Historic Buildings
The final item of business today is a members’ business debate on motion S4M-05003, in the name of Chic Brodie, on Scotland’s historic buildings. The debate will be concluded without any questions being put.
Motion debated,
That the Parliament recognises what it considers the vital role that historic houses and buildings play in preserving Scotland’s rich history; acknowledges the efforts of the Friends of Seafield campaign in Ayrshire, which is attempting to secure the future of Seafield House; believes that Scotland’s historic buildings are a fantastic resource for the people of Scotland and will be for future generations, and acknowledges calls for public authorities to do all they can to maintain the condition of important historical buildings.
17:08
It is indeed a privilege to bring this debate to the Parliament. In doing so, I thank the large number of my fellow members of the Scottish Parliament who supported the motion. I pay tribute to the friends of Seafield house, some of whom are here tonight and whose acknowledged motivation and enthusiasm to secure Seafield house’s future were easy prompts for me to bring forward this debate. Although I will dwell on Seafield house in Ayr, I am confident that my colleagues who speak tonight will bring their passion and concerns and their understandable parochialism to demonstrate that, across Scotland, historic houses and buildings play a vital role in preserving our rich history and play an active part in our lives today. Indeed, our present and our future are rooted in our past.
Before I expand on that, I say that, in my personal lexicon, there is no such thing as a coincidence. Today, we debate in front of our Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs, who I believe was raised in sight of Seafield house; today is the 100th anniversary of the death of Sir William Arrol, an iconic Scots engineer; and today we watch the progress of a new Forth bridge.
There are many bridges between Scotland’s past, present and future; between our icons of the past and their legacies and memories to be enjoyed today and in future. Burns and Scott and their poetry and literature, and Fleming and penicillin, are just a few examples. Tonight, I bring another to the chamber: Sir William Arrol, one of history’s greatest civil engineering contractors. I bring his legacies and I appeal for the secure future of his home, Seafield house in Ayr.
I like to think that William Arrol was, early last century, an archetypal Scot: driven, ambitious, and an unadulterated innovator and entrepreneur. Apparently, he was also a nice man. He was a Liberal unionist but you cannot be perfect in everything. The son of a poor family, at the age of nine he started work as a bobbin maker in a cotton mill in Johnstone. At 14, he became an apprentice blacksmith, rising to the level of foreman in Laidlaw’s boiler works in Glasgow. Still he pushed on. Having discovered his love of heavy engineering and bridge building, he created Dalmarnock iron works in 1887. One of his first challenges was building the Caledonian Railway Company bridge over the Clyde at Bothwell. The bridge was built on land and then rolled over the river—a new technique in bridge building, using new tools that Arrol had devised. The next bridge that he built was over the River Clyde at the Broomielaw.
I say this sadly as a Dundonian but, in 1879, the rail bridge over the River Tay collapsed, sending a train crashing into the river and killing 75 people. The event was immortalised in a poem by the great William McGonagall. Although Sir Thomas Bouch designed and built that fateful bridge, because of that event, Sir William Arrol took over responsibility for designing and building a new rail bridge over the Tay while he was working on plans for a new Forth rail bridge. Those iconic structures are still standing today, as is the famous London tower bridge, which he designed and built. To follow were bridges over the Nile, the Hawkesbury bridge in Australia and the Arrol gantry, the largest crane of its type at the time, which was constructed in Belfast to help the construction of three new super liners, one of which was the Titanic.
Not 2 miles from the cottage of our national bard, Robert Burns, lies Seafield house, the home of the aforementioned William Arrol, of whom the provost of Ayr said at his funeral, exactly 100 years ago today:
“Scotland has lost one of her most distinguished sons.”
Set in 50 acres of land running down to the seafront at Ayr, the grand lady that is Seafield house stands proud, with her magnificent Italianate tower appointed like a parasol. A grande dame, she was adorned by a magnificent library, a large and beautiful hall, a rich collection of art and so much more. Not only did she look good but she performed well, after Sir William’s death, as a hospital for wounded soldiers in the first world war.
In October 1921, she became, appropriately, a maternity and children’s hospital. Just as appropriately, from 1944 she served as a renowned paediatric hospital for 47 years before becoming the headquarters of Ayrshire and Arran NHS Board. Despite her beauty and service, she succumbed to fire in 2008. It is time to restore her to her former beauty and service.
