News from Eriskay: The Prince has Landed

News just received in Edinburgh, The Prince has Landed on Eriskay and lately crossed to Arisaig

Indeed, news has just now been received of the Prince's long awaited landing. There was no sighting of du Teillay as history foretold, but there have been reports of a white van in which it is rumoured the Prince is travelling!

click to enlarge all images


Report from our Correspondent travelling with the Prince ....

'Following on the success of the Tapestry Gala on the Green Hills Prestonpans on July 26th, the 'Tapestry's Ford Transit' was rushed to Bo’ness, [Colonel Gardiner's birthplace] to transform itself into the Prestonpans BattleTapVan, before heading north for its two month tour of the nation.

Arran Johnston and Fiona Campbell are leading the first phase of the Parade and they headed to Skye to catch the ferry to the Hebrides. They found themselves preceded at every step by the Tapestry’s fame which was enthusiastically discussed at every diesel pump along the road!




Pausing only briefly to explore a sister battlefield, Glen Shiel of 1719, the journey continued until, by Friday July 30th, the Battle TapVan was touring North Uist, Benbecula and South Uist, following the trail of Prince Charlie’s travels with Alan Breck's Colonel-in-Chief Martin Margulies as expert guide and generous host.


1: The Prince has Landed: the Tapestry on Eriskay

'Saturday 31st July saw the world's public premiere exhibition of the Prestonpans Tapestry, in Eriskay Hall just a short walk from the beach where Prince Charlie first stepped ashore. Needless to say, the temptation was too great and the landing was duly re-created as pictured above [but not in the disguise of a student or a Minister from the Scots College in Paris!]

'Although the exhibition was not due to open until of the evening of July 31st, the Tapestry team yielded to demand and opened early. The evening celebrations, witnessed by Tapestry design artist Andrew Crummy who had flown over specially for the event, featured Prince Charles (played by Arran) relating his views on the ’45, accompanied by the children of Eriskay who had choreographed a new dance telling the story of the Battle of Prestonpans just for the occasion. After the Prince’s reflections, there was lively music and the entertainment continued into the night.





'The Tapestry remained on display the following day, and beyond all expectations nearly 270 people visited during the course of the weekend. The Trust's deepest thanks to those who visited and made donations, and those who made the Tapestry team so welcome on these islands – not least to Colonel Martin Margulies [pictured above left with Andrew Crummy at the Prince's Cairn] for his help setting up the exhibition and Archie Campbell for all the arrangments on Eriskay.'

...and don't the five stitchers of Eriskay look proudly on at their own two panels depicting the events on their island!




There were no shouts "Go Home" this time

On his return Andrew Crummy commented: "It was great speaking to Helen MacLean and all the Hebridean stitchers, hearing of their Thursday night sagas. What a brilliant World Premiere it was, and what a marvellous turn out. The dancers were fantastic, deeply moving to watch, as was the music. And the pipers really were brilliant too".

The images below give some insight into the contribution the young people made, playing the pipes and restaging the battle.