The group sessions consist first of reading the minutes of the previous meeting and discussion of any matters arising or business that needs to be attended to. This usually takes 20–30 minutes. The rest of the time (90 minutes) is spent on listening and giving feedback on readings. Occasionally we do writing exercises which have been agreed in advance. Because the group has a large active membership it is not always possible for everyone to read on a given night but those who miss out will read first at the next meeting. Even if a member is not able to read at a given session because of lack of time or not having anything ready to read, they are expected to listen actively and give feedback. This is a very important role.

The group operates through a consensus of mutual respect and support for each other. Each session is moderated and members agree to abide by the moderator’s guidance in the course of the evening regarding who reads, length of reading time and length of feedback time. The moderator is usually the convenor or vice-convenor.

The group sessions consist first of reading the minutes of the previous meeting and discussion of any matters arising or business that needs to be attended to. This usually takes 20–30 minutes. The rest of the time (90 minutes) is spent on listening and giving feedback on readings. Occasionally we do writing exercises which have been agreed in advance. Because the group has a large active membership it is not always possible for everyone to read on a given night but those who miss out will read first at the next meeting. Even if a member is not able to read at a given session because of lack of time or not having anything ready to read, they are expected to listen actively and give feedback. This is a very important role.

The group operates through a consensus of mutual respect and support for each other. Each session is moderated and members agree to abide by the moderator’s guidance in the course of the evening regarding who reads, length of reading time and length of feedback time. The moderator is usually the convenor or vice-convenor.

The group sessions consist first of reading the minutes of the previous meeting and discussion of any matters arising or business that needs to be attended to. This usually takes 20–30 minutes. The rest of the time (90 minutes) is spent on listening and giving feedback on readings. Occasionally we do writing exercises which have been agreed in advance. Because the group has a large active membership it is not always possible for everyone to read on a given night but those who miss out will read first at the next meeting. Even if a member is not able to read at a given session because of lack of time or not having anything ready to read, they are expected to listen actively and give feedback. This is a very important role.

The group operates through a consensus of mutual respect and support for each other. Each session is moderated and members agree to abide by the moderator’s guidance in the course of the evening regarding who reads, length of reading time and length of feedback time. The moderator is usually the convenor or vice-convenor.

The group sessions consist first of reading the minutes of the previous meeting and discussion of any matters arising or business that needs to be attended to. This usually takes 20–30 minutes. The rest of the time (90 minutes) is spent on listening and giving feedback on readings. Occasionally we do writing exercises which have been agreed in advance. Because the group has a large active membership it is not always possible for everyone to read on a given night but those who miss out will read first at the next meeting. Even if a member is not able to read at a given session because of lack of time or not having anything ready to read, they are expected to listen actively and give feedback. This is a very important role.

The group operates through a consensus of mutual respect and support for each other. Each session is moderated and members agree to abide by the moderator’s guidance in the course of the evening regarding who reads, length of reading time and length of feedback time. The moderator is usually the convenor or vice-convenor.

The group sessions consist first of reading the minutes of the previous meeting and discussion of any matters arising or business that needs to be attended to. This usually takes 20–30 minutes. The rest of the time (90 minutes) is spent on listening and giving feedback on readings. Occasionally we do writing exercises which have been agreed in advance. Because the group has a large active membership it is not always possible for everyone to read on a given night but those who miss out will read first at the next meeting. Even if a member is not able to read at a given session because of lack of time or not having anything ready to read, they are expected to listen actively and give feedback. This is a very important role.

The group operates through a consensus of mutual respect and support for each other. Each session is moderated and members agree to abide by the moderator’s guidance in the course of the evening regarding who reads, length of reading time and length of feedback time. The moderator is usually the convenor or vice-convenor.

The group sessions consist first of reading the minutes of the previous meeting and discussion of any matters arising or business that needs to be attended to. This usually takes 20–30 minutes. The rest of the time (90 minutes) is spent on listening and giving feedback on readings. Occasionally we do writing exercises which have been agreed in advance. Because the group has a large active membership it is not always possible for everyone to read on a given night but those who miss out will read first at the next meeting. Even if a member is not able to read at a given session because of lack of time or not having anything ready to read, they are expected to listen actively and give feedback. This is a very important role.