Patrick Lorimer, the architectural adviser to the friends of Seafield house said:
“Not only is the building iconic in the light of its original owner it is also a critical and vital element within the historic landscape of this unique part of Ayr; it should and can be rescued.”
Andrew Arrol, one of the two patrons of the friends of Seafield house, said:
“In my view Seafield House can certainly be saved. It is very well built of good durable materials and potentially has many years of life ahead of it.”
I applaud the positive approach of the Ayrshire and Arran NHS Board, Historic Scotland and the council and the determination and positive approach of the friends of Seafield house towards saving and then rebuilding that iconic structure. That would, indeed, be a fitting tribute to our past and a world-renowned Scottish engineer. It would be a bridge to our future; so, too, would naming the new Forth crossing the Arrol bridge.
17:15
I thank Chic Brodie for securing the debate and raising issues that relate to Seafield house.
Seafield house was the home of Sir William Arrol who, incidentally, was born in Houston in Renfrewshire. As a nine-year-old, he went to work in a cotton mill, and he worked in mills in Johnstone and—of all places—Paisley.
I want to talk about the historic buildings and Paisley’s legacy from industrial times. Paisley is, obviously, Scotland’s largest town. During the industrial period, the Clark and Coats families were cotton mill barons. They had a competition to see which family could build the most buildings, which was better and which could give more to the town. Many of their buildings are still standing. The Paisley town hall was, in fact, originally the Clark hall. The Clark family set up a competition to design a hall that they could give to the town. Renfrewshire Council—the previous Scottish National Party Administration of which I was a part—recently invested £1.7 million to ensure that that building was upgraded slightly. More work still needs to be done in such buildings.
The Coats were staunch Baptists and they decided that they would build the largest Baptist church in Europe—they were millionaires and at that time everyone went to church. The Coats memorial church is still the largest Baptist church in Europe. However, the problem is that, as the legacy fund goes down and the Coats family are no longer part of Paisley, only six trustees are looking after that historic building. They can no longer afford building insurance and they have recently had some thefts, including the lead off the roof, which is something that happens throughout Scotland these days.
The church has about 30 parishioners, whose average age is between 60 and 65. They are talking about an exit strategy and what they should do with the building. There are many buildings throughout the country that are in that position. They are such an important part of our history and heritage. What will our discussion about that be?
Paisley abbey was built 850 years ago for Cluniac monks—it is the only Cluny abbey that is still in one piece. I had the pleasure of addressing the Cluny federation when it came to Paisley. Its members were speaking French and German; I was speaking Paisley. There may have been a slight translation problem. My good friend and colleague Derek Mackay decided that he would trump me by doing his presentation in French. That is an example of the competitive element that is always between us.
The town of Paisley was built around Paisley abbey—there would be no Paisley if that abbey had not been built there 850 years ago. Even the minister in the Church of Scotland has been asking what we should do and what the building’s future is. It is difficult for them to look at the abbey as a stand-alone place of worship. During my time as a councillor, the council used it for various conferences and other events because it is right next to the town hall.
We must look at old buildings and find new and different ways of using them. We should retain them as part of our heritage, but we should use them for things that they were not originally intended for. The problem is that the many members of the public who walk by such buildings every single day of their life never go in and see what happens in them, but they are the first to complain should anything happen to them.
We must, in a mature manner, have the debate on historic buildings and decide what we will do with our industrial heritage and our past.
17:19
I congratulate Chic Brodie on securing the debate, particularly on this date. I say to those members of the public who are in the gallery for the first time that it is not unusual for George Adam to concentrate on Paisley. He never overlooks any chance to mention its name.
One point that George Adam missed out is that Sir William Arrol, who has been referred to throughout the debate, is still a resident of Paisley—he lies in Woodside cemetery in Paisley. I am sure that he would turn in his grave at the prospect of his beloved home being considered for demolition.
As Chic Brodie said, there is no doubt that Sir William Arrol was a giant of the 19th century. An industrialist and entrepreneur, he began work at nine years of age and went on to be a blacksmith at the mature age of 13. Something that has not been mentioned is that, thereafter, Sir William—like many young people in modern Scotland who attend college and university—went to night class to better himself. He eventually became one of Scotland’s great builders and contractors. The Forth rail bridge and the Tay rail bridge are two iconic bridges that are still in the minds of all Scots in the modern Scotland of the 21st century. The Titan crane, which was created by Sir William at a cost of £24,600, is a huge erection that still stands proud on the banks of the Clyde as a memorial to the Clyde’s ship-building history.
