Braveheart At Tangleha' (by Eric Wm. Walker)
Last Monday evening I took a trip with my friend Tom Church by car to Tangleha' Artistes studio/workshops nine miles north of Montrose on the rocky east coastline of the North Sea at Milton Ness.
I am no stranger to the small picturesque old fishing hamlet as my Great Great Great Grandfather, Piet Rondhuis, a merchant seaman from St. Annaland in Holland, was shipwrecked there in 1803. Staying there he became a fisherman and married Elisabeth Ritchie and they had two daughters, Anne and Mary. My Great Great Grandfather and Mary Roundhuis were married at Benholm Church on 30 June 1857, by Rev. Mr Myres.
I had never been to Tangleha' other than during the daylight and, little did I know as Tom drove me down the winding road towards Tangleha', of the surprise which awaited me.
Tom, with a twinkle in his eye had only told me that we were going to view a mould for casting. Walking up the path to the studio, Tom then unlocked the door of the artist's studio/workshop and switched on the lights, revealing moulds and beautiful castings of many different types. On looking to the right I was amazed to see the massive figure of Tom's portrayal of Scotland's hero William Wallace as 'Braveheart'.
I had seen the original sculpture many times but never like this. Standing proudly on its stone base, broadsword in right hand and battle targe in left, with the severed head of the Governor of York lying at the left foot of our Scottish hero. Braveheart had been stained all over in a shade of brown which seemed to add authenticity to the figure. The leather and metal of his armour; the protective leather covering on his arms, with the thistle of Scotland carved on each, were magnificent. The fibres of the homespun material of his plaid and kilt, the leather of his boots, all showing the skills of the sculptor and the artist who made the mould. His flowing hair, the expression on Wallace's face and in his eyes and even the marks on his teeth, with his open mouth roaring out his 'Freedom' call, had a tremendous effect on me and I felt very proud, and for once, left me speechless.
I have visited many historical sites and viewed carvings of historical figures in my time, but none affected me like this. It was almost as if William Wallace was alive and the power of the man had taken me over. I felt honoured to have been one of the first to see the full size casting and mould of Braveheart and proud to be a friend of Tom Church. My wife Mary is a relative of Tom's, both their families having lived and, indeed, still residing in the fishing village of Gourdon.
Tom and Phil Lampton, the artist, talked and I went outside, standing on the rocky shore where Piet Rondhuis was shipwrecked nearly two hundred years ago. I heard the sea breaking over the rocks, the sky above was starry, and looking North I could see the the twinkling lights of the small coastal hamlets and those of the fishing village of Gourdon. After meeting the artist's family and saying our farewells, Tom and I drove home to Brechin. The evening had been a very special one indeed.
The figure of Braveheart shall soon be going all over the world, even to the homes of the rich and famous. How nice it would be to have a figure of Braveheart here, permanently, in Brechin. A tribute to a hero who fought and died for his country and also to a talented sculptor who brought him back to life.