Bear statue lit up to mark Battle of Dunbar
The Dunbear sculpture located on the outskirts of Dunbar was lit up yesterday to commemorate the first Battle of Dunbar, a decisive English victory in the Scottish Wars of Independence.
The battle, an early clash following the invasion of Scotland by the English, occurred on April 27 in 1296 and resulted in the overthrow of the Balliol regime in Scotland.
King Edward I wanted to punish Scottish king John Balliol for his refusal to support English military action in France.
Around 100 Scottish knights were captured and held prisoner in England and with Balliol forced to surrender, Edward ripped the royal insignia from his tunic.
To commemorate this battle, the five-metre high (16ft) Dunbear steel sculpture was illuminated from 5.30pm until 12.30am today.
Designed by Andy Scott – who also designed the Kelpies – the bear was erected in 2019 and is the focal point for the Dunbear Park mixed-use development located beside the A1 at Dunbar.
The bear is a tribute to John Muir, the Dunbarborn naturalist and conservationist who emigrated to America with his family.
John Muir petitioned the President and Congress to form National Parks and through this Yosemite and other National Parks were eventually established. It is because of National Parks that certain species, such as the brown bear, have survived and thrived. The bear was lit up last week to mark his birth.
It will light in red on Remembrance Day, and blue and white on St Andrew’s Day.