Why should Seafield house be so important to us? It is an Italianate villa that has a number of original architectural features and a four-storey tower. It not only saw life as a private home, but went on—after Sir William’s death—to be a hospital and then the headquarters of a health board. For a man like Sir William to decide to build his house in that fashion says something about the 19th century and tells us where we have come from. The house was built using the labour of many Scottish men and women in the west of Scotland. It stands proud to this day, and it deserves to be invested in for the future.
Seafield house in Ayr is interesting not only because of its design, but because of its role in the local community over time. It has become a significant building that is beloved of the local community. There is no doubt that we all fail to realise the significance of such buildings until we are in danger of losing them. The fact that Seafield house has got into its present state does not say anything about its value for the future.
Scotland’s place in the world is to do with its history and the part that it played in creating the world of the future—the world that we now live in. The people of the 19th century left their mark across the globe, and there is no doubt that people from across the globe will want to come and see where that process began. If for no other reason than the place in history that Sir William has and the beauty of the building itself, which Chic Brodie mentioned, the local community needs and deserves our support in ensuring that the house has a future and will be there in another 100 years’ time.
17:24
Chic Brodie’s timing in securing the debate could hardly have been better. As well as coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the death of Sir William Arrol, it comes just 24 hours after the Parliament hosted an event to celebrate the importance of Scotland’s built heritage.
I was delighted to sponsor—on behalf of Scottish Land and Estates and the Historic Houses Association Scotland—last night’s gathering, which celebrated the role that our privately owned houses, castles and gardens fulfil in local communities. Those who were present heard of the important part that historic houses play not only in the tourism sector, but in the running of educational and sustainability programmes—87 HHAS members have implemented renewable energy programmes, and a further 92 are planning to embark on such programmes. That is as it should be. After all, our grand historic buildings ought to be at the heart of our communities.
In my constituency lies Glamis castle, which is not only a place of great history and status but a focal point for the people of Angus and beyond. It hosts musical, theatrical and historical events, not to mention the Strathmore highland games, the vehicle extravaganza and the gathering, which after showcasing each of the Angus burghs last year as part of the diamond jubilee celebrations is to be held again this year, albeit without the royal connotations.
Coming from an area that very much appreciates its built heritage, I am concerned by Seafield house’s situation and congratulate my colleague Chic Brodie on highlighting its plight. Like so many great buildings, Seafield house has served its community well as an auxiliary hospital for wounded soldiers, a maternity hospital and a sick kids unit before becoming Ayrshire and Arran Health Board’s headquarters. It is a tragedy that following the fire of 2008 it lies in its current state, not least because we would surely want some monument to Sir William Arrol, even if, having served as a Liberal MP, he might—as Chic Brodie suggested—have been a little misguided politically.
Upon Sir William Arrol’s death in 1913, the provost of Ayr said of him—and I believe that this is the full quotation—
“Scotland has lost one of her most distinguished sons whose memory will be cherished as that of one of the greatest, most modest, most lovable of men.”
Should we not, as the friends of Seafield house are seeking, be cherishing his home? The Tay and Forth bridges stand as testament to Arrol’s impact on Scotland and, in another land, the magnificent London Tower bridge bears testimony to the fact that his contribution to the built world extended beyond the borders of our nation. The B-listed Seafield house is as much part of his life and legacy as those wonderful constructions.
Having acquired the estate in the midst of building the Tay and Forth bridges, Arrol promptly knocked down the house that was already on the site and commissioned the building of Seafield house as we know it. Of course, Sir William did more than commission it. Although the Glasgow architects Clarke and Bell were appointed to design the house, its general features were reputedly designed by the great man himself. It is also reputed to have contained a magnificent library and an extensive art collection as well as providing a first-class setting for musical events. That is all a distant memory, but the shell of the building remains and I offer my best wishes to the friends of Seafield house and their ambitions to restore and make some appropriate use of the building.
