In 1861 One o'Clock Gun failed to fire.. in 2007, guess what?

Published on Saturday 2 June 2007 12:16

IT was almost too perfect a recreation of history.

Hundreds of people had turned out to see the original One o'Clock Gun "fired" for the first time in almost 150 years.

But with the crowds gathering on the ramparts at Edinburgh Castle, the mock firing of the historic "18 pounder" cannon had to be called off at the last minute.

The events echoed those of the first planned firing of the One o'Clock Gun in 1861 when the cannon also failed to go off.

But this time it was technical difficulties of a very different kind that kept the gun silent - health and safety regulations.

The organisers were forced to disappoint more than 500 people after Historic Scotland officials told them they couldn't wheel the gun into place without a full risk assessment certificate.

With less than an hour before the big moment - due to have been achieved with pyrotechnics, like the mock firing of Mons Meg on Hogmanay - everything had to be called off.

The problem lay with the plan to move the old cannon the short distance from Mills Mount Battery to the Half Moon Battery, where it was originally fired from.

The Half Moon Battery also overlooks Leith and yesterday's firing had been organised to mark the start of this year's Leith Festival.

Among the spectators that had assembled was Eddie McCarthy, who held the post as district gunner from 1968-72.

Pipers had also gathered to play in the run-up to the firing, while groups of Polish dancers who are taking part in the Leith Festival also performed.

Stuart Wilson, a member of the One o'Clock Gun Association, said he was disappointed it didn't go ahead. He said: "To move it back would have required a full risk assessment and Historic Scotland hadn't been informed about it so they wouldn't allow it.

"The pyrotechnics were there - the same guys had come over that do pyrotechnics for Mons Meg - so everything was in place.

"It was pretty disappointing that it didn't go ahead but the preparations were pretty rushed. We'll have a lot longer to prepare for next year so we'll go back to the drawing board and plan for that."

The event was to renew links between Leith and the famous one o'clock time signal, which was first established as a signal for sailors on the Firth of Forth, and was donated by the Royal Artillery in Scotland, based at Leith Fort.

On June 5, 1861, more than 300 spectators turned up at the city observatory to see the gun's inauguration. But it failed to fire because of technical problems with the clock connected to it.

Mr Wilson, who is also a volunteer for Leith Festival, admitted it was ironic that it echoed the "damp squib" event when the gun was first set up.

A Historic Scotland spokesperson said: "Unfortunately the replica firing was not permitted to go ahead as a compulsory risk assessment had not been carried out in advance of the event.

"The health and safety of our visitors and staff is always our primary concern."