Lennoxlove Book Festival 2011

“Friday night and Michael Morpurgo almost didn’t happen for me. I was somewhat thrown by not having my car that week. The plan had been to drive back from Edinburgh to enjoy the fireworks and then attend The War Horse event. Instead I was collected from Kinnaird Park and headed home for tea and to prepare for the evening. It was in my head it was at 7.45pm. An angel on my shoulder made me check the programme when I arrived home at 5.35pm. To my horror I found I had 25 minutes to change and make it up to Haddington. I missed the extract from the film and the first reading but thoroughly enjoyed a lively and moving recount of a strong bond between boy and horse, how they were taken separately to war and how they were reunited. I read the book in just a couple of hours. Michael was unable to sign copies as he had damaged his hand through a boating accident. We were, however, consoled with personalised slips with his autograph he had prepared earlier. The Steven Spielberg film is released in December.

Isla Blair on Saturday night, yes, got it right. 7.45pm. I had been intrigued by the write-up about Isla in the Lennoxlove programme and was not disappointed. She was in conversation Julian Glover, her husband of 43 years – together for 45. There were moments in Isla’s story when the audience drew in breath sharply at the shock of how she was sent from India to boarding school in Scotland at age 6, normal practice in those days. She experienced some extremely harsh treatment in the school, but was bolstered by her sister during her time there. I’ll be looking for her book A Tiger’s Wedding” in the library.

I was delighted to have my name pulled out of the hat to represent Dunbar Writers on Sunday morning, 6th December, in the Great Hall. Each of the Tyne & Esk groups was represented and very original and lively presentations were well received by an almost full audience. I chose poems that represented Dunbar and its environs: Sunny Dunny Welcomes You, The Herrin Trail, which was shortlisted for the Herald Scotland/Glasgow University McCash Poetry Prize. I followed these with Full Circle inspired by a visit earlier this year to Shetland, and completed my set with Within You, Without You a poem written in tribute to John Lennon which Janice Long broadcast on BBC 2 on 8 December last year, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of his death. A huge thank you to Brenda Murray for her ardent input in making this opportunity for us, Tyne and Esk Committee for their unstinting support of writers across East and Midlothian, and to Tom Murray, whom we are extremely fortunate to have as our Creative Writing Fellow to guide and enlighten us.

This was a 3 out of 3 Lennoxlove Book Festival for me. The dreich, cold, wet weather of the previous two events had not doused enthusiasm for the Festival, but crisp blue skies, feet crunching through corroded leaves flaked from tired trees prodded from winter sleep by cheeky squirrels stocking up their pantries, brought joy to the faces of all generations.

Hurry on next November!”

Rita Bradd

 

Young Writers Achieve Awards

The winners of the Young Writer of the Year have been announced. Two talented pupils from Midlothian won the top prizes in the annual writing competition, open to all young people in East Lothian and Midlothian.  Sponsored by the Scottish Seabird Centre and organised by Tyne and Esk Writers  in conjunction with East Lothian and Midlothian libraries, the competition attracted a record number of entries this year.

There were two sets of prizes – one for East Lothian and one for Midlothian in each of two  groups consisting of the best poetry and the best prose for primary school  pupils and secondary school pupils, each winning a £20 book token. The  overall Young Writer of the Year winners, from each age group, will receive a family day out at the Scottish Seabird Centre as well as a boat trip on Seabird 11, again sponsored by the Scottish Seabird Centre.

The Tiger within Me, a poem by 10 year old Ailsa Homewood won her the Young Writer of the Year award for primary schools and She-Thieves , a story by 16 year old  Kiera McIntosh-Michaelis won her the Young Writer of the Year award for secondary schools.

The judge, Creative Writing Fellow for Tyne and Esk Writers, Tom Murray, said, ‘These were  exceptional stories and poems and a joy for me to read. Testament, if any is needed, of the wealth of creative talent amongst young writers across the two regions. The overall winners amongst the best I’ve read in a long time. ‘

Congratulations to all of the winners of this competition.

Results:

Secondary School Overall Winner:
Kiera McIntosh- Michaelis , Beeslack Community School  -  She-Thieves

 

 

 

 

Primary School Overall Winner:
Ailsa Homewood, Glencorse Primary School – The Tiger within Me

Midlothian Winners:

Primary Prose:
Abby Wighton, Mauricewood Primary School  - 124.6 Date 2006
Primary Poetry:
Ailsa Homewood, Glencorse Primary School – The Tiger within Me
Secondary Prose:
Kiera McIntosh – Michaelis – She-Thieves
Secondary Poetry :
Mairi Fairbairn, Lasswade  High School Centre – Fruitless Moons

East Lothian:
Primary Prose:
Grant Campbell, Kingsmeadow Primary School – The Brain in the Cupboard
Primary Poetry:
Caitlin Letch, Innerwick Primary School – Beachcomber
Secondary Prose:
Alexa Hay, Individual Entry - Fire