Ever so posh

The new V&A in Dundee is certainly prompting those of you with a poetic bent to get busy. Peter Lawrie writes: “Here is my McGonagall-esque ode to the V&A:

‘The beautiful new Scottish branch of the V and A

On the banks of the silvery Tay Has opened its doors

To the people’s cheers.

With Miss Cranston’s Oak room by Rennie Mackintosh

Which is ever so posh.

Its windows a-plenty gaze out on the Tay and the people outside on the pedestrian way.

Kengo Kuma’s daughter appears to float on the water.

The new building is close to being impeccable,

With Discovery moored alongside which is ineffable.

Will Gompertz says that it is worldclass. But, oh dear, the nearby office block is crass.

The new railway station-hotel combo is ghastly,

And the ridiculous lay-by for passenger drop-offs is not satisfactory.

The V&A is the waterfront “jewel in the crown”,

But the rest of the waterfront makes us feel sadly let down.

Come on you planners all

Make the people of Dundee feel tall. Let’s have a competition,

To design with precision Another waterfront masterpiece For the V&A, – an afterpiece.

A fine medium-sized conference centre could be the thing

And the many visitors to the town that would bring.

And some would stay in Dundee, hightech jobs to create,

Which is something for which we can all breathlessly wait.

So let’s praise the V&A as it is just “Dandy”

And when visiting Dundee by rail, it is fine and handy.

There is more to Dundee than the home of the “Beano”

And thankfully there is no longer a casino.

“There has been some debate on trimming the beech hedges,” emails Jim Thomson of Coupar Angus Heritage. “Here is a picture showing how it was done in the early 20th Century – no health and safety in these days. There are no guard rails on top of the platform and the ladder seems to be six feet short to the top. A very dangerous job, I would think.”