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Donald Dinnie statue to be unveiled |
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 The
Lucknow Beautification committee is proud to announce that Donald Dinnie is
returning to Lucknow… this time to stay.Born in 1867 in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Dinnie is said to be one of the first sports superstars of modern times. He thrived on competition and during his career, won more than 10,000 competitions. He joined the Caledonia Circuit in the 1870s and toured America competing in Highland Games. However, Dinnie thrived on open competition as well, and challenged and beat people all over the world at their favourite sport including wrestling, hammer-throwing, putting the stone, caber-tossing, weight-throwing, running, hurdles races and jumping. His fame was worldwide. During the First World War, heavy artillery shells were nicknamed 'Donald Dinnies'. He was inducted into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame in Edinburgh in 2002. In the late 19th Century Dinnie competed in the Caledonia Games in Lucknow. Since that time, he has become an icon for the community, and his likeness can be seen on signage for the village. He has become somewhat of an ambassador or mascot for Lucknow. With funds raised during the Lucknow Reunion in 2008, local artist William Dickie was commissioned to create a sculpture of Donald Dinnie. William and his wife, Irene, live on the Dickie family farm on picturesque Grey Ox Ave, just north of Lucknow, where he grew up and in turn, they raised their two children.
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Dickie's skills as a metal smith, woodworker and artisan have been
handed down from generation to generation. His artistic ability compiled with
an engineering mind have produced many unusual, diverse creations such
as a cedar chest made of pieces
from a grand piano, rocking horses, children’s tea tables. The Dickies are perhaps best known for their beautiful twig furniture including chairs, loveseats, tables, beds, a bar, and grapevine trees. Dickie has also created many other metal projects, including baskets, forged candle holders, cupboard hardware, drapery hardware, tree-of-life room dividers, and entry gates. He envisioned this metal sculpture of the town mascot and, since April of this year, in his free time, his shop has been abuzz with activity. Using different types of metals to create a colour without paint has been his challenge. His 6’6” life-size model of Dinnie would take a prize for artistic merit. Stones from the 300-acre sheep and cattle farm have also been used in this unique and one -of-a-kind sculpture. As iron-strong as Donald Dinnie himself, the sculpture will surely be a tourist attraction for the village for generations to come. The community is invited to don their kilts and clan tartan and join in the unveiling of the sculpture on Saturday, July 24, at 11 a.m. in Lucknow at the corner of Campbell and Inglis Streets (old post office).
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