Latest news with #Annette
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Scottish Sun
I looked ‘Butcher of Suburbia' in the eye after he slaughtered landlady & chopped up body…how Moonpig card snared him
Scroll to see the chilling moment evil Scott Paterson confesses to his twisted crime in sinister detail LETHAL LODGER I looked 'Butcher of Suburbia' in the eye after he slaughtered landlady & chopped up body…how Moonpig card snared him Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IT was a cold-hearted murder that shocked the sleepy village of Fairfield in Bedfordshire to its very core. A much-loved local pensioner, murdered, dismembered and callously discarded in public bins by the person she'd come to think of as family. 15 Annette Smith was murdered and dismembered by her lodger Scott Paterson Credit: Bedfordshire Police/PA 15 Paterson pleaded guilty to murder in September 2024 Credit: SWNS 15 DCI Katie Dounias led the murder investigation into the shocking case Credit: Alamy Annette Smith, 74, had lived with Scott Paterson, 45, for 11 years - she'd invited him to stay with her for free in 2012 in exchange for running errands and keeping her company, after he split from his ex and sold their home. Annette, who'd split from her husband 14 years previously, and Paterson had become best friends, even holidaying together, hosting dinner parties and occasionally sharing a bed. But when she had a stroke in 2018, callous Paterson grew tired of caring for her, and on November 8, 2023, he suffocated her with a pillow while she slept. Sickeningly Paterson - who had previously worked as a butcher - then dismembered her body using a saw and kitchen knife, before going to great lengths to cover his tracks. He was eventually snared when police tracked Moonpig cards he'd been sending while posing as Annette from the home they shared - despite telling her friends and family she'd gone away. The harrowing case is examined in the new series of 24 Hours in Police Custody, which features the chilling moment he finally confesses to his sinister crime. Speaking to The Sun, DCI Katie Dounias, who led the murder investigation, said there were alarmingly few red flags when police first interviewed Paterson in the wake of Annette's disappearance. "He came across as a very meek and mild person," she said, adding he had no previous convictions. "There was nothing that immediately rang alarm bells with him... nobody had a bad word to say about him or against him." She added: "They [Paterson and Annette] had a really good relationship by all accounts. They were best friends, which just makes it all the more harrowing, really, that he went on to do what he did." Shocking moment murderer tells cops he 'suffocated' landlady, 74, before hiding 'what remains of her' in storage unit 15 Annette, 74, was killed at her home in Bedfordshire in November 2023 Credit: Channel 4 15 Detective Chief Inspector Katie Dounais led the investigation into the murder of the vulnerable landlady Credit: Channel 4 15 Paterson spoke calmly and revealed that caring for his landlady was 'difficult' Credit: Channel 4 In the show Annette's stepson, Jason, revealed his shock at her brutal murder at the hands of someone he thought loved her. Jason said: "I trusted him so much. He is a manipulative murderer and someone that knew what he was doing. "There is no forgiveness for what he has done and I hope he rots in prison." In the early years of living together Paterson and Annette "got on like a house on fire", with the latter coming to see her lodger "like a son". But following her stroke the dynamic changed and Paterson became her carer, as her mobility issues prevented her from doing basic domestic tasks. It was Paterson who reported Annette as a missing person, claiming he last saw her climb into a woman's car with a packed suitcase. He claimed she told him she'd be gone a few days, but he never saw her again. Moonpig card clue 15 Missing posters for Annette were plastered around the town Credit: Channel 4 Suspicions began to arise when family members realised that despite receiving emails, Moonpig cards and gifts from Annette, they hadn't seen her for several months. Police struggled to identify the woman described by Paterson as "white" and "plump-ish but not fat" who he claimed collected Annette, and there was no CCTV or witnesses to support his claim. Cracks started to show in his story; DCI Dounias said: "Speaking further with friends and family, it became evident that Annette was quite infirm… it just didn't tally with what Paterson was saying. "Friends and family