A three-year project to restore a monument to Sir Harry Lauder’s son reached its climax yesterday.
The restoration and access improvements were complete in time for an anniversary event to commemorate the death of the entertainer’s son in World War One.
There was a large turnout to mark the 102nd anniversary of the death of Captain John Lauder, who was shot and killed by a sniper in France, and to mark the restoration of the Lauder Monument at Invernoaden on the Cowal Peninsula, which was originally unveiled in 1921 by world-famous entertainer Sir Harry Lauder in memory of his son.
The £25,000 project, which was coordinated by conservation charity, Friends of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs, also involved the creation of a new car park, along with a new path link, upgrading an existing steep path with stone steps and safety railings and installing two story boards and advance signs.
Funding was secured from two landfill trusts and the Friends of OUR park visitor giving scheme, while many hundreds of hours of labour were generously provided by volunteers to ensure the project was completed on time.
Local youngsters contributed to the commemorative event, with a series of their original drawings depicting the tragic Lauder story adorning the ornate railings around the monument and poignant letter and poetry readings as well as musical tributes on the bagpipes.
There was also a wreath laying by Major Donald MacLaughlan and a rededication of the monument by Rev Dr Robin Mackenzie.
This was followed by the unveiling of a new storyboard beside the monument by MSP Mike Russell and a rendition of Harry Lauder’s famous song ‘Keep right on to the end of the road’ which he wrote in memory of his son.
Friends chairman James Fraser said: ‘’We were delighted with the large turnout at today’s special commemorative event which also marked the completion of a major effort by our charity, contractors and many volunteers to restore the Monument and its approaches.
“The tragic story associated with the monument was very appropriately brought to life by a number of very talented local youngsters at today’s ceremony, and a series of permanent new storyboards will ensure that visitors to the site in the future will have a greater understanding of the story of Captain John Lauder and the strong Lauder family connections with the Cowal area.’’
Sir Harry Lauder bought nearby Invernoaden House and the 14,000 acre Glenbranter Estate as an engagement present for his son John and his bride to be, Mildred Thomson, in 1916.
But sadly John was tragically killed before they were married and able to enjoy family life in this part of the national park, which was eventually sold to the Forestry Commission to form part of the Argyll Forest Park – the first forest park created in Great Britain.
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