A VIOLIN MAKER has crafted three violins from a tree in the grounds of a shell-shock treatment hospital in honour of three renowned First World War poets.
Steve Burnett used a branch from a sycamore tree at Craiglockhart military war hospital, where Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon were treated, to make the instruments.
He also recently completed a violin in honour of poet Robert Graves, who met Owen and Sassoon in Edinburgh.
The three violins were played together for the first time on Friday evening at Baberton Golf Club in Edinburgh as a plaque was unveiled to mark 100 years since the three poets met there. Burnett hopes the instruments will serve as envoys for peace and reconciliation through the power of music.
He said: “I hope that as time goes on, the voices of these violins through the messages of these poets will be a beacon of hope.
“The violins will be there to spread the word of hope and peace and harmony.”
Burnett made the first violin in 2014 to mark the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War. He began work on the Siegfried Sassoon violin earlier this year, using wood from the same branch, to mark the centenary of the first meeting between the two poets.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here