Local Hero

Took some shots of the church at Cawdor (Macbeth's Thanedom) when I was attracted to this memorial by the ornamentation at the top - a bit like the stone was wearing a cloak or robe. It seemed a little unusual but there's a similar one in the same churchyard so perhaps just some local mason at work. The grave belongs to Anne Macpherson 1784 - 1869 but the stone also commemorates her husband Niel Smith 1780 - 1819 who is buried at Nairn not far away. He was assistant surgeon on HMS Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 and helped the surgeon William Beatty to treat Lord Nelson and later prepare his body for the state funeral at St Paul's. He was promoted to full surgeon in 1806 and continued to serve with the Royal Navy until the end of the French Wars. There's a small metal plaque (out of shot) which gives these details. A few moments after this shot the heavens opened and I had to beat a hasty retreat.