Plotting a literary triumph as writers arrive for festival
Murder, mystery and magic will be in the literary spotlight when a group of visiting authors discuss their wares at the island’s book festival in Port Ellen primary school on Saturday and Sunday, (October 3- 4).
Among the children’s authors appearing at the increasingly popular island festival will be Vivian French, writer of satirical fairy stories, including the award-winning ‘The Most Wonderful Thing in The World’, and Caroline Clough, author of ‘Red Fever’ and winner of the Kelpies Award in 2010.
Antipodean writer, Simon Puttock, will discuss his ‘Moonlight School’ series, and ‘Metaphrog’ under the guise of graphic novelists and illustrators, Sandra Marr and John Chalmers, who will be sprinkling their own magic comic dust. Catering for the adults will be the award-winning Barrhead author and crime writer, Christopher Brookmyre, who will shed further light on his Jack Parlabane series while Stirling’s R J Mitchell will concentrate on his Glasgow-based murder mysteries including ‘Parallel Lines’.
Shirley MacKay will be on hand to highlight her ‘Hew Cullan’ mysteries, and artist Andrew Crummy will share aspects of his involvement with the ‘Great Tapestry of Scotland’ publication.
Local input will come from the Jura resident photographer, Konrad Borkowski, who will reveal some of the pictorial inspirations he receives from his surroundings in the deer island.
And catering for all will be the ladies from St John’s Church whose culinary creations are always guaranteed to be bestsellers.
Stephen appointed to the top position
Staff and pupils at the island’s high school in Bowmore have welcomed the appointment of Stephen Harrison as headteacher more than a year after the previous incumbent left.
The new appointee has served as depute head under three headteachers and was responsible for the introduction of a number of innovations which are still in operation.
The new dominie is very much part of the local community life: his own children were educated at the Bowmore school while his wife, Maggie, is on the teaching staff at Port Ellen primary school.
Stephen’s appointment is regarded as a step in the right direction as the school looks forward to a period of stability which will focus on maintaining the quality of education.
Mr Harrison describes his appointment as being ‘a privilege and an honour as well as being a huge responsibility’. He is also most grateful for the words of encouragement and support that he has received.
Rehearsal for the big event in Oban
Junior competitors who are shortly heading for the Royal National Mòd in Oban, previewed their competition pieces before an appreciative audience at the pre-Mòd concert in Bowmore primary school’s assembly hall on Friday.
The school choir members, under the baton of Clare Jordan, were all in splendid voice as were soloists, Megan MacMillan, and Morven Brown. Further songs and poetry came from Emily and Liam Gray, Lauren Morris and Diùra Paterson.
Bàrdachd was also the topic favoured by Maggie Brown and Orla Davidson, and Isabel Ferguson sang and played the whistle.
Guest soloists, Clare Jordan and Libby Morris, will also be seeking Mòd success and the efforts of all the performers were commended by Helen Gilbert, the school’s acting headteacher.
We wish every success to these and all other competitors as they strut their stuff at Oban.