WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE SUMMER FALL 2015 HD.pdf

Scenes from the Walt Disney Movie “Greyfriars Bobby” and statue of Bobby below.
In 1853, during an unusually cold winter, a
gardener named John Gray moved to Edinburgh
with his wife and son, 13. After
several weeks of unemployment, Gray (nicknamed
"Auld Jock") got a job with the police
department--even though he was 40 years
old, considered a senior citizen in those days.
His salary was a modest 13 shillings a week,
which included humble housing in the Hall's
Court area, dubbed "Hell's Kitchen" by the
poor folks who had to live in the rat-infested
slum that had poor sanitation and little
drinking water.
Photo by Sharon Whitley Larsen
Gray's beat was the densely crowded,
crime-ridden area that included Upper Cowgate,
Grassmarket, Greyfriars Kirkyard (the
church cemetery), Candlemaker Row, Heriot's
Hospital grounds, and the Cattle Market.
He faithfully patrolled the area by foot on his
8-hour shift, six days a week.
Since the police were assigned dogs to accompany
them, Gray was reportedly first given a
collie, followed two years later by a Skye Terrier
puppy named "Bobby" in honor of being
a British police dog. Devoted partners Gray
and Bobby would stroll the grimy, smoky
streets of Victorian Edinburgh.
In a patient manner that earned respect of
the townsfolk, Gray dealt with the criminals
and drunks (whisky was real cheap then) on
Wine Dine & Travel Summer/Fall 2015 79