Calls for entries to Doric poetry contest

Calls have been made for people to write in their native Doric tongue as a popular competition returns after being disrupted by the pandemic.

The Keith Traditional Music and Song Festival is normally held every June, with three poetry competitions aimed at primary kids, families and adults to write Doric poetry.

However, last year’s event was cancelled as result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Now all three contests will run together this year.

The Ian Middleton poetry contest is aimed at primary school pupils aged 12 and under.

It is named after a renowned writer of hilarious Doric verse.

The Charles Murray contest, named after a north-east poet, is open to people from different generations.

The winners receive a silver salver with an image of Charles Murray on the front, designed by artist Joyce Thain and donated by businesswoman Marguerite Cruickshank.

The final contest is the Aultgowrie Trophy, which was introduced in 2019 and is for adults.

In 2019’s contest it attracted 54 entries from ages up to 92.

It is hoped that the contest attracts a large number of entries.

Joyce Dawson from the Keith branch of the TMSA said: “We look forward to receiving all your entries.

“We hope that everyone gets as much fun writing them as we do reading them.

“In years past, there has been people from across Moray and Aberdeenshire taking place.”

Entries should either be emailed before May 16 to keithfestival@gmail.com or posted to Aultgowrie, 124 Moss Street, Keith, AB55 5EZ.