started to raise concerns about whether she was capable of getting herself out of bed, packing a suitcase and leaving.' Detectives traced the IP address of emails and cards allegedly sent by Annette while she was 'away' to her address, and a search of the property revealed Annette's passport and clothing inside. I trusted Paterson so much. He is a manipulative murderer and someone that knew what he was doing Jason Annette's neighbour Lois recalled how Paterson "really changed in his demeanour" when the missing person investigation ramped up. She said: "I saw him one day parked outside the tree which was Annette's space. He'd gone from being this flamboyant extrovert to trying to go unnoticed, if you like. "He'd put weight on, his hair was longer, he was drinking more, it was almost like there was two sides to him." On April 30, 2024, Paterson was arrested, and it didn't take long before he broke down under interrogation and confessed to the brutal killing. A chilling moment in the documentary shows the moment Paterson calmly told police how he killed Annette in a premeditated attack. Prior to killing Annette, Paterson took several weeks off work, claiming he needed an operation to remove a tumour. Instead he was plotting the sinister murder. Recalling the moment he placed a pillow over her face, Paterson said: "I was weirdly calm, had the TV on. I think because I'd been thinking about it for quite a few weeks it was just something that had played over in my mind. "So it was almost like I was ready when the time seemed right. "I went downstairs after Annette had fallen asleep and I put a pillow over her face until she stopped breathing and I left her in bed for the night." Chilling confession 15 Paterson took time to calculate how he would kill and dispose of the vulnerable adult Credit: Channel 4 15 Police became suspicious as Annette was too frail to have gone away on her own Credit: Channel 4 15 Officers gain access to a storage unit rented by Paterson, where he stored Annette's torso Credit: Channel 4 The next morning Paterson moved Annette to the under stairs cupboard, where he left her for "quite some time". When asked by police where Annette is, Paterson chillingly replied: "There isn't a full body." Paterson told how after several weeks he took a knife and a hacksaw and removed Annette's feet, followed by her hands, admitting that was particularly strange because it was like "holding hands with Annette". Having worked in a butchers, Paterson claimed he had seen "the way they do it", along with inspiration from horror films. The only time the criminal became emotional was when he described decapitating Annette's head. There isn't a full body Scott Paterson Over several weeks Paterson chopped Annette into 10 pieces and discarded them in plastic bags in public bins around Letchworth. He then confessed that he crammed her torso into a suitcase and stashing it in his storage unit. He claimed living with her had "become difficult" after her stroke because she was constantly calling him for help. DCI Dounias recalled how he'd come "to the end of his tether", adding: "He describes her as being quite demanding and he'd just had enough. "Whether that is the full truth, I can't really say, and it may be something that we never know. "I think what I would say is that he seems to be quite a complex character. There almost seems to be various different sides to him. "So it's difficult to know whether he was genuinely remorseful of what he did, or whether the remorse was because he was found out, or because of the relief. It's really difficult to read his reactions." It later emerged Paterson had been in £30,000 of credit card debt, and had stolen Annette's jewellery before selling it online for £5,000. This added to the hypothesis of a financial motive, according to DCI Dounias. Sinister pause When asked by police if he had killed before, Paterson paused - something that "concerned" DCI Dounias. "We did pick up on that pause... it was a little bit of a surprise and a concern, shall we say," she said. "So we did make some inquiries into whether there could have been any previous history... but we didn't uncover anything that we could certainly offer any proof for." Paterson was sentenced to a minimum term of 20 years' imprisonment on November 4, 2024. At sentencing Judge Justice Murray said: 'You had been contemplating killing Annette Smith before you had finally killed her. 