Near as I can figure it, through the possibly flawed perceptual filters of my own reality tunnel, the most likely answers this week, seem to me to be:
Q1. Kirkcudbright
Q2. E.A.Hornel (Edward Atkinson Hornel)
The initial clues seem to place us in the vicinity of Kirkcudbright, in the county of Dumfries and Galloway. The island mentioned in the hints, is probably Ross Island, as this sits just off the tip of the western side of Kirkcudbright bay. A lighthouse keeper (Robert Dickson) was convicted and hanged after being accused of the murder of one of his colleagues (Hugh Clark), c 1960.
The author who claimed that Kirkcudbright was "The sort of place where you either fish or paint", is most likely 'Dorothy L Sayers'. She published a novel (c 1931) called 'Five Red herrings', which featured an inspector MacPherson. An artist who was a member of a group called 'The Glasgow Boys' and who according to some of his biographies, had his home at Broughton house in Kirkcudbright, is probably E. A. Hornel (born c 1864). His painting titled 'Autumn' appears to be in the Tate gallery.
The castle in Kirkcudbright is not thought to be medieval but seems to gave been built c 1570, not long after the time Mary Queen of Scots was noising people up in Langside and losing. One of the town's art galleries is called 'Kirkcudbright Tolbooth and Tolbooth Art Centre' . Formerly a jail, it once housed the famous Admiral of the Russian and American fleets, John Paul Jones (born c 1747) aka 'Father of the American Navy', who was incarcerated there for killing a ship's carpenter. The jail may also have been the model for the prison in Sir Walter Scott's novel, 'Guy Mannering', published c 1815.
N.B. Due to the number of people who normally write poison pen letters in green ink posting on his page, the Eastender has moved to moderated comments but rest assured, if you have a non abusive comment or quip related to the puzzle and its solution, he will endeavour to publish it....
The lighthouse keeper didn't hang in the end. He was reprieved a few days before the sentence was robe carried out. He however died a year later through suicide.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the correction David, the source I read said that Robert Dickson was sentenced to hang for the murder but did not indicate that he'd later been reprieved...
DeleteDo I assume the Sunday Times has now stopped people who do not subscribe to their website from entering this competition?
ReplyDeleteDon't know, maybe they aren't selling as many papers as they used to and are trying to boost sales of the printed version, by making the puzzle inaccessible...
DeleteHi Eastender, Are you a member of Times plus if so did you access the competition on-line, as a non-member I had to buy the paper as the clues were incomplete on the website.
ReplyDeleteDoes anybody know if this competition is still open to those of us who do not subscribe to the Sunday Times? If it is how do we access it. Following the instructions on the website only shows a few lines of travel story, although you can still access the entry form!
ReplyDeleteHi Eastender, Are you a member of Times plus, if so did you access the competition on-line. As a non-member I had to buy the paper as the clues were incomplete on the website.
ReplyDeleteNO I'm not a member. Like yourself David, if I can't access online, stroll over to the shops and get a printed copy of the paper.....
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