Dear Green Place 14 - Elder Park

Up very early to drive to Yorkshire for a couple of days (where I saw puffins, gannets, kittiwakes, guillemots and razorbills up close at Bempton Cliffs - all very exciting to me!). This park was sort of on my route out of the city...

Elder Park is across the road from the former Fairfield's Shipyard in Govan (once the largest and most successful of the Clyde shipyards). It is named after John Elder, one of the co-founders of Fairfield's. The park was established by his widow, Isabella (pictured here), in his memory.

Isabella Elder used her wealth to benefit the local community and to support health schemes, building projects and education and training. She was a keen advocate for women's education and in 1883 provided the mansion house that became Queen Margaret College (and later the home of BBC Scotland). The college was the first in Scotland to provide higher education for women. Isabella financed their first courses in women's medical training and also supported the establishment and training of district nurses in Govan under a separate scheme.

I think this statue is the only one in the city at present that is dedicated to a Glasgow woman. And despite all this, her statue is titled 'Mrs John Elder'...

Also enjoyed watching the newly fledged starlings running around after their parents with their beaks wide open. So much so, I nearly didn't leave enough time for the drive south...