Scone residents will come together to celebrate one of their most famous sons at the inaugural Robert Douglas Community Day on Saturday.
Robert Douglas was born in Scone in 1859 and lived in the village before emigrating to America with his brother where he prospered and became president of the Certo Corporation – later sold to the General Foods Corporation of America.
The son of David Douglas, founder of the Scone Jam Factory, Robert remained loyal to his birthplace and after his death in 1929 left a large sum of money to benefit the people of Scone.
It helped build a new school, the public hall and public park as well as an addition to the Perth Royal Infirmary called the Douglas Memorial Wing.
The community will come together to celebrate his life and legacy at the Robert Douglas Memorial Hall from 1oam to 4pm.
Karen Donaldson, the event organiser, said she hopes people appreciate what the entrepreneur did for Scone.
Karen said: “It has taken us a few years but we are going to celebrate Robert’s legacy.
“I’ve grown to love this man. The more I read about him the more I think he’s amazing.
“Maybe people don’t realise how much he did when they are walking around the park or going to the hospital.”
The celebration, which organisers hope will become an annual event, will have photographs of the local area dating back to 1927, a Victorian classroom will be recreated, vintage fire trucks are being brought down from Aberdeen and there will also be entertainment for the whole family.
Nearly 400 local school children will also be attending the event after creating drawings and poetry in celebration of Mr Douglas’ life.
Karen said: “The event is really starting to take shape. We’re getting a lot of support.
“We want to make it an annual event.
“It will be nice if in ten years time when it would be 100 years from his death it was still going.”
The organiser said different community groups have worked together to create the event, including Scone Village Association, Scone Historical Society, Scone and District Community Council, Robert Douglas Memorial Primary School, Robert Douglas Memorial Home, Scone Library, Robert Douglas Memorial Institute Management committee and representatives from the trustees of the Robert Douglas Foundation Trustees.
