Autumn 2000 Outing to the David Livingstone Centre at Blantyre.



Following an excellent talk by a guest speaker, George Paton, on the "Life of David Livingstone", earlier in our 1999/2000 season, members visited the David Livingstone Centre at Blantyre on Saturday 9th September 2000. The weather was rather unsettled on the day, however this did not in anyway spoil our enjoyment of the outing.

We had a guided tour of the centre, which included Livingstone's childhood home; a single room dwelling within the 18th century restored tenement building.



In addition to Livingstone's home, there is a museum commemorating his life and many journeys as a missionary in Africa during the 19th century.

Here are some photographs taken during the visit, showing the main building, the garden, fountain, woodland area surrounding the centre and the River Clyde from the Blantyre to Bothwell bridge.




Members were able to spend time in the garden at the centre and follow a walkway along the banks of the River Clyde. It was also possible to walk across a new bridge spanning the river from Blantyre to Bothwell.



We visited the African Shop & Café, before making our return journey to Bonnyrigg.



{Photographs and text by Neil Stewart}