Glasgow Gallivanting: November 2025
In October’s Gallivanting I featured some daylight photos of the set up for GlasGLOW, an annual Halloween event in the Botanic Gardens. A couple of days after my post we had tickets to the show, so here’s a gallery of it all lit up.
For some years the Scottish Nelson Mandela Memorial Campaign has been raising funds for a statue. Glasgow was the first place in the world to bestow Freedom of the City on Mandela in 1981 when he was still in prison. Eight other local authorities in the UK followed suit and in October 1993 he came to Glasgow to receive all the Freedoms in a joint ceremony. There is a Nelson Mandela Place in Glasgow, formerly known as St George’s Place. It was renamed in 1986, a gesture prompted by it being the location of the South African Consulate. This is where the statue will be placed.
The campaign is now at the stage of commissioning the statue, and maquettes of the five short-listed designs were on display in the City Chambers for a week at the beginning of the month with the public invited to express their opinions (though it was merely an opinion, not a vote).
The bust below is not part of the competition – it was sculpted by Deirdre Nicholls in 2014 and is on permanent display in the Chambers.
I was surprised how similar some of the designs were. Three portrayed Mandela standing with raised fist, in two wearing a suit and in the third his distinctive silk Madiba shirt. From left to right below they are by Paul Ferriter, Hector Guest and Alan B Herriot. Of these I preferred the first as being more dynamic – I got a real sense of movement and power.
The other two are a seated figure by David J Mitchell and a head by Kenny Hunter. Mitchell’s was hard to photograph because it was in front of the window which also meant I couldn’t make out the face properly. Having seen it online I wasn’t convinced it was a good likeness. I also felt the pose was rather passive so this was my least favoured design. I liked the serenity of Hunter’s head but wondered how that would look as a large figure in a public space. Which would you have chosen?
Well, whichever you picked I can tell you the winner – on 27th November it was announced that the statue would be Alan Herriot’s design, the standing figure on the right of the first gallery above. Not my choice, but at least I was able to contribute my thoughts.
The latter part of the month was rather hectic with two trips away separated by one day at home and, in my case, bookended by two talks. I expected to be feeling wrung out by now, but we coped! The first trip was to London and almost entirely taken up with family visits. We had one morning on our own and we chose to visit the Handel Hendrix House which was within walking distance of our hotel.
The homes of these two musicians in Brook Street, Mayfair, are separated by a wall and 200 years. The tour starts in number 25, on the right above, which GF Handel leased in 1723 and where he lived until his death 36 years later. When you reach the top you pass through a door into number 23, where Jimi Hendrix had a flat in the 1960s, and make your way downstairs again. It was fascinating to have two such contrasting homes presented together and to see that Hendrix appreciated his illustrious neighbour, as evidenced by his collection of Handel recordings. John certainly enjoyed channelling his inner musician in a Handel wig and recreating a famous Hendrix pose. Now all he needs is the musical talent!
We enjoyed a bit of street art when we visited my nieces in Crystal Palace too.
The other trip was to Beverley in East Yorkshire for a seventieth birthday party. Rather than make the journey for just one night we turned it into a mini-break, staying in Brough in Cumbria on the way down, which I have already written about, and Richmond in North Yorkshire on our return. Beverley and Richmond were both beautiful and more will follow in due course.
Less from the cyclist this month, because we have been away so much and the weather has turned quite wintry. However, autumn was clearly still around on the 19th, and Elf Junction makes me smile.
Can it really be December already? Have a great month.
The Glasgow Gallivanter 
Elf Junction- too funny. The Halloween lights in GlasGlow were amazing! So well done! Hm..Crystal Palace area looks interesting. Will keep that in mind as we look around for digs in London next spring.
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Yes, the lights were great this year! Elf Junction has been there a while apparently, I thought it was new for the run up to Christmas.
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Phew, you have been busy.
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Away a fair bit!
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At least all the statues look like Mandela. I’ve seen some weird statues of famous people recently.
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Yes, I’d have been happy with any of them really. It will be interesting to see it in place next year some time.
