By PHYLLIS STEPHEN
WALKING DOWN one of the closes near to
Holyrood Road you will now be able to admire a
large mural decorating the wall of a commercial
building at 21-23 Slater’s Steps.
This is yet another example of the beautiful
work created by artist Chris Rutterford, who
designed the art for Colinton Tunnel, as well as
the mural in Braidburn Park.
This commercial commission has energised
his creative side, and Chris has found the perfect
way to remind everyone who lives in Edinburgh,
as well as visitors, that this year marks the 900th
anniversary of the founding of the Royal Burgh
in 1124, although he was unaware of the
significant anniversary until fairly recently. The
mural livens up the space and is being used as a
counter graffiti measure by the building owners.
It was King David I who introduced the
system of royal burghs as a means of economic
and political structure. It is believed that the
burgh of Edinburgh was the first, and that it
dates from 1124. In 1128 the Canongate Burgh
was created around Holyrood Abbey, although
these two were later merged. Burghs have had
no legal status since 1975 but are recognised
informally. The City of Edinburgh Council has
chosen to recognise the 900th anniversary both
this year and next.
One of the major legends in the city is the tale
of David I and the stag he encountered in
Holyrood Park - which was at the time more of a
forest. King David went hunting on the day of
the Holy Cross (when he ought to have been in
church) and came across a huge white deer. His
horse bolted, and thinking he was about to be
gored, the king then noticed that a cross had
appeared between its antlers. He tried to get
hold of the cross, and when he did so the deer
took flight. The king was later convinced it was a
message from God. He built Holyrood Abbey
nearby, one of the first markers of the city which
he granted the status of a royal burgh. David I is
a saint recognised by the Roman Catholic
Church, although he was never canonised -
unlike his mother, Margaret, who later became
St Margaret of Scotland.
Chris said: “I just wanted it to feel really
magical. This was a fairly non-descript path but I
have brought the forest into it.
“My friend Adam was helping with the
practical stuff, so I used him as a model and he
is now the King of Scotland.
“I drew comics at college and this is essentially
a four panel comic which tells the story.
“The antlers are ever present in the city and I
hope this brings the tale to everyone’s notice.”
The newly renovated building with a double
height ceiling in the main office area is on the
market for rent with Edinburgh property agents
Cuthbert White.55
Drawing up close
A new city mural highlights Edinburgh 900
King David IEric LiddellChris RutterfordBy PHYLLIS STEPHENTO MARK the centenary of Eric
Liddell winning a gold medal in
Paris, a world-first exhibition will open
at The Scottish Parliament on 25 July.
The exhibition will give visitors the
chance to explore the life and legacy of
Eric Liddell – the Flying Scotsman and
1924 Olympic champion - alongside other
legends from the Scottish Sporting Hall of
Fame and also Scottish athletes
competing in the 2024 Olympics.
Organised by The Eric Liddell 100
campaign, which Her Royal Highness the
Princess Royal serves as Patron, this initiative
seeks to honour Liddell’s legacy and inspire
future generations through a series of
events and activities emphasising his core
values of passion, compassion, and integrity.
John MacMillan, CEO of The Eric Liddell
Community, said: “We are thrilled to see
the launch of the Eric Liddell exhibition, as
part of our exciting programme of events
to celebrate the centenary of Eric Liddell’s
gold medal win. All of our partners
involved in this initiative spent a
significant amount of time considering
what Eric Liddell would have wanted and
how important it is that we reflect him in
our endeavours; we believe that any
individual can make a positive impact onthe world if they approach the challenges
they face with passion, compassion, and
integrity, which are our three values for
The Eric Liddell 100. We hope everyone
who visits the exhibition leaves feeling
uplifted, inspired, and motivated to live
life with these values in mind.”
Rt. Hon Alison Johnstone MSP, Presiding
Officer of The Scottish Parliament, said:
“We are delighted to host this exhibition
in the Scottish Parliament, which
celebrates the significant achievements of
Eric Liddell but also serves as a powerful
reminder of his legacy. It seems
particularly relevant as Olympians from
across the world prepare to compete in
Paris. The Scottish Parliament is delighted
to provide a platform for sharing his
inspiring story with the thousands of
people who will visit us this summer.”Eric Liddell: Legacy of an Olympic legend
will remain on show in the main hall at The
Scottish Parliament until 12 September. The
exhibition is free and no ticket is required.Legacy of an
Olympic Legend