Kirriemuir’s famous fairytale son has been flying off the shelves in what has become a special first foot gift.
As the curtain fell on a year of celebration to mark the 150th anniversary of Sir J. M. Barrie’s birth, the figure of Peter Pan helped a commemorative tin of shortbread become a 2010 hit for a leading Scots company with 40,000 sales of the product across the globe.
The managing director of Walker’s Shortbread hailed the Barrie barrel as one of the family firm’s big successes of the year.
The international spotlight shone on Kirriemuir throughout the year’s Celebration of Imagination which saw everything from book launches to a nod towards Barrie’s love of cricket in an anniversary match on The Hill.
The first book in the anniversary year was Sir J. M. Barrie of Thrums, written by prolific Scots dance creator Rob Sergant as the companion volume to a new Scottish Reel which is an artistic interpretation of the story of Peter Pan and Wendy.
It was Mr Sergant’s personal friendship with the shortie firm’s joint managing director, Jim Walker, which led to the collectable tin becoming one of the Barrie milestone momentoes.
Mr Walker said, “I’ve known Rob for a long time and he asked me a while back if I realised it was the 150th anniversary of Barrie’s birth in 2010.
“Rob helped us get all the information which has been put on the tin and it has been a great success.”
He added, “It was a limited edition and we have done 40,000 which have sold all over the world.”
In Kirrie the Peter Pan shortie has been a real talking point, according to Wendy Patterson of the town’s Star Rock Shop.
With the combination of her Christian name and the maiden name of Barrie, the shopowner has been delighted to see her famous namesake keep the town in the global spotlight.
“We’ve had quite a few visitors this year and I would say the Barrie anniversary has definitely helped put Kirrie on the map,” said Wendy.
“It’s a difficult time for shops and businesses, but I would like to thank all of my customers, and this has been something that has gone well.”