Fields of Endeavour

This is a detail from a tapestry by Maureen Hodge that hangs in the Garden Lobby of the Scottish Parliament. I was on the group that chose the initial art work for the building and I love all of the things we deliberated on, but perhaps this one in particular.

I always enjoy looking at it when I pass by but I had not until today remembered why it was called "Fields of Endeavour". The quote from which the title comes is given on a card on the wall next to it, and it is by Neil Ascherson, the journalist who has written much about Poland, Europe and his much favoured Argyll. It says "We may all be European now but within this ring of stars Scotland is still our own special place - the field of our endeavours . "

These last few weeks have sharpened all our focus on this "special place" but also reminded us of the wider world, as this art work does day in, day out, at the heart of our democratic life.