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1 ROB ROY– SOLD!
The Battle of Culter 2002, sealing the fate of one of Culter’s most famous faces, reached its dramatic conclusion just after high noon on Saturday 2nd February 2002.
The hammer came down, with a King’s ransom to be paid, on the fearsome figure of the fugitive Rob Roy. The final hammer price of £7600 also required a commission of 10% making the final total a staggering £8360. Bidding , on behalf of the Rob Roy Appeal 2002, was local resident and businessman Mr James Milne. Mr Milne , Chairman of the Balmoral Group, had officially opened the local Heritage Centre in June 2001. The statue has now been removed from the Gordon Arms Hotel to the safety of the St Peter’s Heritage Centre, Howie Lane, Peterculter. Now, once again, he unequivocally belongs to the people of Culter. The Rob Roy Appeal would like to thank all those who, locally and worldwide, gave messages of support and donations to help retain the statue in Culter. This website, during January, dealt with 15,000 page accesses, three times the normal volume of traffic. The press, too, have been so generous in their support and coverage at such short notice.
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Locally many organisations and individuals assisted the effort including Culter Community Council, Culter FC and Culter School. Culter’s schoolchildren, alone, gave a cheque for £223 from their “Dressing up for Burns Day”. The final funding, for the successful bid, is being completed today. Donations are still coming in and being counted. Any surplus funds will be used to maintain and preserve Rob Roy in the best possible condition. At present, donations given by local residents stand at £3081-79. Local businessman Harvey Aberdein, of Aberdein Considine & Co, pledged £2000 to the appeal. Morrison Bowmore Distillers Ltd, makers of Rob Roy Deluxe Whisky, made a contribution of £200 and several bottles of their finest to celebrate with should the bid be successful! The dubious "honour" of settling the remainder of the bill falls to the generosity of Mr Milne. Thank you all.
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