I often walk past this attractive memorial fountain, which is found in Kay Park, on my way to town…read more It was erected by McDowall Steven & Co Ltd in 1902, is painted cast iron on a stepped base and decorated on all four sides. There are lions' heads and deep water bowls with ornamental taps on each side. On the north and south facings there are panels with the relief inscription, Presented to his native town by ex Baillie James Craig of Hillhead and Dean in Commemoration of the Coronation of King Edward and Queen Alexandra 1902. On the east (main) side, there is an E&R crown with a bust of King Edward VII; on the west (rear) side, another A&R crown and a bust of Queen Alexandra, and on the south side is the maker's name plaque. On the top there's a gilded falcon and crown resting on thistles.

This striking war memorial faces you as you walk through the gates of the Well Park…read more The architect was the Glasgow firm of Messrs. Wright & Wylie and the sculptor Alexander Proudfoot, also of Glasgow. The builders were Messrs. Matthew Muir and Coy Ltd of Kilmarnock. It was unveiled on the 4th October 1924. At the base you'll see part of a (Gokstad) Viking ship resting on a stepped platform (about 10m square) and a winged female figure holding a laurel wreath. Water and fish are carved at the base of the ship. There is a Celtic cross on the tall obelisk. On each corner is a small bronze lion holding a shield with a Saltire next to hanging chains, which may represent a symbol of Clyde shipbuilding. The main plinth of the memorial is nearly 2m in height. On the front face is inscribed: AD MAJOREM DEI GLORIAM AND IN GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE OF THE MEN OF GREENOCK WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR AND IN THE 1939 1945 WAR (Obviously the last line must have been added later but I have found no details so far)

This statue of Johnnie Walker, one of the men who 'put Kilmarnock on the map', was sculpted by…read moreAlexander 'Sandy' Stoddart. Stoddart was born in Edinburgh in 1959 and has been 'Her Majesty's Sculptor' in Scotland since 2008. He has been quoted as saying, My great ambition is to do sculpture for Scotland, and he has achieved this mainly through his large monuments to figures from the country's past. John Walker (1805-1857) was a grocer, but, although his name was given to the spirit, his son, Alexander, became more important in its history. A terrible flood in the town in 1852 destroyed all the Walker stock and, when Alexander afterwards went into the family business, he persuaded his father to give up the grocery trade and to start selling whisky instead. The family's blend of spirit was first known as Walker's Killme Whisky and it quickly became extremely popular, thanks to Alexander, and later, his own son, also named Alexander. Between them, they made the Johnnie Walker Whisky a common name worldwide and were also responsible for introducing many other blends and mixes of the spirit. In 2009, the world's largest distiller, Diageo, announced that it was closing the Kilmarnock plant, where more than 700 people were employed. It actually shut down on March 23rd, 2012 and the link between the firm and Kilmarnock came to an end after 192 years. The last bottle made was brought out to a single piper's lament. A song was especially written for the sad occasion, and the lyrics included, The great striding man knows we're his best fan but Killie's no part o' Diageo's plan. All employees and, indeed, the whole town, mourned the end of an era.

This lovely statue of Robert Burns and his printer, John Wilson (who printed the first edition of…read moreBurns poems close to this very spot) was unveiled in the 1990s by Princess Anne. Sandy Stoddard was the sculptor, whose other works include the statue of David Hume on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh and the sculptured friezes in Buckingham Palace in the Queen's Gallery. This fine statue can be found just opposite the 'Burns Shopping Mall' and is well worth a look if you're in the town.

Yes, it does seem a bit odd to review a funeral parlour. But hey if you have ever used one you will…read moreunderstand how important the service they provide is. Anyone who is in the process of organising a funeral is going through a pretty tough time so efficiency, warmth and cost effectiveness is essential. Happily J&T McColgan provides all three. Jane has organised a few funerals of people I know as did her father, who ran the business before her. After watching Six Feet Under, it feels pretty good to support an independently owned funeral parlour instead of one of the chains.

After the end of the First World War, the villagers of Sandbank, on the outskirts of Dunoon, raised…read more£800 to build this beautiful memorial for their lost men. The architects were Boston, Menzies and Morton of Greenock and the work accomplished by the builder, Ewen Cameron, of Dunoon. In 1922 the monument was unveiled by a Mrs Brown who had lost at least one son in the war. The circular tower is 35ft high and in a glorious setting at Lazaretto Point overlooking the Holy Loch and beautiful surrounding hills. The point takes its name from the quarantine station built in 1807 during the Napoleonic wars. The memorial includes a later plaque which commemorates the six submarines which left from the Holy Loch which, like its men on board, never returned. It's a favourite spot for tourists to stop; there are picnic tables nearby, which were provided by the Sandbank Community Trust. I always stop here to take photos it's easy enough to park a little further along the adjoining shore road.

I have often seen this statue of James Watt as it is found in a prominent position on a corner of…read moreGeorge Square in the very heart of the city. It was made by the sculptor, Sir Francis Chantrey (1789-1841), and shows Watt seated more like the statue of Watt inside The Watt Library in Greenock than the statue in Glasgow Green where he is standing. Apparently, there is a third statue of Watt in Glasgow, in Elmbank Street, though I haven't seen that one as yet. No doubt I shall seek it out before long too!! There is a small plaque in front of the statue, almost lost in the foliage, which states, James Watt 1736 1819 Scottish inventor and mechanical engineer.

It's a fitting commemoration to a fine Scientist and Engineer. It's not in an obvious part of the…read morepark. But it's worth finding to remember the great man.

This is certainly not my favourite statue of the famous Scot, James Watt - that one is inside The…read moreWatt Library in Greenock - although I'm always pleased to discover new statues of him (there are several around this area as you might expect!) It was Watt (17361819) who redesigned the Newcomen steam engine which helped start the industrial revolution. His idea was to make a separate condensing chamber which prevented huge losses of steam. He apparently had the idea whilst walking on Glasgow Green, hence this statue erected here iwhich was gifted to the Glasgow Corporation in 1936. It has definitely seen better days and needs a good clean, in my opinion! You can find it near the People's Palace, facing the building.