'This shows you had been thinking about and planning her death for some time. After you killed Annette Smith, you told elaborate lies.' Despite an extensive search, Annette's entire body was never found. DCI Dounias admitted she was "pleased" with the sentence, adding: "For him to receive 20 years, even though he pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity, I think is quite telling of the magnitude of what he did to Annette." 24 Hours in Police Custody: The Butcher of Suburbia airs Monday 30 June on Channel 4 at 9pm. 15 Annette's missing person poster was shared online Credit: Channel 4 15 Paterson is called in for questioning Credit: Channel 4 15 Detective Constable Sophia Deane and Detective Constable Craig McPherson review CCTV footage Credit: Channel 4 15 Despite an extensive search, Annette's body was never fully recovered Credit: Channel 4
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
I looked ‘Butcher of Suburbia' in the eye after he slaughtered landlady & chopped up body…how Moonpig card snared him
IT was a cold-hearted murder that shocked the sleepy village of Fairfield in Bedfordshire to its very core. A much-loved local pensioner, murdered, dismembered and callously discarded in public bins by the person she'd come to think of as family. 15 Annette Smith was murdered and dismembered by her lodger Scott Paterson Credit: Bedfordshire Police/PA 15 Paterson pleaded guilty to murder in September 2024 Credit: SWNS 15 DCI Katie Dounias led the murder investigation into the shocking case Credit: Alamy Annette Smith, 74, had lived with Scott Paterson, 45, for 11 years - she'd invited him to stay with her for free Annette, who'd split from her husband 14 years previously, and Paterson had become best friends, even holidaying together, hosting dinner parties and occasionally sharing a bed. But when she had a stroke in 2018, callous Paterson grew tired of caring for her, and on November 8, 2023, he suffocated her with a pillow while she slept. Sickeningly Paterson - who had previously worked as a butcher - then dismembered her body using a saw and kitchen knife, before going to great lengths to cover his tracks. He was eventually snared when police tracked Moonpig cards he'd been sending while posing as Annette from the home they shared - despite telling her friends and family she'd gone away. The harrowing case is examined in the new series of 24 Hours in Police Custody, which features the chilling moment he finally confesses to his sinister crime. Speaking to The Sun, DCI Katie Dounias, who led the murder investigation, said there were alarmingly few red flags when police first interviewed Paterson in the wake of Annette's disappearance. "He came across as a very meek and mild person," she said, adding he had no previous convictions. "There was nothing that immediately rang alarm bells with him... nobody had a bad word to say about him or against him." She added: "They [Paterson and Annette] had a really good relationship by all accounts. They were best friends, which just makes it all the more harrowing, really, that he went on to do what he did." Shocking moment murderer tells cops he 'suffocated' landlady, 74, before hiding 'what remains of her' in storage unit 15 Annette, 74, was killed at her home in Bedfordshire in November 2023 Credit: Channel 4 15 Detective Chief Inspector Katie Dounais led the investigation into the murder of the vulnerable landlady Credit: Channel 4 15 Paterson spoke calmly and revealed that caring for his landlady was 'difficult' Credit: Channel 4 In the show Annette's stepson, Jason, revealed his shock at her brutal murder at the hands of someone he thought loved her. Jason said: "I trusted him so much. He is a manipulative murderer and someone that knew what he was doing. "There is no forgiveness for what he has done and I hope he rots in prison." In the early years of living together Paterson and Annette "got on like a house on fire", with the latter coming to see her lodger "like a son". But following her stroke the dynamic changed and Paterson became her carer, as her mobility issues prevented her from doing basic domestic tasks. It was Paterson who reported Annette as a missing person, claiming he last saw her climb into a woman's car with a packed suitcase. He claimed she told him she'd be gone a few days, but he never saw her again. Moonpig card clue 15 Missing posters for Annette were plastered around the town Credit: Channel 4 Suspicions began to arise when family members realised that despite receiving Police struggled to identify the woman described by Paterson as "white" and "plump-ish but not fat" who he claimed collected Annette, and there was no CCTV or witnesses to support his claim. Cracks started to show in