Hands-on role for Rowling as city hails Potter writer

Published on Wednesday 11 February 2009 21:21

HER tales of wizards and adventure have already drawn fans to Edinburgh in their droves.

Now JK Rowling, creator of Harry Potter, is set to leave her own mark on Scotland's capital today, when her handprints become the city's latest attraction.

The multi-millionaire writer, who penned the schoolboy wizard's first adventure in an Edinburgh caf, has been immortalised in a stone that has been given pride of place outside the City Chambers.

Rowling agreed to have her handprints preserved for posterity in honour of receiving a civic award last year. She became the second winner of the Edinburgh Award, set up to recognise individuals "whose outstanding achievements have brought honour to the city". The Rebus author Ian Rankin was the first.

Nominations are open to the public and the Lord Provost, George Grubb, heads the panel of judges which makes the final decision.

The Olympic hero Sir Chris Hoy, who has already been honoured with an open-top bus tour through the capital and a civic reception, is thought to be front-runner for this year's award.

Rowling said: "I was delighted to receive the Edinburgh Award, as this city and its wonderful inhabitants have meant so much to me for the last 15 years.

"It is particularly appropriate for a writer's hands to be represented, so I am deeply honoured to have my keyboard-chipped fingernails, not to mention my pen-induced friction callous, commemorated in the place where I produced Harry Potter."

She visited a stonemason's workshop in Morningside, close to her home in Merchiston, to make a clay impression of her hands.

Nic Boyes, of Nicolas Boyes Stone Conservation, said: "After achieving the clay relief we used traditional carving skills, using a mallet and chisels, to transfer the image to Caithness stone."

Rankin also had his handprints immortalised on what promises to be Edinburgh's answer to the "walk of fame" on Hollywood Boulevard.

Mr Grubb said: "With the installation of the beautifully crafted stone bearing Ms Rowling's handprints, the quadrangle is fast becoming a lasting visual testimony to some of Edinburgh's greatest living citizens.

"Whoever follows in these illustrious footsteps – or should I say handprints? – will be joining a very elite club indeed."

Rowling, who was a struggling single parent living in Leith when she dreamt up the Potter character, was formally presented with the Edinburgh Award last September.