On 11 December 1885, the statue of Alexander Selkirk, which still resides in a niche in the Crusoe Buildings on Main Street Lower Largo, was unveiled. The statue depicts Selkirk (or the fictional Robinson Crusoe) clad in goat skins, with short ragged breeches, feet encased in skins and wearing a low skin cap on his head. A long firelock gun is held in his left hand, while an old Scottish short claymore hangs by his side and in his belt is a pistol.
The unveiling celebrations began with a procession of several hundred people, led by the Largo brass band, which began at the site of the statue (prior to unveiling) and went to Upper Largo and Lundin Mill then down through Drummochy to Largo station. There they waited until the arrival of Lord and Lady Aberdeen on the half past eleven train. Horse-drawn carriages took the dignitaries along the main street. Among the group behind them were two men on horseback dressed as Crusoe and Friday. The Fife Herald of 16 December goes on to state that the procession also consisted of:
"...the bobbin winders, the guarders and other net workers in Cardy Works; the fishermen and fisher lasses of Largo; the former accompanying the fishing boat "Robinson Crusoe" mounted on a cart....the nimble fingers of the fisher lasses as they sat "baiting the line" attracting much attention. Then came the fish-cadgers, the boat-builders, the cork-cutters...oil workers...bakers...bedecked with white caps and aprons....Masons, joiners, plasterers, blacksmiths, bottle-top makers and others followed - all busily engaged in practical illustrations of their respective handicrafts."
Luncheon was provided in Cardy House for certain members of the procession and at one o'clock the key attendees took their place on the platform. Speeches were given, before Lady Aberdeen pulled the cord to unveil the statue. There were 'loud and prolonged cheers' before the band played 'Rule Britannia'. Votes of thanks were given and the National Anthem played before the party dispersed and Lord and Lady Aberdeen left on a special train. Later on, dancing was engaged in on the beach and there was a display of fireworks. As one of the eldest villagers was quoted in the Fife Herald article "There was never a day like this in Lergie'". I certainly would have liked to experience the event!
The unveiling celebrations began with a procession of several hundred people, led by the Largo brass band, which began at the site of the statue (prior to unveiling) and went to Upper Largo and Lundin Mill then down through Drummochy to Largo station. There they waited until the arrival of Lord and Lady Aberdeen on the half past eleven train. Horse-drawn carriages took the dignitaries along the main street. Among the group behind them were two men on horseback dressed as Crusoe and Friday. The Fife Herald of 16 December goes on to state that the procession also consisted of:
"...the bobbin winders, the guarders and other net workers in Cardy Works; the fishermen and fisher lasses of Largo; the former accompanying the fishing boat "Robinson Crusoe" mounted on a cart....the nimble fingers of the fisher lasses as they sat "baiting the line" attracting much attention. Then came the fish-cadgers, the boat-builders, the cork-cutters...oil workers...bakers...bedecked with white caps and aprons....Masons, joiners, plasterers, blacksmiths, bottle-top makers and others followed - all busily engaged in practical illustrations of their respective handicrafts."
Luncheon was provided in Cardy House for certain members of the procession and at one o'clock the key attendees took their place on the platform. Speeches were given, before Lady Aberdeen pulled the cord to unveil the statue. There were 'loud and prolonged cheers' before the band played 'Rule Britannia'. Votes of thanks were given and the National Anthem played before the party dispersed and Lord and Lady Aberdeen left on a special train. Later on, dancing was engaged in on the beach and there was a display of fireworks. As one of the eldest villagers was quoted in the Fife Herald article "There was never a day like this in Lergie'". I certainly would have liked to experience the event!
This sketch illustrates the cottage in which Alexander Selkirk was born in 1676 - the seventh son of a shoemaker. The cottage was taken down during the 19th century and the building which stands today, to which the statue was added, replaced it.
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