Hercules the bear statue is unveiled 25/8/13
A large wooden sculpture of Hercules - the world-famous grizzy bear - has been unveiled
in North Uist, the island went on the run where he sparked a massive land, air and
sea search by going on the run.
A global spotlight focussed on North Uist where, for 24 days, the bear evaded the
army, police and hundreds of volunteer searchers who scoured the hills and moors
after he took off when swimming in the sea on a family holiday to Benbecula in August
1980.
His Hebridean exploits shot him to stardom. The public nicknamed him “Big Softy”
and his fame grew, travelling to Hollywood being feted by the stars and royalty and
loved by his fans.
He starred in Disney movies and in the James Bond movie Octopussy amongst a raft
of TV appearances until he died in died in February 2000.
Now Hercules’ memory lives on in the new life-like carved sculpture in Langass community
woodlands in North Uist.
Urras an Craobh Uibhist a Tuath (North Uist Woodland Trust) is planting more broadleaf
trees to attract birds, plants and insects to make the former Forestry Commission
plantation an educational and recreational resource.
Hercules was like a child to his adoptive parents Andy and Maggie Robin. Andy carved
out a career with wrestling acts with the grizzly at shows.
Andy Robin said he was hugely impressed with the statue.
He said: “Its brilliant. They’ve done a good job. Its bang on, it is just like Hercules
and I am so happy.”
Maggie Robin, whose mother is a Maclean from Grimsay, said: “Everybody here took
Hercules to their hearts. You can just visualise Hercules running through the heather
and hiding.”
Ada Campbell, chair of Urras an Craobh Uibhist a Tuath, said Hercules statue has
been a big hit with locals and tourists coming to visit and find out more about his
adventures.
A Hercules paw print trial following the new paths within the forest is also popular
with children.
Fears the ravenous meat-loving grizzly would kill to stave off hunger saw petrified
islanders refusing to venture out after dark. Windows were double checked nightly
and some villagers stacked furniture against their doors to avoid being hunted down.
Brothers Alasdair and Ronald Iain Maclean eventually spotted him on Alasdair’s croft
in Balemartin, some 20 miles from where he escaped. Ronald Iain’s son was dispatched
to drive to a phone box to raise the alarm.
The bear was shot wit a tranquillizer dart from a helicopter and airlifted off the
moor to Lochmaddy where ferry company Caledonian Macbryane gave him a lifetime ticket
for free travel.