University of Aberdeen - Grave act of vandalism

The grave of a great Scottish academic has been vandalised and a commemorative bronze plaque stolen. William MacGillivray, a naturalist and former professor at the University of Aberdeen, died in 1852 and was buried in an unmarked plot until 1900, when a memorial fund was raised by former students and admirers. A bronze plaque depicting a golden eagle was inserted into the headstone marking his burial place. Alan Knox, head of museums at Aberdeen, said the theft of the plaque was "very sad". "The stone stood untouched for 100 years and now this memorial to a great man has been vandalised," he said.