We must value and protect our built heritage. Indeed, I was vividly reminded of that last Friday when I returned to my home city of Aberdeen. Heading northwards over Anderson Drive—something I am sad to say I do not do very much these days—I realised that I would have the pleasure of viewing the magnificent granite houses in the Rubislaw den and Queen’s Road area. However, I had forgotten that halfway up the hill stands a quite monstrous flatted development that in my view is completely out of place in those surroundings. There is something quite distressing about a beautiful part of a city or town being spoiled by the whims of modern-day planners and builders, and something even more distressing about the loss of wonderful old buildings that need not have been lost.
In restoring and maintaining such constructions, we are also preserving and protecting the skills base required to carry out that work in years to come. In that regard, I praise Historic Scotland’s continued commitment to providing modern apprenticeships in stonemasonry.
I again congratulate Chic Brodie on bringing this matter to the Parliament’s attention and wish those working to secure a future for Seafield house the very best of fortune.
17:28
I, too, congratulate Chic Brodie on his very good motion and wish the friends of Seafield house campaign every success for the future in its very worthy cause.
The Scottish Conservatives are very supportive of our historic houses and buildings. We recognise their vital place in preserving Scotland’s rich history and culture, and we acknowledge the key part that they play in Scotland’s world-class tourism offering and in attracting numerous visitors to Scotland from elsewhere in the United Kingdom and indeed all over the world.
That is particularly true in my Highlands and Islands region, where many jobs, often in remote communities, are sustained by castles and stately homes that are open to the public. In that respect, it was wonderful to see Inverary castle feature so prominently in the “Downton Abbey” Christmas special. I hope that the programme will give the area a big boost and attract extra visitors to a very special town where the local people and businesses depend on the castle.
Well over a third of our international visitors cite our heritage and culture as the principal reason for coming to Scotland. Blair castle is a must for visitors to Perthshire, and the same can be said of Glamis castle and Scone palace.
Last night, we met members of the Historic Houses Association Scotland at an event sponsored by Graeme Dey. I pay warm tribute to those who are involved in that association for their excellent work. I read with great interest their extremely good, commonsense response to the Scottish Government’s land reform review group. HHA Scotland members provide paid employment to around 2,000 people, and around 2,000 more are in employment as a consequence of the letting of business space by the owners. Its members also offer a wide range of educational activities for young people. There are more than 60 educational programmes, and the fact that the bulk of Scotland’s built heritage is in independent ownership means that, in most instances, that work does not cost the taxpayer anything.
We are aware of the significant challenges that the managers of historic properties face in preserving them and making them economically viable. Graeme Pearson highlighted that issue. It is a sad fact that, since 1945, more than 200 of Scotland’s great houses have been demolished and are thus gone for ever. Central Government and its agencies, local government and the charitable sector must continue to work together and develop ever more innovative solutions that allow us to preserve and, indeed, enhance what we have. Alcohol licensing for historic houses could be applied in a more proportionate way. Perhaps the Government might look at that issue. HHA Scotland is also asking the Scottish Government to promote a low-cost, consistent approach to tourism signs across Scotland to stimulate the local tourism sector.
Another point that should be remembered is that ancient historic buildings are not necessarily suited to some modern draught exclusion and energy efficiency remedies. For example, double glazing would spoil the look of many historic buildings. Broad-brush measures do not necessarily work; individual solutions must be sought and thought about.
Equally, perhaps fire safety authorities might look more carefully at large historic properties in order to find systems that are affordable and which allow the buildings to continue to accommodate habitation. Obviously, human safety is paramount, but buildings without people are like bodies without souls.
Not all our historic heritage is about castles and fortified houses. There are very fine examples of architecture in our small towns, such as the wee picture house in Campbeltown, the Rothesay pavilion in Bute and the old burgh hall in Dunoon. I apologise to Ayrshire people for mentioning some things in Argyll.
When I travel abroad and meet would-be visitors to Scotland, as I sometimes do, they invariably ask about our built heritage and our exciting, if sometimes bloody, history. Many people abroad go to sleep dreaming of coming to Scotland to see the wonderful treasures, buildings and chattels that we have. We in Scotland must not let them down.
17:32
I congratulate Chic Brodie on the motion. I also congratulate the Seafield house campaigners. However, I am going to be very parochial: I am going to talk about Melrose abbey and Abbotsford house, both of which—luckily for me—are in Melrose in my constituency.