his story; DCI Dounias said: "Speaking further with friends and family, it became evident that Annette was quite infirm… it just didn't tally with what Paterson was saying. "Friends and family started to raise concerns about whether she was capable of getting herself out of bed, packing a suitcase and leaving.' Detectives traced the IP address of emails and cards allegedly sent by Annette while she was 'away' to her address, and a search of the property revealed Annette's passport and clothing inside. I trusted Paterson so much. He is a manipulative murderer and someone that knew what he was doing Jason Annette's stepson Annette's neighbour Lois recalled how Paterson "really changed in his demeanour" when the missing person investigation ramped up. She said: "I saw him one day parked outside the tree which was Annette's space. He'd gone from being this flamboyant extrovert to trying to go unnoticed, if you like. "He'd put weight on, his hair was longer, he was drinking more, it was almost like there was two sides to him." On April 30, 2024, Paterson was arrested, and it didn't take long before he broke down under interrogation and confessed to the brutal killing. A chilling moment in the documentary shows the moment Paterson calmly told police how he killed Annette in a premeditated attack. Prior to killing Annette, Paterson took several weeks off work, claiming he needed an operation to remove a tumour. Instead he was plotting the sinister murder. Recalling the moment he placed a pillow over her face, Paterson said: "I was weirdly calm, had the TV on. I think because I'd been thinking about it for quite a few weeks it was just something that had played over in my mind. "So it was almost like I was ready when the time seemed right. "I went downstairs after Annette had fallen asleep and I put a pillow over her face until she stopped breathing and I left her in bed for the night." Chilling confession 15 Paterson took time to calculate how he would kill and dispose of the vulnerable adult Credit: Channel 4 15 Police became suspicious as Annette was too frail to have gone away on her own Credit: Channel 4 15 Officers gain access to a storage unit rented by Paterson, where he stored Annette's torso Credit: Channel 4 The next morning Paterson moved Annette to the under stairs cupboard, where he left her for "quite some time". When asked by police where Annette is, Paterson chillingly replied: "There isn't a full body." Paterson told how after several weeks he took a knife and a hacksaw and removed Annette's feet, followed by her hands, admitting that was particularly strange because it was like "holding hands with Annette". Having worked in a butchers, Paterson claimed he had seen "the way they do it", along with inspiration from horror films. The only time the criminal became emotional was when he described decapitating Annette's head. There isn't a full body Scott Paterson Over several weeks Paterson chopped Annette into 10 pieces and discarded them in plastic bags in public bins around Letchworth. He then confessed that he crammed her torso into a suitcase and stashing it in his storage unit. He claimed living with her had "become difficult" after her stroke because she was constantly calling him for help. DCI Dounias recalled how he'd come "to the end of his tether", adding: "He describes her as being quite demanding and he'd just had enough. "Whether that is the full truth, I can't really say, and it may be something that we never know. "I think what I would say is that he seems to be quite a complex character. There almost seems to be various different sides to him. "So it's difficult to know whether he was genuinely remorseful of what he did, or whether the remorse was because he was found out, or because of the relief. It's really difficult to read his reactions." It later emerged Paterson had been in £30,000 of credit card debt, and had stolen Annette's jewellery before selling it online for £5,000. This added to the hypothesis of a financial motive, according to DCI Dounias. Sinister pause When asked by police if he had killed before, Paterson paused - something that "concerned" DCI Dounias. "We did pick up on that pause... it was a little bit of a surprise and a concern, shall we say," she said. "So we did make some inquiries into whether there could have been any previous history... but we didn't uncover anything that we could certainly offer any proof for." Paterson was sentenced to a minimum term of 20 years' imprisonment on November 4, 2024. At sentencing Judge Justice Murray said: 'You had been contemplating killing Annette Smith before you had finally killed her. 