Connection to poets in the PAst

Dear Editor I found it interesting reading about St Johnstone poet in residence, Jim Mackintosh, in the PA on Friday, October 13 – as well as of other poets.

I find this interesting as, over many years, I also wrote poems.

I was fortunate in having my poems published in newspapers locally, but always wished to compile a book of verse.

Try as I did, I sent poems to publishers, but always returned with letters of rejection.

It seemed a hopeless quest and the whole idea diminished until I heard of a little village printing business in my home village.

I took collections of my poems to them and, indeed, they would go on to compile a book which was produced in Bankfoot.

The day arrived to collect the books, it was a good feeling carrying all 60 copies home and publishing the book.

I stood by the monument of the famed young Bankfoot poet Robert Nichol, holding my book as a photographer snapped the moment.

I felt close, as if in spirit, to the young poet who died in 1837.

Mine was but a little venture, but I would like to think, as all poets do, that someday when I’m not around, my words, somewhere, will survive.

The book is titled ‘Summer Paths Winding Ways’. Thomas Brown Bankfoot Dear Editor Just recently, I had been on a walk to the Fiddler’s Walk at Dunkeld, finding it a bit dangerous, probably because I am an older person.

Going it alone, I found it a bit risky underfoot-wise and a lack of signposts. There is a what I would call a breach in the banking down into the River Tay on the side of the footpath.

This was cause for concern, so I wrote to Dunkeld and Birnam Visitors’Centre, also the Greenspace team at Perth and Kinross Council, to inform them of this danger on the walk up the Fiddler’s Walk, to the Neil GowTree.

I have had response from both. PKC has said they will be doing something about the poorly kept public path, the lack of signs/ signposts, especially for tourists and walkers who are first visiting for that particular reason.

Now that an article in the PA dated October 6 brought light to the dangers which are evident on public and country footpaths, the people responsible for these paths should pay extra attention to paths by waterside(s).

It made very sad reading, after me informing the necessary team of the dangers on the Fiddler’s Walk at Dunkeld.

I will admit Birnam and Dunkeld are beautiful areas. I love to visit there, but will be cautious from now. Mary J Sutherland Strathmore Street Perth