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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Anger at 'war graves picnickers' | Anger at 'war graves picnickers' |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Signs are to be erected at Culloden Battlefield asking visitors to respect the site as a war grave following a complaint about picnickers. | Signs are to be erected at Culloden Battlefield asking visitors to respect the site as a war grave following a complaint about picnickers. |
| A member of A Circle of Gentlemen, a society which recalls the Jacobite cause, said he was furious at the behaviour of some tourists. | A member of A Circle of Gentlemen, a society which recalls the Jacobite cause, said he was furious at the behaviour of some tourists. |
| Alasdair MacNeill said he saw a family picnicking on top of one of the grave mounds. | Alasdair MacNeill said he saw a family picnicking on top of one of the grave mounds. |
| The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) said it was aware of the issue. | The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) said it was aware of the issue. |
| Culloden, near Inverness, saw the defeat of the Jacobites in April 1746. | Culloden, near Inverness, saw the defeat of the Jacobites in April 1746. |
| The circle takes its name from a secret society in Edinburgh. | The circle takes its name from a secret society in Edinburgh. |
| It remained loyal to Charles Edward Stuart - Bonnie Prince Charlie - after the Jacobites' defeat at Culloden and continued to meet late into the 18th Century. | It remained loyal to Charles Edward Stuart - Bonnie Prince Charlie - after the Jacobites' defeat at Culloden and continued to meet late into the 18th Century. |
| The father was leaning against the headstone eating a Scotch egg and smoking a cigarette Alasdair MacNeill | The father was leaning against the headstone eating a Scotch egg and smoking a cigarette Alasdair MacNeill |
| Mr MacNeill said he and other members had complained to the trust. | Mr MacNeill said he and other members had complained to the trust. |
| He said: "A family of four and their two dogs were sprawled across a grave mound having a picnic. | He said: "A family of four and their two dogs were sprawled across a grave mound having a picnic. |
| "The father was leaning against the headstone eating a Scotch egg and smoking a cigarette." | "The father was leaning against the headstone eating a Scotch egg and smoking a cigarette." |
| The circle member said he would not expect such behaviour to be acceptable at World War I battlefields such as Flanders or Ypres. | The circle member said he would not expect such behaviour to be acceptable at World War I battlefields such as Flanders or Ypres. |
| Mr MacNeill said Culloden's fallen were hastily buried in wide, but shallow graves, by British soldiers. | Mr MacNeill said Culloden's fallen were hastily buried in wide, but shallow graves, by British soldiers. |
| He added: "Many people - especially American tourists, come to Culloden because it is a revered place and to find their relatives." | He added: "Many people - especially American tourists, come to Culloden because it is a revered place and to find their relatives." |
| NTS said it was taking action aimed at encouraging visitors to treat the battlefield with greater respect. | NTS said it was taking action aimed at encouraging visitors to treat the battlefield with greater respect. |
| A spokeswoman said: "This is an issue we are aware of and we are currently having signs made up which explain that the battlefield is a war grave and asking visitors to behave accordingly." | A spokeswoman said: "This is an issue we are aware of and we are currently having signs made up which explain that the battlefield is a war grave and asking visitors to behave accordingly." |
| Last month, the Queen became the first British monarch to set foot on the battlefield. | Last month, the Queen became the first British monarch to set foot on the battlefield. |
| Archaeologist and Culloden expert Dr Tony Pollard said her visit was a "landmark" event in the history of the site. | Archaeologist and Culloden expert Dr Tony Pollard said her visit was a "landmark" event in the history of the site. |
| Culloden was the last battle fought on British soil. It brought an end to a major military campaign by Bonnie Prince Charlie to claim the British throne. | Culloden was the last battle fought on British soil. It brought an end to a major military campaign by Bonnie Prince Charlie to claim the British throne. |
| Meanwhile, a pair of late 17th Century curtains are expected to sell for between £4,000 to £6,000 at a Bonhams auction. | |
| The drapes to be auctioned on 28 July have been offered for sale by a couple from Nairn, about 12 miles from Culloden. | The drapes to be auctioned on 28 July have been offered for sale by a couple from Nairn, about 12 miles from Culloden. |
| They put them up every winter and took them down each summer to protect them from the light. | They put them up every winter and took them down each summer to protect them from the light. |
| Bonhams believe they were originally four-poster bed drapes. | Bonhams believe they were originally four-poster bed drapes. |
| The couple are selling them as they are downsizing to a smaller cottage, where the heavy woollen crewelwork embroidery and needlework designs of the Jacobean period will not suit the interior design. | The couple are selling them as they are downsizing to a smaller cottage, where the heavy woollen crewelwork embroidery and needlework designs of the Jacobean period will not suit the interior design. |