| Location | Edinburgh Scotland |
| Age | 17 years |
| Date of Birth | 01/01/1855 |
| Date of Death | 14/01/1872 |
| Visitors | 958 since 31/03/2009 |
| Creator |
This little black Skye Terrier best illustrates the extent a dog will go to show his friendship, uncommon loyalty, affection and devotion to his master.
Edinburgh policeman, John Gray, acquired a stray black terrier to serve as a watch dog, a condition of his employment. The dog was given the name 'Bobby' a term often used to refer to a policeman in the UK. Man and dog became inseparable until Gray died of tuberculosis. A funeral procession to the gravesite at Greyfriar Kirkyard was led by the dog. With interment complete, Bobby attempted to stay by his master's covered grave, but many times the caretaker sent him packing. Bobby persisted and made his home by his master,s grave.
The site was unmarked and soon became scarcely discernible and humans expressed no interest in the occupant. However, the sacred spot was not wholly disregarded or forgotten. Bobby kept a constant watch and guard over the grave. Local residents fed the dog and even built him a shelter. Any vermin that came near the grave was chased and killed.
A tradition at nearby Edinburgh Castle was the firing of a cannon to signal the one o'clock hour which also would find Bobby trotting out heading for a restaurant called 'Traill's Dining Rooms', where the proprietor regularly gave Bobby his lunch and where the twosome often lunched together as Constable John Gray made his rounds.
When word of this spread around the country, crowds would collect at the gates of the kirkyard to see this amazing event. Bobby was all business, he did not linger over his food. Finished, he raced off to the cemetery to continue his vigil.
Nine years after the death of his master, Bobby was seized as a homeless dog without a collar or licence.
The Lord Provost of Edinburgh was so touched by his loyalty, that he personally paid the annual dog licence while presenting the dog with a brass-plated collar inscribed: 'Greyfriars Bobby, from the Lord Provost, 1867, Licensed'. This ritual lasted fourteen years until Bobby died and was buried inside Grayfriars Kirkyard, about 75 yards from John Gray's grave.
Footnote:
In 1961, Walt Disney Studio's released the film 'Greyfriars Bobby' which was based on the children's book of the same name written by Eleanor Atkinson. The dog caught the attention of Baroness Burdett-Coutts fearing the animal would be forgotten in death, was instrumental in having a permanent memorial build in recognition of Bobby's loyalty. Completed in 1872, the memorial comprises a life-size bronze of the dog made by famouse Scottish sculptor William Brodie. It is mounted on a granite pylon at the sharp junction of George IV Bridge and Candlemaker Row in Edinburgh just opposite the entrance to Greyfriars Kirk.
The Huntly House is a restored 16th century townhouse and is the official museum of Edinburgh. Bobby's collar and dinner dish is displayed here.
The Greyfriar Bobby legend continues today, 150 years later, as tourist and animal lovers come to the city to see the grave and monument to the little terrier.
(Bio by Donald Greyfield)
ℒℴѵℯ░ ℒℴѵℯ░ ℒℴѵℯ░
FOREVER LOVE
ℒℴѵℯ░
Sweet thoughts of you are on my mind
you'll be remembered till the end of time
So when your feeling down and blue
remember these feelings I have for you
Although we're not together
and it seems we're far apart,
You'll be with me for eternity
Always in my heart.
UNKNOWN
ℒℴѵℯ░ ℒℴѵℯ░ ℒℴѵℯ░
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and they are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days gone by. The animals are so happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together each day, but then the day comes when one suddenly stops and peers into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
YOU have been spotted, and when you finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved soft head, and you finally get to look once again into the loving eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.
Author unknown...
Greyfriars Bobby
His watchful guardian
To the end,
Man's most loyal
And trusted friend,
Within Greyfriars
Iron gates,
A loyal heart for his
Master waits.
He crouches in the
Cold wet grass,
And barks at shadows
As they pass.
A breaking twig can
Make him start,
The trundling of a
Passing cart.
Amid the autumn
Leaves that fall,
He waits upon his
Masters call.
And though his name
Is often said,
The only man he
Loves lies dead...
(anonymous)
I Am Here.
I'm Still Here
Please don't mourn for me
I'm still here, though you don't see.