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Great to learn about the Handel Hendrix House! My composer son has moved to London so I whizzed a message off to him immediately – I think he would find that museum fascinating! I’m the only one in the family who has not yet ventured to London to see him and the new place. Must start making a list of things I’d like to do in London and get down there.
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It was a very interesting museum – I love visiting these smaller, more quirky places.
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Wonderful photos from Glasglow. That is my sort of event. I’m going to make a note for next year and call in on the way up for one of my hiking trips.
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Well, be sure to let us know in advance!
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I will. 🙂
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What an extraordinary month for you both, with a milestone birthday as well!! 🙂 No, I can’t believe the year is almost over yet again.
Glasglow – I love it! What a fun, cheerful, and pretty event. I actually liked the Nelson Mandela statue that won the best, because of his relaxed smile and dress, compared to the others. The two bottom ones were certainly my least favorites as well.
And how great to hop from one famous musician’s home into another.
Happy holidays, Anabel and John!!!!
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Yes, it was a good month, thanks! The 70th party was for Roger, John’s flatmate when we first met in 1980, so we go back a long way. Glasgow always has something going on, it’s great. The statue should be installed some time next year I think, barring no mishaps, so it will be good to see it scaled up.
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Thats amazing that Handel and Hendrix lived so close together, be it at different times. And now there is a museum devoted to both. Like that idea. Looking forward to your post on Beverly, I wouldnt mind visiting 😀
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We loved Beverley. We had been almost 40 years go when we lived in Yorkshire and all I remembered was this huge Minster towering over everything. It still does – but we saw a lot more.
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Hi Anabel – GlasgowGlo looked to be fun – thanks for the pics. I went to the Handel/Hendrix house before they converted it … I’d like to see it again – but sadly am unlikely to visit. The murals look amazing … while I will get to your Brough post as a cousin of my Ma’s family farms there. You are always enjoying life … love John’s photos! Cheers Hilary
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Then of course I remembered Mandela – I agree with you … Paul Ferriter’s maquette looks the most convincing … the one chosen is rather ‘dull’ … but so be it! Cheers Hilary
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It’s a hard choice and you can never please everyone! Looking forward to seeing it in place now, some time next year hopefully.
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Would have been interesting to see it pre- and post- conversion! I think they made a good job of it.
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I have enjoyed all these views. Why the statue of Mandela has to be life-sized I don’t know. There is one in Sandton (Johannesburg) and it is too overwheming.
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The square it is going in has some very imposing buildings, including a huge church in the middle, so I guess it will have to work hard to make an impact.
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Yeah, it’s really December, huh?! Where did the year go?
I enjoyed the Glasgow photos. The carved pumpkins, John in silhouette and the one right after him, especially.
I do like the energy shown in the Mandela sculpture you prefer. But the likeness seems off and such a sour expression! I like the one chosen for the more triumphant visage and better likeness.
Interesting concept for the Hayden Hendrix museum!
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The couple walking into the blue light were fortuitous. I see what you mean about the faces on the statues, though I saw the expression as determined rather than sour. The museum was great – how lucky that Hendrix chose to move in next door 😉.
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The light show looks very inviting. I think that the wig looks very fetching. I must say that I admire the energy (and the literal get up and go) that you both have.
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Fetching is not quite the word I have chosen for the wig! I think you probably expend a lot more energy than I do. I am in awe at your daily cycles / walks and the distance you cover.
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GlasGLOW looks amazing! What a marvelous annual event.
I can see why you preferred the first statue, but I wonder if the third was picked because it attempted to combine power with a welcoming gesture. I’m just glad that I wasn’t on the voting committee.
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Maybe! I don’t dislike it, I just preferred others. I agree it would be a hard choice – and you can’t please everyone.
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Is that a new event in the Botanic Gardens? Mind you it is 21 years since I lived there…..which I can’t believe. The museum looks quite fun. Not sure about any of the Mandela statues to be honest.
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It started about 2015. We don’t go every year, we’ve maybe been to about three.
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Christmas just creeps up on you, doesn’t it? Glasglow looks absolutely delightful. Love the banana skins. Light shows bring out the kid in me. And I love Richmond! Happy December, Anabel xx
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It certainly does! I loved Richmond too – I was sure I had been before, but when I got there I decided I hadn’t. Within shouting distance of Margaret too, so we had lunch with her and Malcolm.
