The Statue Finally Unveiled

Discontent and recriminations continued, but eventually the date for the unveiling was confirmed as the 26th September “….not very long after the centenary of the Bard’s death.”
The site chosen, next to a highly amusing and ornamental fountain replete with tuskless walruses and cherubs is so unsuitable that it conveys, even to this day, an impression that the statue has fallen from outer space.
The unveiling ceremony was to be conducted with great pomp and the actual unveiling was to be carried out by the great Burnsian Lord Roseberry, leader of the Liberal Party and former Prime Minister.
In the event, only 1000 people turned up on the day. This was put down to various factors; the highly inclement weather or

Lord Roseberry

perhaps the sixpence admission fee. A more likely reason advanced, however, was the simmering sense of injustice felt by the public at the relegation of their statue to the out-of-the-way gardens.
Lord Roseberry, who earlier in the year had been kept busy unveiling and dedicating the many memorials erected around the actual date of the poet’s centenary, gave a moving address, touching amongst other things on the fact that the statue was “…produced by melody” and was therefore “…petrified music.” He went on; “No apter memorial could have been found of the sweet singer of Scotland.”

The Unveiling - note walrus! (Courtesy Of Paisley Museum)

He continued; “After a century of deliberation……Paisley has determined to erect a statue to Burns, and looking round at the many that already exist, has determined that hers should be unique.”

Mr J. Roy Fraser, who as leader of the choir and as a member of the Burns Statue Committee had experienced all of the successes and disappointments of the campaign, was next to speak. He chose his words very carefully. He thanked several people involved in the campaign but pointed out that “It is not too much to say, however, that to a very large extent the statue has been raised by the working girls of Paisley.”
He handed over the statue “….in full hope and confidence that it will be cherished as a valuable art treasure to be carefully guarded and preserved by the municipality for the benefit of the inhabitants of the burgh for all time coming…”
Shamefully for all concerned, it was not until several days later that it was agreed that the efforts of the girls of the Tannahill choir deserved to be recognised, and a small, plain, aluminium plaque was later fitted to the back of the statue’s red granite pedestal with a description of how the money had been raised.
Today, this plaque is the sole reminder and token of gratitude from the town to those determined and public spirited girls who did so much for Paisley for over sixty years.
In contrast, the disputed centre site in Dunn Square is today occupied by a diminutive statue of Queen Victoria, who had knighted William Dunn in 1895. Just a few yards away stands a small but beautiful Art Nouveau sculpture titled “Love’s Young Jealousies.” A short examination of the inscription, however, reveals that this is more than just a glorious piece of civic art. As many worldly-wise Paisley buddies predicted in 1896, it is a memorial to Sir William Dunn.

Love's Young Jealousies

Perhaps fearing a reaction from the public following the Burns furore it’s erectors did not choose to set up an actual statue of Dunn himself, but predictably his portrait appears instead on a large medallion on the plinth…..