Greyfriars Bobby.

[zotz]

I'm puzzled by a report in The Scotsman that a new film version of this story - featuring the excellent Christopher Lee, although sadly not in the title role - is more true to life than the previous version, because they've consulted the historical records concerning events.

The impression I had was that there were no such records, because it was only ever a sentimental Victorian story about a loyal pet dog and (Hoots mon och aye) Bonnie Scotland. Some years back, I know that someone went through Greyfriars' records to see if anyone matching the usual names had been buried there around the right time - there hadn't, of course.

Oh, and on a more sensible note there's this nice piece on Maes Howe as well.

Comments

[nmg.livejournal.com]

Every time I passed Greyfriars Kirk while doing my masters (about twice a day on average), I made a point of glaring at the offending statue and the gaggle of tourists that it always seemed to attract.

[anjylle.livejournal.com]

I always feel compelled to advise them that it's only a story... I don't, of course, but the urge is always there.

[rdi.livejournal.com]

Brings back a memory of walking past when a coach pulled up and disgorged a gaggle of elderly American tourists (complete with white belts, saddle shoes, and tartan trousers pulled up to mid-belly - the full Cleveland, plus some) who proceeded to form a semi-circle around the statue and take photographs.

All in the most reverential silence.

[grendelis.livejournal.com]

Only cos they probably didn't have a clue what they were looking at or why! Ignorance is bliss they say.

Now I remember some after party antics... ;)

[nickys.livejournal.com]

I have been in the actual Ye Gifte Shoppe at Greyfriars (on account of having a small daughter who is crazy about dogs...) and I noticed that there were three pictures of "the real Bobby", which were not merely different dogs, but different breeds of dog...

... and yet people still believe it's real.


(Space Cadets believing in their anti-gravity machines shouldn't surprise anyone really... )

[steer.livejournal.com]

Well, nothing says cinematography like watching a dog starve.

[rdi.livejournal.com]

So it's all just a prototypical urban legend?

greyfriars bobby

[sheridanwilde.livejournal.com]

Maybe the didn't find actually evidence, they just found an older report of the myth?

Re: greyfriars bobby

[zotz]

It sounds likely. The story circulated widely within a few years of the alleged events, I know that much.

Re: greyfriars bobby

[rdi.livejournal.com]

My theory always was that he was just hanging around for the bones, and kicked off when he started trying to dig them up.

[pinkdormouse.livejournal.com]

Being originally from Derbyshire, I much prefer the story of Tip to that of Greyfriar's Bobby. From http://www.peakscan.freeuk.com/faq_s_.htm:

Tip was a sheepdog owned by Joseph Tagg, who, though in his 80's, went walking on Howden Moor on 12th December 1953. Mr Tagg died on the moor and his body was not found until 15 weeks later: 27th March 1954. Having apparently survived the worst of the winter, Tip was found starving alongside her master. She was looked after, but died a year later on 16th February 1955 and a memorial stone was erected by the road close to the Derwent dam wall. Tip was actually buried on the moor where her master had died.

Gina

[pigeonhed.livejournal.com]

Is it a Hollywood film? the true story about Greyfriars Bobby, a horse from Nevada in the 1930s which saved its masters life?

[naturalbornkaos.livejournal.com]

Well the old version was made by Disney so I'm not surprised that, if there were any historical facts at all, they'd've somehow managed to gloss over them.

Also not surprised it's being remade. The old version still sells tremendously well on DVD...

[burkesworks.livejournal.com]

There was a better remake of Greyfriars Bobby in Viz a few years ago, featuring Black Bag, the Faithful Border Bin Liner.