The Edinburgh Reporter March 2022

18 WHAT’S ON
CULTURE • LITERATURE • EVENTS • MUSIC • MUSEUMS...
The Forth Line
A statue for Elsie
Month of fundraising events to honour the WWI doctor
AT THE ROYAL Botanic Garden
Edinburgh (RBGE) this spring there is
a vibrant arts and crafts exhibition.
The Forth Line’s exhibition arose
from the interest of local people in
their environment and their passion
to raise awareness for the
conservation of their coastline.
It started out as a lockdown idea
by four local crafters, and grew to
nearly 200 crafters taking part.
They each created a square of
artwork representing their personal
relationship with the Firth of
Forth coast.
Each one represents a square km of
the coastline. For the first time all 184
squares of artwork can be seen
together, each one with their own
story behind it. It creates memories
and visions of the Forth, linking the
Fife and Lothian coasts together.
Individuals of all ages and
occupations took part in helping to
craft the span of the coastline. Some
were amateurs, others professionals.
The artworks are all different.
The inspirations range from the
flora and fauna of the area to tackling
the problem of beach littering. Some
focus on the issue of climate change
and rising sea levels, recognising that
some parts of the coastline may no
longer exist in years to come.
Each square was regarded as a
saviour during lockdown for the
artists. For some, their square of the
coastline massively helped their
mental health through the pandemic
and helped them rediscover nature.
Some stories behind the artwork
are inspiring and heartwarming.
One of the artists, Sarah Bartlett
said: “During the pandemic I rode
empty trains to a frightened hospital.
“As lockdown eased and the
hospital breathed again, I swam here
after a nightshift. The sea was silky
still, shrouded in Haar.”
RBGE is working with other
organisations and community groups
on new community activities to help
conserve the coastline, natural
habitats and its wildlife including sea
grass and oysters.
Forth Lines runs at the John Hope
Gateway until Sunday 24 April
WHEN THE FIRST WORLD War began, Dr Elsie
Inglis offered to set up a fully equipped medical unit
staffed by women for the war front. She was told by the
British War Office, "Dear lady, go home and sit still".
She refused to do that. Instead, she raised large
amounts of money and established the Scottish
Women's Hospital in France and Serbia. She travelled
to Romania, Malta and Russia and helped provide
medical assistance on the Western Front.
Dr Inglis was born in India in 1864 and brought up
in Scotland, studying medicine in Glasgow, Dublin and
Edinburgh. She was a pioneer, founding hospitals for
poor women, joining the suffragette movement and
setting up the war hospitals which were entirely run
by women.
In Edinburgh many people were born in the Elsie
Inglis Maternity Hospital established near Holyrood in
1925 continuing the work which had begun in a
hospital on the Royal Mile.
Elsie Inglis died in hospital in Newcastle from
cancer after returning from Serbia, and her funeral was
held at St Giles Cathedral with members of the Royal
Family in attendance. Her body lay in state at St Giles
before the service, and she was buried in Dean
Cemetery. Edinburgh's streets were filled by hundreds
of mourners.
The Elsie Inglis Tribute Campaign hopes to raise
£50,000 for a Royal Mile statue memorialising the
pioneering Scottish doctor and suffragist - to make
sure that the legacy of her work is never forgotten. The
City of Edinburgh Council has already agreed that “the
life and work of Dr Elsie Inglis would be
commemorated in the form of a statue to be
bequeathed to the citizens of Edinburgh, and to
support any activities to raise the funds needed”.
Walking tours are just one part of the campaign's
work, with a goal of raising £50,000 to erect a statue to
her memory.
The Lord Provost's charity, the OneCity Trust is
responsible for collecting donations on their website,
or you can email elaine@onecitytrust.com for details
on how to contribute.
GirlGuiding fundraising events...
There will be many events to help
the fundraising effort including
beginning with the first Sit Still
which is being spearheaded by
GirlGuiding Scotland. On
Saturday, 5 March, Girlguiding
Edinburgh begins the week of 'Sit
Still' fundraising events for
Rainbows, Brownies, Guides,
Rangers, and leaders.
Dr Elsie Inglis did not sit still,
and neither will the members of
GirlGuiding Edinburgh.
A spokesperson for GirlGuiding
Edinburgh said: "Bring your units
along to find out more about the
remarkable woman, Dr Elsie Inglis,
and how her ideals are still very
relevant today. An Elsie Inglis
activity pack—designed by
Edinburgh Brownies and
Guides—and a badge is available
for all sections, as well as further
details on running a 'Sit Still'
fundraising event for your unit or
family and friends.”
A Sit Still can be big or small - a
lunch, afternoon tea, two minutes
or two hours. The campaign
explains: "We will prepare kits to
send out with advice. Just make
sure that you think about Elsie
Inglis NOT sitting still and about
the huge difference she made in
so many different areas.”
Fundraising
events
taking place
this March
7 AND 8 MARCH
St Giles Cathedral Exhibition
and Sit Still
See the Cathedral’s memorabilia
along with a remarkable collection
of medals. You will be invited to Sit
Still for 15 minutes beside the
famous wall memorial plaque to
Elsie Inglis, situated in the Holy
Cross Aisle, in the place where her
funeral service was held on 29
November 1917.