The group operates through a consensus of mutual respect and support for each other. Each session is moderated and members agree to abide by the moderator’s guidance in the course of the evening regarding who reads, length of reading time and length of feedback time. The moderator is usually the convenor or vice-convenor.

The group sessions consist first of reading the minutes of the previous meeting and discussion of any matters arising or business that needs to be attended to. This usually takes 20–30 minutes. The rest of the time (90 minutes) is spent on listening and giving feedback on readings. Occasionally we do writing exercises which have been agreed in advance. Because the group has a large active membership it is not always possible for everyone to read on a given night but those who miss out will read first at the next meeting. Even if a member is not able to read at a given session because of lack of time or not having anything ready to read, they are expected to listen actively and give feedback. This is a very important role.

The group operates through a consensus of mutual respect and support for each other. Each session is moderated and members agree to abide by the moderator’s guidance in the course of the evening regarding who reads, length of reading time and length of feedback time. The moderator is usually the convenor or vice-convenor.

The group sessions consist first of reading the minutes of the previous meeting and discussion of any matters arising or business that needs to be attended to. This usually takes 20–30 minutes. The rest of the time (90 minutes) is spent on listening and giving feedback on readings. Occasionally we do writing exercises which have been agreed in advance. Because the group has a large active membership it is not always possible for everyone to read on a given night but those who miss out will read first at the next meeting. Even if a member is not able to read at a given session because of lack of time or not having anything ready to read, they are expected to listen actively and give feedback. This is a very important role.

The group operates through a consensus of mutual respect and support for each other. Each session is moderated and members agree to abide by the moderator’s guidance in the course of the evening regarding who reads, length of reading time and length of feedback time. The moderator is usually the convenor or vice-convenor.

The group sessions consist first of reading the minutes of the previous meeting and discussion of any matters arising or business that needs to be attended to. This usually takes 20–30 minutes. The rest of the time (90 minutes) is spent on listening and giving feedback on readings. Occasionally we do writing exercises which have been agreed in advance. Because the group has a large active membership it is not always possible for everyone to read on a given night but those who miss out will read first at the next meeting. Even if a member is not able to read at a given session because of lack of time or not having anything ready to read, they are expected to listen actively and give feedback. This is a very important role.

The group operates through a consensus of mutual respect and support for each other. Each session is moderated and members agree to abide by the moderator’s guidance in the course of the evening regarding who reads, length of reading time and length of feedback time. The moderator is usually the convenor or vice-convenor.

The group sessions consist first of reading the minutes of the previous meeting and discussion of any matters arising or business that needs to be attended to. This usually takes 20–30 minutes. The rest of the time (90 minutes) is spent on listening and giving feedback on readings. Occasionally we do writing exercises which have been agreed in advance. Because the group has a large active membership it is not always possible for everyone to read on a given night but those who miss out will read first at the next meeting. Even if a member is not able to read at a given session because of lack of time or not having anything ready to read, they are expected to listen actively and give feedback. This is a very important role.

The group operates through a consensus of mutual respect and support for each other. Each session is moderated and members agree to abide by the moderator’s guidance in the course of the evening regarding who reads, length of reading time and length of feedback time. The moderator is usually the convenor or vice-convenor.

The group sessions consist first of reading the minutes of the previous meeting and discussion of any matters arising or business that needs to be attended to. This usually takes 20–30 minutes. The rest of the time (90 minutes) is spent on listening and giving feedback on readings. Occasionally we do writing exercises which have been agreed in advance. Because the group has a large active membership it is not always possible for everyone to read on a given night but those who miss out will read first at the next meeting. Even if a member is not able to read at a given session because of lack of time or not having anything ready to read, they are expected to listen actively and give feedback. This is a very important role.

The group operates through a consensus of mutual respect and support for each other. Each session is moderated and members agree to abide by the moderator’s guidance in the course of the evening regarding who reads, length of reading time and length of feedback time. The moderator is usually the convenor or vice-convenor.

