I miss Edinburgh. It’s my go-to city and prior to current restrictions it was my cultural heartland across the Forth. For me, a day in Edinburgh meant art galleries, cultural feasts, museums and their wares and cafes perfumed with coffee and cake. There is no better way to spend a day. So, when Museums & Galleries Edinburgh announced a podcast, my interest was stirred.
Auld Reekie Retold is an ambitious three-year project connecting objects, stories and people from the Museums & Galleries Edinburgh collection of over 200,00 objects. The project funded by the City of Edinburgh Council and Museums Galleries Scotland features staff from across the venues. Through recording and researching the objects and sharing their stories, the Auld Reekie Retold team are seeking to engage the public and ignite a conversation about their treasures and their secret histories for events and exhibitions in the future.
The inaugural episode centres on Edinburgh favourite Greyfriars Bobby. A clever choice for a debut podcast presented by Gabriella Lawrie, Gwen Thomas and Suzy Murray. Most folk know the story of the wily terrier whose loyalty to his departed master and adoption by his home city is iconic. Contemporary lore is touched upon as the tourist trend of rubbing wee Bobby’s nose on his statue for luck is discussed.
The second episode ‘Dogs of the Writers’ Museum’ is presented by Gabriella Lawrie and Oliver Taylor focuses on Robert Burns, Walter Scott and Robert Louise Stevenson and their fantastic beasts. In the third episode on ‘Charles II Letter’ hosting duties fall to Nico Tyack and Anna MacQuarrie as they share the story of a mysterious letter, exiled kings and life in Edinburgh during the 18th century.
Auld Reekie Retold is a titanic project hosted by passionate storytellers and their enthusiasm is evident in their research and their jovial presentation. This podcast is an audio tour of Edinburgh Museums of Scotland and as a creative who has sorely missed these hallowed walls in Edinburgh it’s been a pleasurable joy. As a podcast hosted on YouTube, I would like it to be more widely available to listeners on all leading podcast platforms offering this treat to a wider audience of history lovers.
Auld Reekie Retold Podcast emphasise the podcast is produced at home, during coronavirus and apologise in advance for any errors. For this listener, no such words are needed. The body of work undertaken for each episode is clear as segments are interwoven seamlessly to produce each entertaining episode. Much credit should be given to the producers for their dedication in creating this historic labour of love. I look forward to listening to future episodes, offering a virtual tour of the museums with the teasing scent of coffee in the distance.
Lisa produces and hosts Holding the Space podcast. In 2019, hosted ‘In Conversation’ sessions with Kerry Hudson, Fiona Gibson and Catherine Simpson at Outwith Festival.
Very passionate about history and ancestry partnering with the Scottish Genealogy Society for the Scottish Ancestral Records podcast recommended by BBC’s Who do You Think You Are? Magazine.