Dundonians To Be Immortalised On Discovery Walk

Scientists, writers and social reformers will all be honoured at Dundee's new waterfront development.

Names including Mary Lily Walker, D'Arcy Thompson and Mary Ann Baxter have topped an online poll to be included on Discovery Walk.

Their names will be immortalised in pavements on the street to the rear of the Caird Hall.

Medical practitioners Margaret Fairlie and James F Riley, writer and editor R D Low; and scientists Geoffrey Dutton, Alfred Ewing and Walter Spear and Peter Le Comber were also chosen from a shortlist of 15 drawn up by the Discovery Walk steering group.

Hundreds of people responded to an online public consultation exercise to help choose the first nine plaques.

In addition, local school children were canvassed for their views on which famous Dundonians should be selected.

Discovery Walk is the brainchild of Kelly Marr, an Australian who has made Dundee her home.

Kelly commented: “I was inspired by the famous Writers’ Walk around Sydney Harbour celebrating more than 50 writers either from or associated with Australia in some way.

“During the last 20 years I would hear about some of the great innovations that were made in Dundee, and I always felt that it was a great shame that such achievements were not celebrated publicly.

"Discovery Walk will ensure that this part of the city's heritage is never forgotten, and it will mean the city can take an enormous pride in the people that are celebrated.

"I'm bowled over by the response we've had from the citizens and children of Dundee, and I hope that they will continue to be involved, contributing suggestions for how each plaque could be designed, and also contributing to future plaques to commemorate the many other wonderful individuals that Dundee has produced throughout history."