The group sessions consist first of reading the minutes of the previous meeting and discussion of any matters arising or business that needs to be attended to. This usually takes 20–30 minutes. The rest of the time (90 minutes) is spent on listening and giving feedback on readings. Occasionally we do writing exercises which have been agreed in advance. Because the group has a large active membership it is not always possible for everyone to read on a given night but those who miss out will read first at the next meeting. Even if a member is not able to read at a given session because of lack of time or not having anything ready to read, they are expected to listen actively and give feedback. This is a very important role.

The group operates through a consensus of mutual respect and support for each other. Each session is moderated and members agree to abide by the moderator’s guidance in the course of the evening regarding who reads, length of reading time and length of feedback time. The moderator is usually the convenor or vice-convenor.

The group sessions consist first of reading the minutes of the previous meeting and discussion of any matters arising or business that needs to be attended to. This usually takes 20–30 minutes. The rest of the time (90 minutes) is spent on listening and giving feedback on readings. Occasionally we do writing exercises which have been agreed in advance. Because the group has a large active membership it is not always possible for everyone to read on a given night but those who miss out will read first at the next meeting. Even if a member is not able to read at a given session because of lack of time or not having anything ready to read, they are expected to listen actively and give feedback. This is a very important role.

The group operates through a consensus of mutual respect and support for each other. Each session is moderated and members agree to abide by the moderator’s guidance in the course of the evening regarding who reads, length of reading time and length of feedback time. The moderator is usually the convenor or vice-convenor.

The group sessions consist first of reading the minutes of the previous meeting and discussion of any matters arising or business that needs to be attended to. This usually takes 20–30 minutes. The rest of the time (90 minutes) is spent on listening and giving feedback on readings. Occasionally we do writing exercises which have been agreed in advance. Because the group has a large active membership it is not always possible for everyone to read on a given night but those who miss out will read first at the next meeting. Even if a member is not able to read at a given session because of lack of time or not having anything ready to read, they are expected to listen actively and give feedback. This is a very important role.

The group operates through a consensus of mutual respect and support for each other. Each session is moderated and members agree to abide by the moderator’s guidance in the course of the evening regarding who reads, length of reading time and length of feedback time. The moderator is usually the convenor or vice-convenor.

The group sessions consist first of reading the minutes of the previous meeting and discussion of any matters arising or business that needs to be attended to. This usually takes 20–30 minutes. The rest of the time (90 minutes) is spent on listening and giving feedback on readings. Occasionally we do writing exercises which have been agreed in advance. Because the group has a large active membership it is not always possible for everyone to read on a given night but those who miss out will read first at the next meeting. Even if a member is not able to read at a given session because of lack of time or not having anything ready to read, they are expected to listen actively and give feedback. This is a very important role.

The group operates through a consensus of mutual respect and support for each other. Each session is moderated and members agree to abide by the moderator’s guidance in the course of the evening regarding who reads, length of reading time and length of feedback time. The moderator is usually the convenor or vice-convenor.

This year’s theme is ‘Messages’ – can you find some around the Square?

Thursday 6^th Oct 6 30 – 7 30pm

Free Event @ the Brander

Featuring poems by Huntly Writers and a guest appearance by

Ben Mali Macfadyen

Strolling story teller

Who will perform Lewis Carroll’s amazing poem

The Jabberwocky

All welcome to listen or read

The group sessions consist first of reading the minutes of the previous meeting and discussion of any matters arising or business that needs to be attended to. This usually takes 20–30 minutes. The rest of the time (90 minutes) is spent on listening and giving feedback on readings. Occasionally we do writing exercises which have been agreed in advance. Because the group has a large active membership it is not always possible for everyone to read on a given night but those who miss out will read first at the next meeting. Even if a member is not able to read at a given session because of lack of time or not having anything ready to read, they are expected to listen actively and give feedback. This is a very important role.

