ONE of the artists who created Musselburgh’s archer statue will be a guest of honour at the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh commemoration on Tuesday.

Svetlana Kondakova, a graduate of Edinburgh College of Art, will launch the Arrow Trail which has been produced in connection with the sculpture to take both visitors and locals on a tour of the area’s rich heritage.

The battle’s memorial stone at Crookston, just off Salters Road, Wallyford, is a key location on the trail and bears a plaque with an arrow giving details about the project.

Svetlana explained that there was also a plaque at the feet of the bronze archer on the banks of the River Esk near the Roman Bridge, Musselburgh. This features a map showing all the arrow locations.

The trail will lead from the archer along the River Esk to Inveresk, through Lewisvale Park to the High Street, along New Street to the Brunton Theatre, then Fisherrow Harbour and back up past the Fisherrow Community Centre and Olivebank Stadium.

The archer sculpture was co-designed by Maja Quille, also a graduate of Edinburgh College of Art.

It was inspired by the town’s history including the Roman invasion in AD80; Battle of Pinkie Cleugh in 1547; and the Musselburgh Silver Arrow competition, which dates back to 1603.

Svetlana said they had recently finished installing a total of 15 arrows in and around Musselburgh – one oversized, one on a plaque (Pinkie Cleugh memorial) and the rest made of stainless steel.

Fourteen of the arrows were engraved with written ‘wishes’ concerning the future of the town which were contributed by the local community via a public workshop.

Svetlana said: “The artwork aims to represent several important layers of history as well as highlighting some of the cultural, social and natural assets of Musselburgh.

“The battle of Pinkie Cleugh is a highly important aspect of local history so it was essential for us to commemorate it in our artwork. I am really honoured to have been invited to take part in the Pinkie Cleugh commemorative ceremony and look forward to saying a few words at it about our project.”

Musselburgh Area Partnership has also helped fund the project and is working to provide a mobile phone app and leaflet about the trail.

Group chairman Iain Clark said: “Now the trail is complete, hopefully this will encourage the community to get active and see the benefits of the town and its history through walking and cycling.”

Area partnership manager Stuart Baxter added: “This is a fantastic project. Not only has the archer attracted so much local community support, it also has provided the opportunity to introduce a new trail through Musselburgh that will be appreciated by residents and visitors alike.”

The battle, known as ‘Black Saturday,’ took place on September 10, 1547, and was the last battle fought between Scotland and England.

It is marked each year by a ceremony organised by the Old Musselburgh Club which is preceded by the raising of a saltire flag at the memorial stone and battlefield walk, led by Dr Andrew Coulson and Roger Knox, which leaves from the Roman Bridge at 11am on Tuesday. The procession stops at information boards en route before arriving at the memorial stone for the commemoration at 1pm.

To the sound of the bagpipes, the president of the Old Musselburgh Club, David Stillie, will say words of welcome before inviting club member Alister Hadden to give an account of the battle.

Ian Wood, club treasurer, will read out 10 names of Scots who were slain which will be followed by an act of remembrance and minute’s silence. Mr Stillie’s wife Sylvia will lay a floral tribute at the memorial stone in memory of “those who were slain in the fields of Pinkie Cleugh”.