The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Crowdfunding campaign mooted to give monument prominent position in centre of town
A statue honouring Forfar’s main benefactor will be given pride of place in the town if a crowdfunding campaign to move it is successful.
For years the figure of Forfar’s “grand old man” – confectioner Peter Reid – sat proudly outside the Royal Hotel, a few doors along from where his sweet shop was housed.
Generations of Forfarians have enjoyed social events in the Reid Hall as well as family days out to the Reid Park, thanks to the generosity of the philanthropist, who was also a former town provost.
The monument erected to his “revered memory” in 1898 was moved in the early 1900s and now cuts a lonely figure in the once-bustling park which has been stripped of public amenities.
The grocer and confectioner, famed for Peter Reid Rock or Forfar Rock, also gifted a ward at Forfar’s infirmary.
He died penniless in 1897 aged 93, having given virtually all of his wealth to the town.
Independent Forfar and District councillor Colin Brown is trying to drum up interest to bring the bronze statue back to the town.
He first mooted the idea three years ago and despite interest among residents, no costings were carried out.
He is keen to have the statue located outside the Reid Hall, in front of the Municipal Building or the former Clydesdale Bank on Castle Street and is hoping it could be paid for through a crowdfunding campaign.
He said: “Peter Reid is an icon of the town. Take the Reid Hall and Reid Park away and it would make an awful hole in Forfar.
“There are generations coming who will never have seen the statue or would know who he is.
“We could see if we could get crowdfunding, which the council will match.
“I would like to bring together a lot of interested people, if there is no interest then we will forget it.
“It is an iconic bronze statue on a marble plinth, but not many people see it.
“We would need to cost it out – a base would have to be put down and there would be transport and installation costs, but at the moment it is tucked up at the Reid Park where no one sees it.
“There is no reason for not trying. “The last time this was mentioned there was a lot of interest on Facebook, not many people were against it.
“I still want to honour a great man of Forfar.
“My vision is he will sit proudly in the town of which he was the main benefactor.”
Anyone interested in getting involved is asked to contact Councillor Brown on 07795 594555 or email cllrbrown@ angus.gov.uk
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My vision is he will sit proudly in the town of which he was the main benefactor. COUNCILLOR COLIN BROWN