Descendants of Andrew Carnegie’s inspirational uncle will arrive in Fife this week to commemorate the 200th anniversary of his birth.
A programme of celebrations to mark the achievements of George Lauder, the philanthropist’s uncle and the founder of Lauder College, will culminate in a George Lauder 200 lecture at Fife College on Thursday.
The series of events, sponsored by Carnegie Dunfermline Trust and delivered by a number of organisations including Forth Pilgrim, Dynamic Dunfermline, Discover Dunfermline, Dunfermline Heritage Community Projects and Fife College, has included the restoration of Lauder’s grave in Dunfermline cemetery.
Fife Co-operative Funeral Care worked on the restoration of the monument, which had been cleared of undergrowth by Fife Council in what became a joint effort.
Visiting it was Roger Pickering of Forth Pilgrim who has led Lauder walks.
He said: “We are delighted with the results of the restoration, as well as the role our team played in raising the profile of such a significant figure in Dunfermline’s history when we organised the walks around the historic quarter.”
He was joined by Jack Pryde of Discover Dunfermline who is organising a free tour on November 8.
The walk will start at Leys Park Road and pass the site of Dunfermline jail and poorhouse on the way into the cemetery, ending at the grave.
Descendants will be coming from as far afield as Virginia and New York to attend the lecture at what was Lauder College and is now the Dunfermline campus of Fife College.
There they will hear a talk by Robin Sharp of Dunfermline Heritage Community Projects on the achievements of their ancestor.
Lord Charles Bruce, a descendant of Lord Elgin who chaired the college opening ceremony in 1899, will also give an address on the national significance of the original Lauder College.
Debbie Miller, vice-principal for commercial development at Fife College, said: “This occasion gives us a unique opportunity to highlight and celebrate George Lauder’s magnificent achievements including his lifelong efforts in securing the provision of the college which continues to have such a positive influence on the lives of generations of students.”