Stitchers: Virginia Hendriks, Marion Pot-Davidson, Anneke Pot & Maureen Vollema
The Reverend Robert Walker, born in Ayrshire in 1755, spent his childhood in Rotterdam after his father became the minister of the Scots kirk there. Here he learned to ice skate on the frozen canals. Walker later returned to Scotland himself became a minister, although he seems not to have lost his fondness for skating. His antics on Duddingston Loch near Edinburgh were immortalised in a painting believed to be by Henry Raeburn, and The Skating Minister has become one of Scotland’s most iconic artworks. The same style of traditional skates can still be found in use in Rotterdam today.
NL10 An t-Urramach Raibeart Walker
Rugadh an t-Urramach Raibeart Walker ann an Siorrachd Àir ann an 1755, chuir e seachad òige ann an Rotterdam an dèidh do athair a bhith air fhastadh mar mhinistear air an eaglais Albannach an sin. An sin, dh’ionnsaich e spèileadh deighe air na claisean-uisge reòthte. Thill Walker às dèidh sin a dh’Alba agus thug e fhèin a-mach a bhith na mhinistear, ged tha coltas ann nach do chaill e a mheas air spèileadh. Bha a chleasan air Loch Duddingston faisg air Dùn Èideann sìormhaireannach tro dhealbh a thathar an dùil a chaidh a pheantadh le Eanraig Raeburn, agus thaThe Skating Minister air a thighinn gu bhith mar aon de na pìosan ealain as suaicheanta ann an Alba. Tha an aon stoidhle thraidiseanta de bhrògan-spèilidh air an cleachdadh fhathast ann an Rotterdam gus an latha an-diugh.