The group operates through a consensus of mutual respect and support for each other. Each session is moderated and members agree to abide by the moderator’s guidance in the course of the evening regarding who reads, length of reading time and length of feedback time. The moderator is usually the convenor or vice-convenor.

The group sessions consist first of reading the minutes of the previous meeting and discussion of any matters arising or business that needs to be attended to. This usually takes 20–30 minutes. The rest of the time (90 minutes) is spent on listening and giving feedback on readings. Occasionally we do writing exercises which have been agreed in advance. Because the group has a large active membership it is not always possible for everyone to read on a given night but those who miss out will read first at the next meeting. Even if a member is not able to read at a given session because of lack of time or not having anything ready to read, they are expected to listen actively and give feedback. This is a very important role.

The group operates through a consensus of mutual respect and support for each other. Each session is moderated and members agree to abide by the moderator’s guidance in the course of the evening regarding who reads, length of reading time and length of feedback time. The moderator is usually the convenor or vice-convenor.

The group sessions consist first of reading the minutes of the previous meeting and discussion of any matters arising or business that needs to be attended to. This usually takes 20–30 minutes. The rest of the time (90 minutes) is spent on listening and giving feedback on readings. Occasionally we do writing exercises which have been agreed in advance. Because the group has a large active membership it is not always possible for everyone to read on a given night but those who miss out will read first at the next meeting. Even if a member is not able to read at a given session because of lack of time or not having anything ready to read, they are expected to listen actively and give feedback. This is a very important role.

The group operates through a consensus of mutual respect and support for each other. Each session is moderated and members agree to abide by the moderator’s guidance in the course of the evening regarding who reads, length of reading time and length of feedback time. The moderator is usually the convenor or vice-convenor.

The group sessions consist first of reading the minutes of the previous meeting and discussion of any matters arising or business that needs to be attended to. This usually takes 20–30 minutes. The rest of the time (90 minutes) is spent on listening and giving feedback on readings. Occasionally we do writing exercises which have been agreed in advance. Because the group has a large active membership it is not always possible for everyone to read on a given night but those who miss out will read first at the next meeting. Even if a member is not able to read at a given session because of lack of time or not having anything ready to read, they are expected to listen actively and give feedback. This is a very important role.

The group operates through a consensus of mutual respect and support for each other. Each session is moderated and members agree to abide by the moderator’s guidance in the course of the evening regarding who reads, length of reading time and length of feedback time. The moderator is usually the convenor or vice-convenor.

The group sessions consist first of reading the minutes of the previous meeting and discussion of any matters arising or business that needs to be attended to. This usually takes 20–30 minutes. The rest of the time (90 minutes) is spent on listening and giving feedback on readings. Occasionally we do writing exercises which have been agreed in advance. Because the group has a large active membership it is not always possible for everyone to read on a given night but those who miss out will read first at the next meeting. Even if a member is not able to read at a given session because of lack of time or not having anything ready to read, they are expected to listen actively and give feedback. This is a very important role.

The group operates through a consensus of mutual respect and support for each other. Each session is moderated and members agree to abide by the moderator’s guidance in the course of the evening regarding who reads, length of reading time and length of feedback time. The moderator is usually the convenor or vice-convenor.

The group sessions consist first of reading the minutes of the previous meeting and discussion of any matters arising or business that needs to be attended to. This usually takes 20–30 minutes. The rest of the time (90 minutes) is spent on listening and giving feedback on readings. Occasionally we do writing exercises which have been agreed in advance. Because the group has a large active membership it is not always possible for everyone to read on a given night but those who miss out will read first at the next meeting. Even if a member is not able to read at a given session because of lack of time or not having anything ready to read, they are expected to listen actively and give feedback. This is a very important role.

The group operates through a consensus of mutual respect and support for each other. Each session is moderated and members agree to abide by the moderator’s guidance in the course of the evening regarding who reads, length of reading time and length of feedback time. The moderator is usually the convenor or vice-convenor.

