The most funny character of Paisley!

The most beloved military figure in Paisley’s history wasn’t a renowned general, an admiral, or even a humble soldier; it was an unassuming goose. In the early 19th century, the residents of Paisley grew fond of this distinguished bird as it confidently marched through the streets near Paisley Cross, exuding the authority of a soldier on parade. The goose’s arrival in Paisley was nothing short of dramatic. In the winter of 1800, it was swept down the Cart River during a fierce flood, struggling against the current until it became stranded at the base of Dyer's Wynd. A town official rescued the bird and handed it over to John Orr, the landlord of the Saracen's Head Inn at Paisley Cross. Initially confined in the stable yard and destined for the dinner table, the goose’s age spared it from such a fate. The inn's cook, a kind-hearted soul, declared it “too old by half a century” and insisted that “only an ostrich’s stomach could handle its tough frame.” After receiving a second opinion on its inedibility, the goose was released to roam freely in the stable yard. For 19 years, it lived in relative anonymity, passed from one landlord to the next as part of the inn’s legacy. However, its journey to fame was just beginning. During the tumultuous years of 1819 and 1820, when radical riots erupted throughout the town, the goose revealed its affinity for military life. The sight of soldiers in red coats and armed with muskets captivated it. The sounds of drums and bugle calls drew its attention, and soon, the goose was seen parading with a slow, dignified waddle in front of the town’s tollbooth jail. It mirrored the movements of the soldiers, creating a delightful spectacle at Paisley Cross, day and night, as this feathered “military” figure captured the hearts of all.