|
Dundee, the City Of Discovery and Scott of the Antarctic
RRS Discovery - The Ship of Scott's Expedition to the Antarctic Dundee today is known as the City of Discovery, in honour of Dundee's history of scientific activities and of the Royal Research Ship Discovery, Robert Falcon Scott's Antarctic exploration vessel, which was built in Dundee and is now proudly berthed in the city harbour.
Launched on 21 March 1901 and designed for Antarctic research, Discovery's first mission was the expedition that carried Scott and Shackleton on their first successful visit to the Antarctic known as the Discovery Expedition. Leaving the coast of the Isle of Wight on 6th August 1901 she first sighted the Antarctic coast on 8th January 1902. She was locked in ice at McMurdo sound for the next 2 years, after determining that Anarctica was a continent and relocating the Southern Magnetic Pole. She finally arrived home September 1904.
Since then Discovery has been a cargo vessel, carried munitions in World War 1, and supplies to the White Russians in 1917. In 1932 Discovery carried a crew who studied migration patterns of whales in the South Seas. She was saved by the Maritime Trust in 1979 and in 1986 returned to Dundee - the town that built her and where she now permanently resides, in a custom built dock now called Discovery Point. The historic ship is reason enough to visit Dundee, but there is more... also in the city harbour is Her Majesty's Frigate Unicorn..looking like she came straight out of a movie.. 
Part of Dundee's charm is its location. It is only 20 miles from Perth, (and the drive there is really picturesque), St. Andrews is 14 miles away (across the bridge) and Dundee is surrounded by the Sidlaw Hills, the Angus glens and of course, Glamis Castle. If you include Monifieth, Blairgowrie and surrounds, its population is about 170,000. Dundee was famous for three things that as I child I found easy to remember - jute, jam and journalism, but of course there's a lot more to Dundee than that, and the so-called "jam" is actually marmalade which was supposedly invented by Janet Keiller in 1679. Keiller's marmalade is now a famous brand, exported worldwide. 
It was also home to John Graham of Claverhouse, and there is still a district of Dundee called Claverhouse. 1st Viscount Dundee, who raised the Stewart standard on the Law Hill in 1689 support of James VII and the Jacobite cause had the nickname of Bonnie Dundee.
Nowadays there is a road bridge which will carry you across to Fife in no time... 
The jute industry is now in decline as jute is processed in India, but Dundee has adapted with the times and since the 1980's the digital entertainment, biomedical and technological are the thriving industries. Dundee has two universities, the University of Dundee and the University of Abertay Dundee. 
The Caird Hall in Dundee's City Square often plays host to the Royal Scottish National Orchestra amongst many other venues. Dundee also has a thriving Repertory Theatre.
As I mentioned on my home page, I grew up in Broughty Ferry, which is almost part of Dundee, but not quite... It's probably about a twenty minute bus ride away. Broughty Ferry is a quiet little place, and of course has a castle.. It has a really nice beach front, and although it is not exactly tropical, you can swim there in the summer, and there are some cosy bed and breakfasts to welcome visitors who like to stay outside the city...
Broughty Castle is open to the public. Down below is a picture of the Castle from another angle..The water looks a little chilly, but we were happy to swim there, and the sand is perfect for sand castle making..believe me, I became an expert! Occasionally you can see seals on the sandbanks, always away from the shore though.... 
Also, for any alumni, you may be interested to know that the old school has not been used as a school for about three years now, and they are building a new one..sort of sad..but that's progress for you! 
|