The group sessions consist first of reading the minutes of the previous meeting and discussion of any matters arising or business that needs to be attended to. This usually takes 20–30 minutes. The rest of the time (90 minutes) is spent on listening and giving feedback on readings. Occasionally we do writing exercises which have been agreed in advance. Because the group has a large active membership it is not always possible for everyone to read on a given night but those who miss out will read first at the next meeting. Even if a member is not able to read at a given session because of lack of time or not having anything ready to read, they are expected to listen actively and give feedback. This is a very important role.

The group operates through a consensus of mutual respect and support for each other. Each session is moderated and members agree to abide by the moderator’s guidance in the course of the evening regarding who reads, length of reading time and length of feedback time. The moderator is usually the convenor or vice-convenor.

The group sessions consist first of reading the minutes of the previous meeting and discussion of any matters arising or business that needs to be attended to. This usually takes 20–30 minutes. The rest of the time (90 minutes) is spent on listening and giving feedback on readings. Occasionally we do writing exercises which have been agreed in advance. Because the group has a large active membership it is not always possible for everyone to read on a given night but those who miss out will read first at the next meeting. Even if a member is not able to read at a given session because of lack of time or not having anything ready to read, they are expected to listen actively and give feedback. This is a very important role.

The group operates through a consensus of mutual respect and support for each other. Each session is moderated and members agree to abide by the moderator’s guidance in the course of the evening regarding who reads, length of reading time and length of feedback time. The moderator is usually the convenor or vice-convenor.

The group sessions consist first of reading the minutes of the previous meeting and discussion of any matters arising or business that needs to be attended to. This usually takes 20–30 minutes. The rest of the time (90 minutes) is spent on listening and giving feedback on readings. Occasionally we do writing exercises which have been agreed in advance. Because the group has a large active membership it is not always possible for everyone to read on a given night but those who miss out will read first at the next meeting. Even if a member is not able to read at a given session because of lack of time or not having anything ready to read, they are expected to listen actively and give feedback. This is a very important role.

The group operates through a consensus of mutual respect and support for each other. Each session is moderated and members agree to abide by the moderator’s guidance in the course of the evening regarding who reads, length of reading time and length of feedback time. The moderator is usually the convenor or vice-convenor.

The group sessions consist first of reading the minutes of the previous meeting and discussion of any matters arising or business that needs to be attended to. This usually takes 20–30 minutes. The rest of the time (90 minutes) is spent on listening and giving feedback on readings. Occasionally we do writing exercises which have been agreed in advance. Because the group has a large active membership it is not always possible for everyone to read on a given night but those who miss out will read first at the next meeting. Even if a member is not able to read at a given session because of lack of time or not having anything ready to read, they are expected to listen actively and give feedback. This is a very important role.

The group operates through a consensus of mutual respect and support for each other. Each session is moderated and members agree to abide by the moderator’s guidance in the course of the evening regarding who reads, length of reading time and length of feedback time. The moderator is usually the convenor or vice-convenor.

The group sessions consist first of reading the minutes of the previous meeting and discussion of any matters arising or business that needs to be attended to. This usually takes 20–30 minutes. The rest of the time (90 minutes) is spent on listening and giving feedback on readings. Occasionally we do writing exercises which have been agreed in advance. Because the group has a large active membership it is not always possible for everyone to read on a given night but those who miss out will read first at the next meeting. Even if a member is not able to read at a given session because of lack of time or not having anything ready to read, they are expected to listen actively and give feedback. This is a very important role.

The group operates through a consensus of mutual respect and support for each other. Each session is moderated and members agree to abide by the moderator’s guidance in the course of the evening regarding who reads, length of reading time and length of feedback time. The moderator is usually the convenor or vice-convenor.

Illustrated Talk & Writing Workshop with Phil Cope
OAP Hall, Church Street, HUNTLY AB54 8AR
Wednesday 16 September 2015
7.30pm
Admission £5

Phil Cope is a photographer, writer, teacher, and exhibition and book designer. His major volumes on wellsprings (all published by Seren / Poetry Wales Press) include Holy Wells Wales (2008); Holy Wells Cornwall (2010); Borderlands, new photographs and old tales of sacred springs, holy wells and spas of the Wales–England borders (2013); and his current volume and the subject of this exhibition and lecture tour, Holy Wells Scotland (April 2015).