I'm right by your side each night and day
and within your heart I long to stay.
My body is gone but I'm always near.
I'm everything you feel, see or hear.
My spirit is free, but I'll never depart
as long as you keep me alive in your heart.
I'll never wander out of your sight-
I'm the brightest star on a summer night.
I'll never be beyond your reach-
I'm the warm moist sand when you're at the beach.
I'm the colorful leaves when fall comes around
and the pure white snow that blankets the ground.
I'm the beautiful flowers of which you're so fond,
The clear cool water in a quiet pond.
I'm the first bright blossom you'll see in the spring,
The first warm raindrop that April will bring.
I'm the first ray of light when the sun starts to shine,
and you'll see that the face in the moon is mine.
When you start thinking there's no one to love you,
you can talk to me through the Lord above you.
I'll whisper my answer through the leaves on the trees,
and you'll feel my presence in the soft summer breeze.
I'm the hot salty tears that flow when you weep
and the beautiful dreams that come while you sleep.
I'm the smile you see on a baby's face.
Just look for me, I'm everyplace!
xxx
TEARS
HAVE YOU EVER LOST SOMEONE YOU LOVED WHO
WAS VERY DEAR TO YOU?
ONE WHO YOU LOVED SO MUCH AND MISS THEM
LIKE I DO,
HAVE YOU EVER HAD A HEADACHE TOO PAINFUL TO
BEAR?
AND SHED THOSE BITTER TEARS THAT FALL LIKE THE
RAIN,
IF YOU NEVER HAD THAT FEELING,
I'LL PRAY YOU NEVER DO,
FOR WHEN GOD TAKES THE ONES YOU LOVE,
HE TAKES A PART OF YOU.
For Greyfriars Bobby,xxx.
God saw you were getting tired and a cure was not to be.
So He put his arms around you and whispered, "Come to Me."
With tearful eyes we watched you, and saw you pass away. Although we loved you dearly, we could not make you stay.
A golden heart stopped beating, hard working paws to rest.
God broke our hearts to prove to us;
He Only Takes The Best
I know what you're thinking. You think I'm dead. Because you cannot see me with your human eye, cannot feel me with your hands or hold me in your arms, you think I am gone forever.
You recall how I looked when I left this place, and you cannot remotely imagine that I could possibly be alive in another place. You are racked and torn by the pain of our separation and it blinds you to that which is right in front of you... me..............
I'm here to tell you different. You were worthy of my love and undying devotion on earth as I of yours. Do you really believe this love would be snatched from us forever by a loving Creator simply because I wasn't human? Was I not a living, breathing creation with personality? How could I have been so if I didn't possess the energy of soul, spirit and loving light? And if this energy is and always will be, then how can it be that I am dead?
.................
You say that all you have left are memories. Not so. You see, when I took leave of my earthly body I left a little something behind for you. You can't touch it, hold it or examine it for what I left behind is far too uninhibited for confinement. I left behind a piece of my soul. I placed it right next to your own which is quite fitting as we were always side by side in our earthly life together. I love you too much to have left you with nothing but memories, which tend to fade and grow cloudy as the years go by.
I love you too much to have vanished without a trace. How selfish it would be of me to remove love and light from your life.
.............
I understand your tears, each one you shed is testament to your love for me and I am honored and humbled. But don't forget the good things we shared - remember and smile. This is an honor for me as well. And when you need me I will be here. Close your eyes, relax, take slow, deep breaths and picture me in your mind. Shut off the world and your notions of what death is and give me a chance. Look for the subtle signs I send you. Don't stop being proud of me, I am a friend to be proud of, I am still your friend and soul mate.
Don't memorialize the death of my body but instead honor and celebrate my never-ending life for it is eternal and forever as is my love for you.
Until we meet again...
Author Unknown
(Passage from UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN)
THIS IS NOT THE FULL VERSION AS SO MANY CHARACTERS ARE ALLOWED, IT WAS WRITTEN FOR A DOG AND YOU CAN FIND THE FULL VERSION ON THE NET
Using the options below you can add this memorial to your personal garden.
| I am Greyfriars' ... | |
| Add to Garden: | |
| Notifications: | Text Message |
There have been 39 candles lit for Greyfriars.