'This shows you had been thinking about and planning her death for some time. After you killed Annette Smith, you told elaborate lies.' Despite an extensive search, Annette's entire body was never found. DCI Dounias admitted she was "pleased" with the sentence, adding: "For him to receive 20 years, even though he pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity, I think is quite telling of the magnitude of what he did to Annette." 24 Hours in Police Custody: The Butcher of Suburbia airs Monday 30 June on Channel 4 at 9pm. 15 Annette's missing person poster was shared online Credit: Channel 4 15 Paterson is called in for questioning Credit: Channel 4 15 Detective Constable Sophia Deane and Detective Constable Craig McPherson review CCTV footage Credit: Channel 4 15 Despite an extensive search, Annette's body was never fully recovered Credit: Channel 4 15 Crime officers search the bedroom of suspect Paterson Credit: Channel 4
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
Dad who fell from Father's Day ferry named as wife fears he'll never be found
US Navy diver Mark Federspiel, 64, fell overboard on a ferry in Scotland on June 15 and with no witnesses to the incident, his family have spoken about their fears The wife of a man who fell overboard from a ferry in Scotland fears she may never find out what happened to her husband. US Navy diver Mark Federspiel plunged into the water while travelling home from Gourock to Dunoon with his wife Annette. They were visiting his 22-year-old daughter Lara on the mainland on Father's Day, June 15, and despite a lengthy search the dad has not been found. The 64-year-old, who was travelling on the Sound of Shuna, was reported missing at around 1pm when he didn't return from the toilet. Distressed Annette raised the alarm just seven minutes later but as there were no cameras on the side of the ferry and no eyewitnesses, what happened remains a mystery. Following the distress call, a major multi-agency search operation was launched, which involved the HM Coastguard helicopter, RNLI lifeboats and nearby vessels, as well as Police Scotland officers, their Dive and Marine Unit and Air Support Unit, the DailyRecord reports. Western Ferries suspended their services while the rescue operation was underway - but the search was later stood down at around 4.30pm on Monday, June 16, with nothing found. The family say they are 'broken' but want answers almost a fortnight on from the harrowing day. Annette says she fears Mark will never be found, as the circumstances around what happened to him remain unclear. Speaking to STV News, Annette said: "All I know for sure is that I came onto the boat with Mark, but I came off it without him. "He has been missing for 12 days now, and the police haven't found a body. An oceanographer is now assisting the effort. They are looking at things like the tide and Mark's weight, with the working assumption that he may end up in the area off Helensburgh. But we might never get him back.' It's understood Mark had been receiving treatment for a rare form of leukaemia, with the side effects of the drugs often leaving him unsteady on his feet. Paying tribute in a post on Facebook, Annette wrote: "My lovely husband. My soul mate, my life. We are broken. A gentleman. Kind, talented hero. We love you we miss you. It was a pleasure to be your wife I was a lucky girl." In another post, she added: "I will never stop looking for you." It's understood Mark and Annette had recently returned to her hometown of Dunoon, after spending years in the United States and were looking forward to their retirement in Scotland. As a US Navy diver, Mark had been responsible for disassembling explosives at sea and was nicknamed 'Mark the Shark' because of his speed. Police Scotland said 'exhaustive' water searches had concluded, but inquiries are continuing. Chief inspector James McArthur said: 'Around 1.40pm on Sunday, June 15, 2025, we received a report of a 64-year-old man missing from a ferry travelling between Gourock and Dunoon. Police and partner agencies, including the Coastguard attended and extensive searches have been carried out on the water and shorelines. Local officers have been assisted by our Dive and Marine Unit and Air Support Unit. 'The water searches have concluded, however, our enquiries remain ongoing and officers are providing support to his family.' A spokesperson for Western Ferries said they have been co-operating fully with the police and emergency services to assist in understanding the circumstances.
