Lennox Herald, Friday May 18, 2012

Model Citizen backs call for

tribute to Cutty Sark

By Andy Galloway

A WELL-known Dumbarton man has added his support for a tribute to the Cutty Sark in the town – after buying a model of the ship 6500 miles away.
Bobby Simpson was on holiday in Mauritius in 1992 when he and his wife Pat were stunned to discover a hand-crafted scale model of the famous ship, which was recently reopened to the public in london following a major facelift.
The Bonhill Road couple insist this demonstrates how far-reaching the town’s shipbuilding heritage stretches and they have backed Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie’s bid for a memorial-style tribute to the Cutty Sark in Dumbarton.

SHIP AHOY: Bobby Simpson with his model of the Cutty Sark, which he bought in Mauritius.

Photograph supplied by curtesy of Brian Averell.

Bobby, a former citizen of the year and current chairman of the Rockvale Rebound talking newspaper, said : “The model is not very big at only about a foot long but it is a beautiful model. It was made by skilled wood carvers – and that was 6500 miles away. They are prepared to put work into something like that so I hope there will be something done here.”
“ There are no actual connections between Mauritius and the Cutty Sark – it’s not even as if it stopped there to pick up fresh water.”
“I don’t think Mauritius was even on its route.”
“The shopkeeper was telling us all about how it was the fastest tea clipper ever to sail the seas and we just stood there grinning.”
“She asked why and we said that we came from Dumbarton, where the ship was built.”
“The model was so beautifully made that two years later, when we went back, I picked up another one for a friend.”
“And I can’t help but go along with the idea of having a local memorial to the Cutty Sark.”
“The ship is berthed in the River Thames and has just had millions of pounds spent on it to bring it back up to its standard.”
“So it would be good to have some kind of local memorial to it as well.”
The 143-year-old Cutty Sark recently reopened to the public, five years after sustaining £10m worth of fire damage.
Speaking in the Scottish Parliament recently, Ms Baillie invited culture and external affairs secretary Fiona Hyslop to meet her at the Denny Tank Museum.
Ms Baillie said: “Our ship building heritage is something of which we are rightfully proud.”
“I’m sure it will come as a surprise to many that there is nothing locally that recognises Dumbarton as the birthplace of the Cutty Sark.”
“I’m convinced that when the minister visists she will be impressed with what the Denny Tank Museum has to offer and will be keen to work with us to establish a memorial to the Cutty Sark in Dumbarton.”