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I’ve never managed that yet. It’s always a busy holiday time when I’m around xx
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Well I actually prefer Alan Herriot’s design with his “Madiba” shirt. And of course that’s the name he is fondly referred to as. Your light show photos are so very crisp and bright. What camera were you using? Once again a fun-filled month from you.
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I do like the shirt, I just felt the pose was a bit static on that one. All the Glasglow photos were taken with an iPhone, some mine some John’s. Where we had photographed the same thing I always used his which were sharper – better model of phone with an excellent camera. I hardly ever see him with his actual camera these days.
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I rarely use my camera these days. So much easier to carry the phone. But I must get back into using the macro lens.
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A busy and interesting month. I hadn’t heard of the Handel Hendrix House, that’s a great tip. Added to the list for future London visits!
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Interesting, I read about it on a blog and thought it might have been yours! Clearly not.
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Goodness gracious Glasgow is genuinely glowing! Great photos! Not sure any of the statues inspired me…I’m Libra so always can’t decide anything and sit on the fence! However, I do know that I enjoyed your visit to London which as always was full of interest.Thanks
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Glasgow definitely glowed for those couple of weeks! And now it’s glowing again with the Christmas lights.
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The Glasglow looks really spectacular this time. Usually when I view it in daylight I’m satisfied with that viewing but the night version looks worthwhile as well. Bob. BSS.
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I honestly don’t think it’s worth the money, but because it referenced the Garden Festival and Glasgow’s Miles Better this year I wanted to go for nostalgic reasons.
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A busy and varied month! The Glasglow event looks fun, and a bit of a change from the usual Christmas-themed light shows. Of the Mandela statues I’m most drawn to the bust, perhaps because it shows his character more and also I’m fond of the large bust of him at the Royal Festival Hall. My second choice was the one that won, in the Madiba shirt, as I think it reflects his heritage better than the suit-wearing statues.
The Hendrix flat is fascinating, isn’t it? I have a feeling my husband tried on that same wig!
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I definitely liked the bust best but didn’t think it would be as appropriate scaled up as a full size figure. I agree about the shirt, but thought the pose was a bit too stiff in the winner. I’m sure it will look great when it’s done though. I dread to think how many people have tried those wigs on! I hope they clean them regularly!
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I am not surprised they chose that one!
you have had a busy and lovely month 😀
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Yes, it was lovely, thanks – and pleased I at least managed one Squares post!
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agreewith you Anabel the Paul Ferriter has the more dynamic pose. I was very interested to read you visited Beverley. I spent a year at the nearby Bishop Burton Agricultural College in 1958, and have very fond memories of that area. I wonder how much it has changed from the sleepy, rural village I knew.
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Yes, of the three standing statues the one they chose was the one I liked least! We passed the entrance to Bishop Burton College on the way to Beverley so it’s still there. I can’t say much about the village because the road just skirts the edge of it but it certainly didn’t seem large.
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I used to know the pub there…🤭ah student days…🫣
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From your photos of the Mandela statues, I think I like the last – the bust – best. He looks thoughtful and statesman-like here. You had already sold the Handel-Hendrix House to us, and your account + pix here puts it even more firmly on the list. The Glasgow Hallowe’en event looks colourful and fun!
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I liked the bust too, though someone who was there at the same time said she didn’t think it looked like Mandela. I thought it did, but might be better kept small scale. It could have looked a bit overpowering at full statue size. The Handel Hendrix House is well worth a visit.
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👍
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An interesting and varied round-up of the month Anabel. I love the photos of Glasglow, it all looks so colourful though I don’t know how you managed to get your shots without loads of people getting in the way. I love the idea of the Handel Hendrix House being two separate places connected and I burst out laughing at John in the wig 🤣 The right hand Crystal Palace street art looks like one of Mr Cenz’s, his artwork is very distinctive.
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The light show tickets were carefully timed so that it was never too crowded. The busier bits we either didn’t photograph or I missed out! I think John looks better in the picture without the wig, definitely. I don’t know about the street art – we were rushing to meet my nieces and I just took a quick snap as we passed.
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