the commonwealth summit.

Bowen Craig Walk, Battle of Largs monument commemorating the defeat of a Viking fleet the Norwegian expedition against Scotland in 1263 by Scottish king, Alexander III, the Pencil

For those needing rest in there walk the Bench in Douglas park Larges Dedicated to family

apparently I’m related to a Dr Robertson in Girvin that Burns wrote a barbed piece about his place in the Kirk (church) and his medical practice, it seams the only mention of the profession in the poets work.

Those needing water my grandfather my name sake John (builder) water pump stands in the Robert Burns Gardens in Larges, Ayrshire. where The Pencil monument stands, commemorating the defeat of a Viking fleet in 1263.

Legend has it the thistle being the national emblem of Scotland from the battle of Larges

Digital arts

My Great Grandfather was turn of the twentieth century Scottish Master painter Charles Dolton Robertson who's father was the borough surveyor for Ayrshire, My grandfather after WWI was close friends with the famous tramp who wrote the book explaining the markings the homeless ex-servicemen used on walls of homes in Scotland to inform the next visitor the welcome they would receive i.e. will provide shelter, a meal, beware of the dog, don’t abuse hospitality of kind family.

Digital arts

Asked “Why would you do something kind for free for someone you don’t know from Adam”.

Charles D Robertson sketchbook 1909, Saltcoats Scotland, Digitally re-imagined

Royal British Legion: Remembrance poppy

Remeberance day poppiesHonor of Work showcased at IJL International Jewellery London next to the Royal British Legion, Poppies commemorating 100 year since the beginning of the Battle of the Somme in WWI. made from shells from the Somme produced by ex colleagues.

Remembrance poppy

In Flanders Fields The poem by John McCrae

Robert Burns meeting Murray, don’t know the princes of the image I would title it “it says”

Murray gained advise from Scottish poet and lyricist Robert Burns in Dumfries in 1794 following Burns' advice he went to Edinburgh where he was given a scholarship to study.

The best advice I ever received was from the founders of the Scottish Folk Band that wrote the Scottish National Anthem "Flower of Scotland" met at a Burns night Supper In the UAE United Arab Emirates, he told me to "keep copies of your work as one day the public would be interested".

Robert Burns was inspired for many of his poems by Robert the Bruce.

"It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom – for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself." Scotland's King Robert I (Robert the Bruce) response to being excommunicated by Pope John XXII. in the Declaration of Arbroath 6 April 1320.

The KJV King James Version of the Bible was commissioned in 1601 by Scottish King James VI as the officially translated Holy Bible into English, The Scottish King James inherited the English crown in 1603 on the death of Queen Elisabeth and became James 1st of England and the first edition of the KJV was published in 1611.

With the invention of the Guggenheim printing press the Bible was put in the hands of the people who before, would have had to understand Latin which was only for the rich or Priesthood. Imagine having to sit in church and not understand what was being said being told it was the holy language.

The Scottish stone of scone (stone of Destiny) was used in the coronation of Scottish monarchs until 1296 the talismanic brick has been housed in Westminster Abbey under watchful English eyes since. is the King Stone is placed under the Chair at each Coronation, From when the people choose the first king of Scotland, no King can be crowned without it today.

Scone Palace is a Category A-listed historic house near the village of Scone and the city of Perth, Scotland. Ancestral seat of Earls of Mansfield, see historic build  an example of the Gothic Revival style in Scotland. My grandmother played there as a child 

The first King of England was crowned in the tenth century a thousand years ago the location Kingston, (the King Stone) all saints church on the site original building had long gone, today there is a campaign to rebuild part of the site, it would have taken place by candle light under the stars.

Center of Kingston A short distance from the site of the coronation of the first King of England

note: my fSc in Historic building conservation in from Kingston University

Collage garden
Holy order lived in isolation studying scripture and grew Cottage garden and water collection

MOUNT GRACE PRIORY monastery established in 1398 is the best preserved Carthusian priory in Britain.

Mount Grace Priory is a monastery in Set in woodlands within the North York Moors National Park, it is represented today by the best preserved and most accessible ruins among the nine houses of the Carthusian Order, which existed in England in the Middle Ages and were known as charterhouses.

MOUNT GRACE PRIORY

Picturesquely set against the Cleveland Hills, Mount Grace is a very unusual monastic site. After the priory was closed the north guest house was converted into an 'Arts and Crafts' mansion and used as a comfortable weekend retreat. Despite the changes that have taken place the site remains the best preserved Carthusian monastery in England, where the occupants were hermits who lived in isolation.

In 1950 As Scotland attempted to establish its own parliament once again, young patriot Ian Hamilton vowed to salvage national pride by returning the Stone of Destiny, a symbol of Scottish sovereignty to its rightful place. 2007 historical drama Stone of Destiny.

Founded 12 May 1999 the Scottish Parliament in the Holyrood area of the capital city of Scotland, Edinburgh.

Edinburgh Scotland visit 2019

Scotland is one of the leading countries in space development in the World  projects include a understanding of climate change and weather patterns for crop management for food security.

The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, more commonly referred to as COP26, was the 26th United Nations Climate Change conference, held at the SEC Centre in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom, from 31 Oct to 13 Nov 2021.

