DC Dundee

In my trawl through Dundee’s unexpected chronicles of the past I came across the Name David Coupar Thomson; founder of DC Thomson Publishing. From the Outset the protagonist of my pervious posting Winston Churchill lost a disastrous General Election, Dundee, 1922. It was noted at the time Mr. Churchill and Mr. Thomson did at times clash and David Thomson was credited to playing a part in Churchill’s snub by the city of Dundee.  David Thomson refused for many years after refused to allow Churchill’s name to be mentioned in any of his publications often referring to him simply as the prime minister!

DC Thomson went on to create two of the oldest running comics in the world, The Beano and The Dandy.  From its offices and studios in Dundee DC Thomson has produced around 10,000 editions of these as well as a number of other well-known comics.

Dundee ever keen to immortalize its past in bronze commissioned a bronze statue, which portrays The Dandy character Desperate Dan, and The Beano’s Minnie the Minx. Angus artists Tony and Susie Morrow created the statue that was paid for by public funding.

At the entrance of the DC Thomson Building there is further evidence of the cities comic connections. A cartoon print of Dennis the Menace is peeping out from behind a wall looking out to the street!

We will fight them on the Beaches! We will fight them from the Tay!!

Winston Churchill is perhaps the most significant British politician/ persona of the 20^th century. Born into the aristocratic Spencer family Churchill from the start was set for greatness. Churchill attended Harrow school and then the royal military school at Sand Hurst. He was a decorated officer in the British army and saw active service in India and the Sudan. In 1900 Churchill became the Conservative MP for the seat of Oldham. In 1904 Churchill switched allegiances and became a Liberal MP. Between 1906-1908 Churchill was MP for Manchester Northwest, which he lost in a by-election.

This brings us to my point of interest; soon after losing his seat in Manchester Churchill was duly elected MP for Dundee on the 9^th May 1908.  This is a fact that I was unaware of until in passing noticed a plaque, which had been dedicated to this fact by his daughter, The Lady Soames to celebrate the centenary of his election in 2008.

Upon further investigation and research into Churchill’s time in Dundee I discovered that The Queens hotel On Perth road had been his Election HQ and his temporary constituent residency. During his 1908 election campaign a famous story tells that Churchill wrote to his wife informing her that “This hotel is a great trial to me, yesterday I had half eaten a kipper when a huge maggot crept out and flashed his teeth at me!”

Churchill was eventually ousted as Dundee’s MP in 1922 by prohibitionist Edward Scyrmegeour due to the formers support by the city’s publishing mogul David Coupar Thomson. 

As we all known from history Churchill was duly re-elected to parliament in 1924 becoming prime minister on the 10^th May 1940. To me and to many locals this is a little known fact that the most influential figure of the 20^th century built his fledgling political career from this modest city of Dundee.

Dundee to the Antarctic!

I arrived in Dundee for the first time on September the 3^rd 2010. Staying in the Hilton hotel, the closest attraction, and, perhaps the most striking was Discovery point. Upon further investigation and a chat with the concierge I discovered that this centre and adjoining three masted wooden sailing ship were part of an exhibition celebrating Dundee’s unusual connection with the Antarctic.

Coming from Belfast, which has such a strong maritime heritage, I was quite interested to discover Dundee also has its place in sea faring history. This wooden vessel was in fact the RSS Discovery the boat which Robert Scott and Ernest Shackleton made the first British expedition to the Antarctic in.

The RSS Discovery was the last wooden sailing ship to be built in the UK. It was built in Dundee and launched on the 21 March 1901. Although after the ship left Dundee it would be another 85 years before it would return, Dundonians take great pride in the city’s link to Scott and the Antarctic.

In the city centre at the Overgate centre on the old church wall march five bronze penguins; as any animal lovers may be aware penguins are native to the Antarctic! The figures have been created artist Angela Hunter and were commissioned in 2005. The penguins are orientated in such a direction that they seem to be wandering towards The RSS Discovery in hope for a return journey to the Antarctic with Messrs Scott and Shackleton.

I have been as intrigued with the unusual connection Dundee has in Antarctic exploration almost as much as I have been to discover a waddle of penguins making their way through the city centre!