Kirkyard ceremony to honour a legend

A WREATH-LAYING service honouring Edinburgh's most iconic canine will be held later this month in Greyfriars Kirkyard.

The memory of world-famous Skye Terrier Greyfriars Bobby will be marked by a commemorative gathering attended by Lord Provost George Grubb as well as volunteers from the 105 Regiment Royal Artillery whose light gun is used daily by the One O'Clock Gun and Timeball Association and is linked with the legend of the dog.

"This event will kick off this year's 150th anniversary celebrations of the One O'Clock Gun and Time Ball Association, which has close connections with Greyfriars Bobby because the dog used the gun blast as a signal to go and get its dinner," said secretary George Robinson.

"He would leave the graveyard when the gun fired and go to a restaurant in Greyfriars Place for something to eat."

Other groups to attend the service on January 14 - the 139th anniversary of the dog's death - are George Heriot's Combined Cadet Force and Lothians & Borders Cadets.

After the gun fires at 1pm a member of the One O'Clock Gun Association will give a short speech before Greyfriars Bobby lookalike Blue helps lay a wreath.