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Daily Record
Dad who fell overboard on Scots ferry named as wife fears he may never be found
Mark Federspiel, 64, fell overboard on a ferry from Gourock to Dunoon earlier this month. A dad who fell overboard while travelling on a ferry on Father's Day has been named as a US Navy diver, as his wife fears he may never be found. Mark Federspiel went into the water while travelling home from Gourock to Dunoon with his wife Annette, after visiting his 22-year-old daughter Lara on the mainland on June 15. The 64-year-old, who was travelling on the Sound of Shuna, was reported missing at around 1pm, when he didn't return from the toilet. Annette said she raised the alarm just seven minutes later. A major multi-agency search operation was launched, which involved the HM Coastguard helicopter, RNLI lifeboats and nearby vessels, as well as Police Scotland officers, their Dive and Marine Unit and Air Support Unit. Western Ferries suspended their services while the rescue operation was underway - but the search was later stood down at around 4.30pm on Monday, June 16, with nothing found. Nearly two weeks on, Annette says she fears that Mark will never be found, as the circumstances of what happened to him remain a mystery. Sadly the ferry they were travelling on had no cameras along the sides and there were no eyewitnesses. Speaking to STV News, Annette said: "All I know for sure is that I came onto the boat with Mark, but I came off it without him. He has been missing for 12 days now, and the police haven't found a body. 'An oceanographer is now assisting the effort. They are looking at things like the tide and Mark's weight, with the working assumption that he may end up in the area off Helensburgh. But we might never get him back.' It's understood Mark had been receiving treatment for a rare form of leukaemia, with the side effects of the drugs often leaving him unsteady on his feet. Paying tribute in a post on Facebook, Annette wrote: "My lovely husband. My soul mate, my life. We are broken. A gentleman. Kind, talented hero. We love you we miss you. It was a pleasure to be your wife I was a lucky girl." In another post, she added: "I will never stop looking for you." It's understood Mark and Annette had recently returned to her hometown of Dunoon, after spending years in the United States and were looking forward to their retirement in Scotland. As a US Navy diver, Mark had been responsible for disassembling explosives at sea and was nicknamed 'Mark the Shark' because of his speed. Police Scotland said 'exhaustive' water searches had concluded, but inquiries are continuing. Chief inspector James McArthur said: 'Around 1.40pm on Sunday, June 15, 2025, we received a report of a 64-year-old man missing from a ferry travelling between Gourock and Dunoon. 'Police and partner agencies, including the Coastguard attended and extensive searches have been carried out on the water and shorelines. Local officers have been assisted by our Dive and Marine Unit and Air Support Unit. 'The water searches have concluded, however, our enquiries remain ongoing and officers are providing support to his family.' A spokesperson for Western Ferries said they have been co-operating fully with the police and emergency services to assist in understanding the circumstances.
Glasgow Times
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow Necropolis heroes' stories that shaped city
Annette Mullen, chair of The Friends of Glasgow Necropolis, sets off on the small group tour on a soggy summer's day. She's no stranger to braving the elements for her love of the place. She proudly shares that she's done tours in all weather, rain, hail, sleet, snow, sunshine - she's faced the lot. You feel her passion for the Necropolis drip from every word as she rushes from mausoleum to monument, sharing tales of times gone by. The place is steeped in stories, nearly 52,000 to be precise, and Annette gave the Glasgow Times the inside story of the lesser-known graves. They include the monument to the man behind one of Glasgow's favourite nursery rhymes, the 'Queen of the Gypsies' and other 'heroes of the city'. Annette Mullen shared Glasgow Necropolis heroes' stories that shaped city (Image: Newsquest/Robert Perry) READ MORE: Glasgow charity The Friends of Glasgow Necropolis celebrates 20th anniversary Annette, 62, who took over the helm of the charity in March from Ruth Johnston, who'd been chair for 14 years, said: "They're not just a bit of stone. These were people. Every single stone in this cemetery has a story. "Some