Boston traffic cone appears on Glasgow Duke of Wellington statue as tribute to new twin city
Glasgow's love affair with Boston continues...
A Boston traffic cone has been placed on Glasgow’s legendary Duke of Wellington statue after Tartan Army fans took the well-known tradition across the pond for the World Cup.
The specially decorated cone, which has "Boston" written on its front in thick black letters, appeared this weekend on the iconic statue as part of what locals have jokingly dubbed "The Conesquest," days after the two cities signed a letter of intent to establish a formal sister-city partnership.
The agreement follows an unlikely friendship forged during Scotland’s first appearance at a men’s World Cup in 28 years, with tens of thousands of Tartan Army supporters using Boston as their base for the team’s opening matches in nearby Foxborough.
As well as filling the city’s streets, pubs and baseball stadiums with kilts and bagpipes, the visiting Scots introduced Bostonians to one of Glasgow’s best-known traditions - placing traffic cones on the heads of statues.
Cones appeared on monuments to figures including ice hockey star Bobby Orr, and American revolutionary Paul Revere.
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The Glasgow tradition dates back at least to the late 1980s, when late-night revellers began repeatedly placing an orange cone on the head of the Duke of Wellington statue, and occasionally on that of his horse.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu joined in on the Glasgow patter by placing a cone on the Bill Russell statue outside City Hall.
The Boston cone tribute was organised by Andrew Dobbie, founder and director of creative agency MadeBrave, alongside TikTok sensation Mark Thorburn, and Zander Murray, Scotland’s first openly gay senior male footballer.
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The trio carried the newly decorated cone through Glasgow city centre before Murray climbed the Duke of Wellington statue and placed it on the landmark as onlookers watched, with videos of the now viral stunt amassing more than five million views.
Andrew Dobbie said: “There you go, Boston... a wee present from us here in Glasgow. Delighted to be twinning with you. Glasgow has well and truly consummated it’s love affair with Boston.”
The letter of intent between Boston and Glasgow was signed Thursday, with the formal sister-city agreement is expected to follow during Tartan Week next April.
