Kinross-shire poet’s famed work lives on 250 years after death portmoak: Gentle Poet of Lochleven Michael Bruce penned verses known worldwide

The 250th anniversary of the death of a poet whose work is still performed today has been marked in the Kinross-shire parish of Portmoak.

Michael Bruce (1746-67), who died tragically young, came to be known as the Gentle Poet of Lochleven.

The author of more than 40 poems, including the celebrated Ode to the Cuckoo, Bruce also penned more than a dozen paraphrases and hymns that are still sung in churches throughout the world.

A garden party was held outside the cottage in Kinnesswood where Bruce was born just three weeks before the Battle of Culloden, and where he died on July 5 1767 at the early age of 21.

This event included story telling by Sylvia Troon and music performed by the Portmoak Players led by David Batchelor. It was also the first performance of a specially commissioned musical work by Ian Dunnett titled The Loan To The Hill.

On display in the cottage museum garden, which is maintained by Kinnesswood in Bloom volunteers, were examples of art work and poetry provided by pupils of Portmoak Primary School.

A new information board and memorial bench were unveiled and an anniversary cake was cut by Shelagh Goudie, a trustee of the Michael Bruce Memorial Trust which aims to keep the memory of the poet alive.

A special anniversary service led by former Moderator of the Church of Scotland the Very Rev Angus Morrison was also held where a wreath was laid on the poet’s grave by Professor David Munro, chairman of the Michael Bruce Trust.

The week’s anniversary celebrations concluded with a walk along Michael Bruce Way, which is dedicated to the memory of the Gentle Poet of Lochleven.

The anniversary programme, organised by the Michael Bruce Memorial Trust and coordinated by Norma Smith, was made possible with a Heritage Lottery Fund Celebration Fund grant.

A new information board and memorial bench were unveiled and an anniversary cake was cut

Picture: Dick Crighton. Dr David Munro, chairman of the Michael Bruce Memorial Trust, welcomes guests to the garden party at the poet’s place of birth.