people might not have the big mausoleums, but they're as important as any of the rest of them in here." Read on for Annette's guide to the must-see sights of the graveyard: Stone of Remembrance for Stillborn Children Stone of Remembrance for Stillborn Children (Image: Robert Perry) The first stone you come to in the Necropolis is for stillborn Children. "This stone was only raised in 1999. "This stone is in remembrance of stillborn children. Stillborn and near birth". "As you can see, it is very well loved". "This is where people who have suffered the heartache of a baby born of hope will come and remember. "It's important to stop and remember always". William Miller - Wee Willy Winkie writer William Miller's monument in the Glasgow Necropolis (Image: Robert Perry) "William Miller is the man regarded as the laureate of the nursery. "He's the man who gave the world that nursery rhyme of Wee Willy Winkie - the story of the Glasgow lamp lighter, or a leerie as they were called in Glasgow. "William Miller lived and worked in Ark Lane, which is just at the corner of the Glasgow Necropolis. He actually dies poor. "He's buried in the family plot in the east end of Glasgow, Corbett Street Cemetery. "No stone, no marker. This man was regarded, as I say, as the laureate of the nursery. He poetry was his passion. But poetry didn't pay. "He was a cabinet maker and wood turner by profession. But his passion is poetry and he gives the world the story of the Glasgow lamp lighter. "Wee Willy Winkie runs through the town upstairs and downstairs in his nightgown, chapping at the windows, crying at the locks. Are all the children in their beds because... "It's past 8:00? That's what I got. "10:00 is what the original is. "Take it up with your mammy if you don't like it." READ MORE:Council hits back over fears Thistle Centre has increased dumped needles Nurses of the Royal Infirmary Gravestone for Glasgow Royal Infirmary nurses (Image: Robert Perry) "We are very honoured that one of the projects we took charge of was the conservation of three of the headstones in the Glasgow Necropolis, which are where the nurses of the Glasgow Royal Infirmary are buried. "The nurses who gave their lives for this city here. "Some of the nurses we have died because they contracted infectious diseases. "They gave their lives, dedicating their life to the people of Glasgow. These are the heroes of the cemetery." READ MORE:Loads of new homes to be built on site of destroyed Glasgow tower blocks Corinda Lee, Queen of the Gypsies Corinda Lee, Queen of the Gypsies (Image: Robert Perry) "Corinda Lee comes from a really important family. The Lees still exist in the world of gypsydom today. "She marries into another gypsy family. His name is George Smith. So the coming together through marriage of the Smiths and the Lees is very, very significant in their world. "George Smith, her husband, he becomes the head of eight of the most prominent gypsy families. If he's the king, every king has to have his queen. And here she is." "According to legend, Queen Victoria had her hand read by Corinda Lee. "This stone tells you about Corinda and her character. It tells you that her love for her children was great. She was charitable to the poor, and wherever she pitched her tent, she was loved and respected by all. "Isn't that a final message that everybody wants?" The Buchanan Sisters The Buchanan Sisters' mausoleum (Image: Robert Perry) Annette's final stop on her lesser-known tour is at the Buchanan Sisters' mausoleum. The charity restored the memorial, which sits nearly at the top of the hill. "This monument is in memory of Margaret, Jane and Elizabeth Buchanan, otherwise known as the Misses Buchanan of Bellfield Estate near Kilmarnock. "They left their £86,000 fortune - that's £11million in today's money - for the feeding, heating and clothing of the poor and elderly of Kilmarnock. "They also paid for a wing in the Royal Infirmary, which their mausoleum looks onto, a fitting tribute for such generous people." READ MORE: John Swinney to visit one of Glasgow's 'most deprived areas' for health project The Friends of Glasgow Necropolis is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Volunteers from the Friends of Glasgow Necropolis give tours of the necropolis year-round. They do it "for the love of it" and to keep the site available for education, conservation, and restoration. They're giving a special 20th anniversary tour with Cemetery Historian and Sculpture Consultant Gary Nisbet on Sunday, June 22nd, at 10:30. You can find out more about the charity and tours here.
