I arrived in Dundee for the first time on September the 3rd 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!
No comments:
Post a Comment