Edinburgh

Edinburgh Christmas Excursion

Members enjoyed a full day in Edinburgh, despite Storm Diana during the journey north.

The delights of the capital city had much to offer, with members each enjoying their own particular passions. Some wished to experience the smells and tastes of the Christmas Market with its wide range of continental food and drink stalls. Others explored the shops seeking that special gift for a loved one.

For some members enjoyment and learning came in the form of visits to the magnificent museums for which Edinburgh is rightly famous. Taking lunch within a museum is always an experience to treasure, and at Christmas time it is very special.

This visit provided a gastronomic delight for a few who had booked a table at some of the most desirable eating establishments in Edinburgh.  Good food and good company were enjoyed whilst again memories were created.

As nightfall came, the party travelled to the Royal Botanic Gardens to enjoy the splendour of the Light and Sound display within the gardens.  The light effects created a new atmosphere with the gardens, highlighting the textures and the shapes of the magnificent trees, whilst literally showing the historic buildings in a new light.  The artwork installations where most thought provoking.

A very full day in Edinburgh, full of interesting activities.

Arts and Crafts visit to Edinburgh 

Arts and Crafts visit to Edinburgh

After several weeks of meticulous planning and careful scheduling of appointments with guides, a small group of U3A members interested in the Arts and Crafts Movement arrived at Lockerbie Station to find that the 8.30am train to Edinburgh had been cancelled. After initial disbelief, Plan B was put in place and the swift arrival of taxis from Carlisle and the wonder of mobile phones, allowed arrangements to be reorganised en route so that by the time we arrived at Waverley Station our agenda was back on track.

We were in Edinburgh to look at mural paintings in the Song School of St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral and in the erstwhile Catholic Apostolic Church (now the Mansfield Traquair Centre) which were created single handedly by Phoebe Anna Traquair between 1888 and 1901. These are major works of art on a colossal scale which link the spiritual, secular and physical realms. In the Song School the theme of the decoration is the Benedicite in which angels with trumpets and the heavenly host rub shoulders with known choirboys, clerics, workmen and notable Victorians set against recognisable landscapes and a lawn spread with flowers. The north and south walls of the Catholic Apostolic Church are decorated with panels illustrating episodes from the New and Old Testaments. The chancel arch, soaring to 22m, shows the signs of the evangelists, above them four Great Cherubim, the worship of heaven by the perfected church and a large choir. Equally spectacular is the west wall seen by the congregation on leaving church which depicts the Second Coming.

Phoebe Anna Traquair was a notable creator not only of murals but also of monumental embroideries, delicate enamelled jewellery, enamelled triptychs and caskets, illuminated manuscripts, book bindings, illustrations and painted furniture.

Although she was recognised as an influential figure in the art world before the First World War she suffered neglect until relatively recently but her star is rising again. Without doubt she is an outstanding Scottish artist whose exquisite works in an astonishing range of media are well worth seeking. To do so is to enter a world where the spiritual and the temporal meet and intermingle.

Peter Banks

Visit to Dawyck Gardens

U3A Members at Dawyck Gardens On Monday, 19th of October a bus load of Stewartry U3A members travelled to Dawyck Gardens to enjoy all the gardens and the lovely autumn weather could offer.

Dawyck, a regional garden of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, is a world famous arboretum with over 300 years of tree planting. In Autumn the garden foliage bursts into vivid hues of red, orange and gold and the fruit take on an almost infinite variety of shapes, colours and textures from acorns in cups and colourful crab apples to maple keys and fir cones.

Everyone’s favourites among autumn fruits are the conkers produced by the Garden’s horse chestnut trees. Overhanging Scrape Glen is a large Japanese katsura tree which in early autumn fills the air with a caramel scent as its leaves turn a pale biscuit colour.

As autumn advances the Japanese maples and spindles stand out with their colourful foliage. Birch trees can be found on the grassy plateau to the south of the Chapel and one of the best for autumn colour is the yellow birch from North America.