What a packed night we had! Marion Montgomery launched her poetry collection, Lyart, with wine and chocolates and read a selection of her poems. Pithy, poignant and personal in turn, in Scots and English, rhymed and free verse, she demonstrated her extensive skills in the art of poetry to much acclaim.
Then the Challenge and those who participated rose to it with aplomb, wit and extensive and sometimes wandering research. (Iron Dolls?) I had given out various Scottish topics for them to find out about and report back, not only on what they had discovered, but also how they went about it. So we learned about Irvine’s very early settlements, the children who were killed at the Quintinshill rail disaster but who were never identified, that Irn-Bru can be bought in Puerto Rico among other places, and where to go for a luxury golf and historical interest holiday. The internet was the first port of call for research but nothing daunted, they also interviewed councillors, dug out their faithful Encyclopaedia Britannica or asked husbands, dads and anyone else they thought could help.
The result was an informative and fun-filled evening with the participants having the basis of articles for the Scottish article competition later on in the session, or for writing up for the general article at SAW. Or for both, for that matter!
Ann Burnett
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