Scotland had the first Muslim leader of a western democracy SNP leader Humza Yousaf, And he said Islamophobia has poisoned our politics, Scotland avoided recent far right rioting.

Scotlands sporting national anthem "Flower of Scotland" (Scottish Gaelic: Flùr na h-Alba, Scots: Flouer o Scotland)

Old friends with the founder of the Corries famous for Scotland's National Anthem “Flower Of Scotland” Visiting him in Edinburgh working together over a weekend on a night out enjoyed the singing of male crooners,

and worked closely with designer Meave Gillies who’s great grandfather William Gillies was a founder of the SNP Scottish National Party in 1920. The Scottish Government.

My university workshops Sir John Cass / Guildhall University was next to The Whitechapel Bell Foundry that opened in 1570, the creator of Big Ben and the Liberty Bell. I remember spinning brass bowls in the workshops, walking past foundry on my break and the heat and sounds.

Digital Archive of Historic Artifact.

Some time ago I was given a STL file 3D Model of the Liberty Bell to OBJ, FBX, DWG, gLTF, 3DS will add here as Digital Archive of Historic Artifact. Educational Purposes means use for the purpose of education, teaching, distance learning, private study and/or research. Download Model of the Liberty Bell

Whitechapel Bell foundry

Sadly the foundry closed on 12 June 2017, after nearly 450 years of bell-making and 250 years at its Whitechapel site. The site cleared for redevelopment.

2007 marked the 200th Anniversary of the abolishment of the transatlantic slave trade. Church bells have played a role in the abolishment movement. Bells are commonly representative of joy and freedom, and today being Cancer free.

The Liberty Bell in Philadelphia became a symbol for campaigners wanting to abolish slavery in the US

Independence Hall, Liberty Bell, Philadelphia, Pa. Post Card 1902 The Liberty Bell in Philadelphia became a symbol for campaigners wanting to abolish slavery in the US, On every Fourth of July, at 2pm and each year, the bell is gently tapped in honor of Martin Luther King Day. Recently a Blue Plague was unveiled in London to Martin Luther King

As an Arts and Cultural connector met with the Arts Council England to provide funding for Arts and Cultural projects through National Lottery funding to deprived areas of London.

Was invited to the British Library Labs and met the Lab manager and had a tour including the Qatar Foundation 2018 and met the digital curator of the Asia and Africa collections, 2019, 3D scanning artefacts and sharing and giving free access online,

Anne Frank sculpture by Doreen Kern at the British Library moved inside as it was subjected to mindless vandalism by far right.

Expert in the protection and management of cultural heritage resources in the specific region of planning strategies and policies, her dissertation examined existing Israeli and Palestinian archaeological and architectural inventories covering the occupied West Bank. Recent Israeli military operations in GAZA raises the serous importance of those records. Link Endangered Archives Project

doi.org/10.15130/EAP644 Digitising the Maison Bonfils photographs, Lebanon

An old friend M Mitchenal was sent to China by the British Libary to assist the local Chinese archiving historical artefact’s when MS Windows was not in Chinese and had to find a work around.

Following the meeting digital curator of African and Asian artifacts I promoted the return of the Ethiopian tabots. to member of clergy of Church of England. In fact Openly mocked by the public while discussing the subject in East London with a member of the clergy as including links to bishops.

An Elder in Ethiopian Church in Caribbean, told me the Church grew in popularity during the Second World War because of Rome's close links to Italian fascism, Second Italo-Ethiopian War 1935 – 1937

The Ethiopian Bible is the oldest and most complete bible on earth.

Written in Ge'ez an ancient dead language of Ethiopia it's nearly 800 years older than the King James Version and contains over 100 books compared to 66 of the Protestant Bible.

“Westminster Abbey agrees ‘in principle’ to return sacred tablet to Ethiopia, Carved wooden tabot has been at Abbey since British forces looted it at Battle of Maqdala in 1868. “”There have been successful returns of tabots held in British institutions.”   “One was sent back to Ethiopia soon after it was discovered in a church cupboard in Edinburgh 23 years ago”. Lanre Bakare the Guardian  Link 19 Feb 2024

the British Museum is now being investigated for the 11 wooden and stone Tablots it has held under lock and key for past 170 years so sacred that no one including academic researchers and allowed to study them. April 2024

Recent Increased security at the British Museum

Trocadero centre Mosque

On my travels people knew my interests where arts and culture and visiting the museums in the UAE with books of the islamic Golden Age (8th–15th centuries), of geometry and astronomy in...

new London Museum

In 2017 the Goldsmiths’ Company Charity and the London Museum announced that the Charity was to become a Founding Partner of the new London Museum, in Smithfield. The Charity’s donation of £10million going towards the Museum’s plans to create a spectacular new home for the history of London and its people in the beautiful and historic market buildings in Smithfield Grade II listed building, leading up to the 700 anniversary of the Goldsmiths’ company in 2027.

The Goldsmiths’ Company Registered Charity No: 1175593 (Education and support the Crafts industry)

THE ARTS COUNCIL OF ENGLAND Registered Charity No. 1036733 (Arts and Crafts and Cultural Connector)

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