Melrose abbey was built in 1136 and funded by Cistercian monks. Off and on over the decades, it was burned and demolished by the invading English, who were trying to capture Scotland. At one point in its fluctuating fortunes—around 1500—a 100-year reconstruction was completed. People did not move fast in those days. It could be said that it was a perpetually shovel-ready project. Today, even in the ruins, we can appreciate the abbey’s grandeur, elegance and design.
Buildings are by people and for people. Melrose abbey also tells the story of Robert the Bruce, whose connection with it goes back to 1326 and one of those rebuilding programmes, courtesy of the English. On his death, Robert the Bruce’s heart was sent on a crusade to the holy land with Sir James Douglas. When Sir James was confronted by a large array of Moors, he cast Bruce’s heart before him with the cry, “Lead on brave heart”. That expression is still occasionally used nowadays, sometimes by me. Later, Bruce’s heart was retrieved from the battlefield, and it is interred at Melrose abbey.
I go from a brave heart to the “The Heart of Mid-Lothian”—I think that that is called a link. I am referring to Sir Walter Scott, “Ivanhoe” and the Waverley novels. Scott built his quasi-baronial style home—Abbotsford house—on what was originally known as Clarty land. Now members can see what there is in a name.
Scott indulged his eclectic tastes there—much like myself in my wee terraced property—overlooking his beloved Tweed. Indeed, when he was dying, he had his bed moved into a room with a view of the Tweed so that he could die looking at his beloved river.
I first saw Abbotsford on a frosty January day when the grounds, trimmed hedges and turrets sparkled in the sunshine, and I loved it from that moment. Inside the armoury hallway and up near the rafters are the clan crests. Believe it or not, next to the Scott crest was that of Grahame, with an “e”—the affinity was complete.
Scott’s great-great-great granddaughter died in 2004. She was the last of the family to live in what continued to be a family home until her death. Since then, a trust has taken over responsibility for the house, with lottery and Scottish Government funding to restore it. I say to the campaigners in the public gallery that it is a long haul but that they can get there, as has been done with Abbotsford house. In fact, it has been refurbished and will reopen on 4 July—if the queen is invited, so am I.
I have talked about two wonderful historic buildings with stories to tell. When the Borders railway reopens, people will travel from Waverley to Abbotsford at Tweedbank—how appropriate. I might even have a Dandie Dinmont by then.
Thank you very much. To wind up the debate, I call on the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop, who is a local Ayr girl.
17:36
Thank you very much, Presiding Officer.
I congratulate Chic Brodie on leading what I think has been a very thoughtful and informed debate. Of course, Scotland’s historic buildings are an exceptionally important national asset. Our country’s image at home and abroad and the way in which we think about Scotland as a historical landscape are based on our wonderful heritage of towns, cities, crofts, castles and country houses. Our historic houses, from the tenements of Edinburgh and Glasgow to the fantastic tower houses and castles of the north-east, are an essential part of that priceless heritage.
The vast majority of those buildings are well cared for and managed by both private and public owners. As Graeme Dey said, many organisations, particularly in the private-ownership sector, contribute so much to Scotland. As private owners, Scotland’s people have the main responsibility for looking after our historic environment and they do so very well. Scotland’s historic homes are our heritage and, as Christine Grahame so ably set out, the story of our buildings is very much the story of our people.
Seafield house in Ayr is a B-listed building that is the former home of Sir William Arrol, the celebrated builder of the Forth rail bridge. Both George Adam and Graeme Pearson set out his personal history. We are putting forward the Forth rail bridge for nomination as a world heritage site. Of course, we will soon have three crossings for the Forth that will span three centuries. I do not think that any other part of the world will have such an iconic heritage site, once the new Forth crossing is built.
Today is the centenary of the death of Sir William Arrol. His former home, Seafield house, was converted for hospital use. As the Presiding Officer said, I am a local Ayr lass and I used to travel every Saturday morning to play hockey in front of Seafield house at the racecourse. Indeed, I visited my brother when he broke his leg and was a patient in Seafield house, so I am familiar with the building. Of course, it latterly became vacant and suffered fire damage.
I understand that the building’s owner, NHS Ayrshire and Arran, has formed a viability group and is looking at all options for the site along with South Ayrshire Council, the Scottish Futures Trust and Historic Scotland. The group will meet again once the consultants’ initial work is complete to discuss the way forward.
