'Hidden Gem' Celebrates 60th Anniversary

Thursday July 4 2013

In the middle of one of Edinburgh’s sprawling housing estates, one of the city’s hidden gems celebrates its 60^th anniversary tomorrow (Friday July 5).

The Robin Chapel, tucked away in the grounds of the Thistle Foundation in Niddrie, was built by the Tudsbery family in the early 1950’s to commemorate their son, Robin, the last officer killed in the second world war.

The chapel, with intricate wood carvings of animals and some of his favourite things from when he was a boy, and lit by beautiful stained glass windows depicting scenes from The Pilgrim’s Progress, will be celebrated with a Service of Thanksgiving attended by the Queen.

“The Tudsbery family created a ‘settlement’ for war veterans from WW2 so that those who had been wounded in the fighting could have somewhere created especially for them where they could live with their families.” says Rev Tom Coupar, chaplain at the chapel.

“In those days, the idea of building a house that would allow someone in a wheelchair or with another disability was revolutionary. Ramps, lowered sinks, everything we take for granted nowadays was unheard of. The settlement created here included houses, medical and care staff, physiotherapy, a hydrotherapy pool and was specifically to allow the whole family to live together there. The first houses were occupied in 1950 and in 1953, the Robin Chapel was dedicated.

"Though the chapel was never envisaged as a part of the original concept, when the Tudsbery’s lost their son and only heir, they had it built and dedicated to the young soldier.”

Pictures by Jackie Macadam

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