Poet laureate takes a bow
Important events to be recorded in verse, thanks to appointment of makar Brian
He’ll write five poems a year
A poet laureate has been appointed for Renfrewshire.
Sixty- eight- year- old Brian Whittingham is taking up the post of makar, which will see him write poems to mark important events in the area.
The post has come about after Renfrewshire Council agreed to a proposal by Councillors Eileen McCartin and Andy Doig at a council meeting last year.
Appointed for the next three years, the makar will also visit schools, libraries and groups to give readings and talks aimed at encouraging an interest in poetry.
Brian said: “I would like to leave some kind of legacy by developing a love of poetry in the community.
“I hope to raise awareness of poetry and appreciation of the art form.”
The new makar lived in Renfrew for many years and at one time was a plater and then draughtsman in the Clyde shipyards.
“It was during this period he became interested in writing poetry while attending the Paisley Writers’ Group.
He has had nine collections of poetry published and spent the last 16 years lecturing in creative writing at the City of Glasgow College.
In 2000, he won first prize in the Sunday Herald Short Story Competition and his work has been widely anthologised.
Four of his stage plays have been performed by Scottish theatre companies.
In 2006-2008, he was editor of New Writing Scotland.
In 2011, Brian was visiting professor of creative writing at Seattle University, Washington D C, where he taught a narrative poetry class.
Provost Lorraine Cameron said: “The makar will reflect the life of Renfrewshire through formal readings of poetry.
“He will write at least five poems every year to mark moments of cultural importance or local life.”
The name Makar goes back hundreds of years, and means poet or bard.
There are a number of local makars in Scotland.
In 2004, the position of The Scots makar, in the sense of a Scottish poet laureate, was introduced by the Scottish Parliament.