Tom’s statue proves to be a real crowd-puller
Weir honour clocks 200,000th visitor as folk flock to site
Just over two years after the unveiling of the Tom Weir statue at Balmaha Bay a staggering 200,000 people have now visited the site to pay homage to Scotland’s most popular mountain man.
Tom Weir is credited with introducing several generations to Scotland’s great outdoors, and the wonders of Loch Lomond in particular, through his prolific writings and numerous TV and radio broadcasts over a 50-year period.
At a special ceremony to mark the occasion Stirling councillor Graham Lambie presented the 200,000th visitor - Emma Hamilton from Peebles - with a DVD featuring the TV series On Weir’s Way, fronted by David Hayman.
Emma also received a gift voucher for dinner and bed and breakfast for two at the nearby Oak Tree Inn. The Tom Weir Memorial Fund and the Friends of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs worked jointly to raise almost £150,000 to transform the former run down picnic site at Balmaha Bay which is now the popular home of Tom Weir’s statue and the recently created Tom and Rhona’s Mountain Garden.
James Fraser, chairman of the Friends said: “We are delighted with the success of the site, which has far exceeded our expectations, and we are grateful for the support we have received from Tom’s widow Rhona, Stirling Council, the National Park Authority, Heritage Lottery Fund, Sandy Fraser and the many thousands of ordinary people who responded to the public appeal for funds to help deliver this project.”
He added: “It is very encouraging following the installation of donation posts last year that thousands of pounds in donations from visitors have been raised to assist with the hefty annual insurance for the statue and the ongoing maintenance of the site by our local contractor, Alexander Fraser and Sons.”
Susan Taylor, administrator for the Tom Weir Memorial Fund added: “We have come a long way since it was first mooted that there should be a statue to honour Tom’s contribution to enthusing people about Scotland’s great outdoors. The statue and the associated mountain garden and story boards are proving to be so popular with people from all walks of life.