It’s lovely to look Greyfriars Bobby in the face
‘‘ I have an English acquaintance who teases me about Bobby, claiming that he didn’t really exist
As the drama unfolding at Holyrood dominated the headlines this week, we quietly reported a quirky Edinburgh story which grabbed my imagination.
A city heritage group has uncovered a photograph of Greyfriars Bobby which shows that rather than being a Skye terrier, he was a terrier cross.
The photograph, brought to light by community group the Friends of Dalry Cemetery, was one in a series captured by Edinburgh publisher Walter Greenoak Patterson from around 1867.
Bobby has long been touted as either a purebred Skye terrier or a Dandie Dinmont. But as researcher Jakob Assarsson, who found the image recently among others bought at auction, says: “For the first time we can truly look Bobby in the face.”
This genuinely delights me as I have an English acquaintance who teases me about Greyfriars Bobby, claiming that he didn’t really exist. I think he sees him as a mythical creature similar to the Loch Ness Monster – although of course she does exist too (and yes, she is female).
But now I have photographic proof of his existence!
And it really is lovely to “look Bobby in the face”. He is an Edinburgh legend, famous around the world, with Disney making a film about him in 1961. His dedication to his owner, night watchman John Gray, long after his death, makes him a very appealing subject.
On the question of his breed, Mr Assarsson said: “He is unquestionably a terrier cross, resembling no breed in particular. This is the type of dog we would expect a farmer or destitute police nightwatchman to own, not an expensive purebred.”
The statue of Bobby which was placed on George IV Bridge in 1873 remains one of Edinburgh’s biggest tourist draws. These days he has a shiny nose because for some reason people want to touch it for luck. The council has twice repaired the damage, but it doesn’t last.
Perhaps our tribute to Bobby’s everlasting commitment to his owner should be an everlasting commitment to keep his statue in good repair.