Along with our key partners in local government, the Scottish Government strongly supports owners and managers of historic buildings through grants, technical advice and statutory regulation to promote and protect our historic buildings for the benefit of all. I recently announced the fifth funding round of our conservation area regeneration scheme, which is run by local authorities. The current round amounts to £10 million to target priority buildings and provide small grants to home owners. Since 2007, £26 million has been awarded across the programme in places such as Elgin, Parkhead Cross in Glasgow, Ayr and Selkirk.
In addition, Historic Scotland’s building repair grant scheme has awarded £56 million to historic buildings over the past five years and has levered in a further £271 million to our most outstanding buildings. We have unlocked the potential of our key historic buildings to deliver for local communities.
Conservation projects that are based around historic buildings benefit communities and can be outstanding architectural projects in their own right. I am thinking about Castlemilk stables, Maryhill burgh halls and, in my constituency, Blackburn house, which is a successful example of how joint working brought investment in heritage-led regeneration. The beautifully restored and converted Blackburn house offers studio, office and gallery space. The friends of Seafield house might want to look at that wonderful community asset, which is run by the Scottish Historic Buildings Trust.
At Linlithgow burgh halls in my constituency, a much-admired local landmark has been recast as a fantastic new community resource, which is part of a heritage set piece that recently tempted Chanel to stage a key fashion show at nearby Linlithgow palace. The historic environment is about the past, but such events demonstrate its potential for generating a dynamic future. Historic buildings are at their best and most secure when they are at the heart of the community.
I urge Jamie McGrigor in particular to visit the recently restored Dalkeith tolbooth and have a look at its appropriate but effective double-glazing.
We should be proud of our positive track record in Scotland on reuse and conversion of our historic buildings. As George Adam said, we should get used to seeing industrial buildings and hospitals converted to residential or business use and thereby remaining part of our landscape and heritage. Our urban designers have shown what can be done and how towns and cities can be re-energised by new projects in historic settings. The Parliament’s incorporation of the A-listed Queensberry house in the context of the Holyrood north master plan is testament to that.
There are, quite rightly, concerns about historic buildings that lie unused or derelict. Some buildings are awaiting conversion but a small percentage are not currently well cared for. The reasons for that vary, but a building’s poor condition is often all too obvious and has a negative effect on community investment.
To meet the challenge and highlight historic properties that were under threat, the buildings at risk register for Scotland was set up in 1990. The aim was to target buildings for repair, restoration or reuse. The register is run on Historic Scotland’s behalf by the Royal Commission for Ancient and Historic Monuments for Scotland. The new body that will be created when the two organisations merge will continue that function.
In addition, in April 2011 a buildings at risk initiative was set up to bring together key stakeholders over three years, to tackle Scotland’s most endangered historic buildings. Historic Scotland has targeted A-listed buildings at risk, to deal with the most important examples of our heritage and to show how such activity addresses wider issues.
Through the national performance framework, we are committed to reducing the percentage of A-listed buildings that are at risk. In 2009, 8.7 per cent of A-listed buildings were at risk, compared with 8.2 per cent in 2011. That steady improvement is continuing; figures were released yesterday that show that the proportion is down to 8 per cent.
Our strategy in the area has two main themes: the targeting of deliverable projects around existing buildings at risk; and the development of effective estate management strategies, in partnership with larger landowners. We will address the on-going redundancy rate in buildings, while continuing to deal with existing buildings at risk. We will work closely with landholders, with advice and support from the Scottish Futures Trust, to deal with issues that can lead to a building becoming at risk, through preventative action.
It is in all our interests to think carefully about the historic buildings in our care and to make positive decisions about them. There are many success stories. Of the 277 A-listed entries on the register in 2009, 199 remain at risk but 32 have been saved and a further 26 are in the process of restoration or conversion.
When a derelict historic property is given a new lease of life in a community, we all feel good. Let us not wait until important historic buildings get into a poor state of repair. The key to good management is planning and early action. We will continue to support public authorities to plan for the continued use, strategic disposal or conversion of their historic buildings, which are our precious heritage.
I thank Chic Brodie for lodging the motion so that this important subject could be debated in the Parliament, and I extend my best wishes to the friends of Seafield house.
Many thanks. As a child I had my tonsils removed in Seafield hospital, so I thank everyone who took part in the debate.
Meeting closed at 17:44.