In October 2008, the National Library of Wales purchased Phil’s collection of holy well photographs for the nation. He has delivered many illustrated talks on well culture throughout Britain, and was invited to conduct a major holy wells lecture and exhibition tour of the US in August and September 2014.

He will be giving a talk, illustrated by his marvellous photograpy, at Christ Church Huntly on Tuesday 15 September at 7.30pm. The following day he will lead a writing workshop with refreshments from 7.30–9.30pm in the OAP Hall in Church Street, Huntly. This workshop will be open to all who are interested in creative writing. Phil will share the wealth of poems about wells and encourage discussion of the inspiration provided by them for new works. Light will be a theme – light emanating from wells, light on waters, wells in dark inaccessible places.

Illustrated Talk by Rebecca Langworthy
Christ Church, Provost Street, HUNTLY AB54 8BB
Saturday 5 September 2015
5pm
Admission £3

Rebecca Langworthy will give an illustrated talk on the friendship between George MacDonald and Lewis Carroll. 2015 is the 150th anniversary of the publication of Alice in Wonderland. George MacDonald’s children were the first to read the script of this book and their enthusiasm for the story resulted in its publication. George MacDonald, born and bred in Huntly, was a prolific and gifted Victorian writer best know for his huge contribution to the development of fantasy writing. He was extremely well known in his day and his novels and fantasy stories still attract modern readers. Rebecca Langworthy is currently undertaking research for her PhD on George Macdonald at Aberdeen University.

Christ Church Huntly is a small gem of a church which is currently being restored. Part of the funding plan for the building is that it should be used for creative events and presentations. Rebecca’s talk will be the first since the restoration commenced. The spire is now back up but the scaffolding will still be there for several more weeks. This does not spoil the enjoyment of the interior.

A Huntly Hairst event sponsored by Huntly Writers
www.huntlyhairst.co.uk

Crime writer visits Huntly
Crown Bar, Gordon Street, Huntly
Wednesday 27 August 2014
7.30pm
Admission free – all welcome!

We are delighted to welcome Barbara Fagan Speake, who will read from her fiction and tell us something about the craft of the crime writer. Come and meet us in the cocktail lounge of the Crown Bar, Gordon Street, Huntly, if you want to join in what should be a lively discussion of the genre.

Barbara Fagan Speake is a regular visitor to Huntly, often writing while her husband and his friends fish for salmon. In fact Huntly provided the inspiration and background for her series character, Scottish detective Annie Macpherson, who is a native of Huntly. It was while staying at the Greenmount B & B and chatting to George Manson, a former policeman, that she developed the background to her character. She even visited the Macpherson Museum on her last visit to Scotland.

Born in Connecticut, Barbara moved to England in 1972 following her marriage. She has had a varied career as a research psychologist and a clinical psychologist, as well as holding various management positions in the NHS. She and her husband Terry have two grown-up children.

All four of her books are set in the fictional city of Westford, Connecticut. Her first, Secrets Only Sleep (2005) was meant as a standalone, but she later decided to use the same police department for her series. Detective Macpherson is seconded to the Westford Force for a six-month period. Primed by the Past (2011) introduces Annie. Her next novel, Programmed to Kill is another Annie thriller (2012), followed by Past Deception, her latest, published in May 2014. Another Annie book is being developed.

Barbara describes her books as “whydunits” as she is always interested in the motivation behind the crimes, although they each also have a “whodunit” element. She is always happy to chat about her experience as a crime writer and the lessons she has learned along the way!

Read more about Barabara Fagan Speake at: www.barbarafaganspeake.com

 

Huntly Castle
Thursday 26 June 2014
Friday 27 June 2014
Saturday 28 June 2014
6.30pm
Tickets £8 (£5 concession) from Rizzas and the Castle or phone 01466 700324
Written by Anne L. Forbes and presented by See Thru’ Productions

This is a site-specific play to be performed in the precincts of Huntly Castle for Homecoming 2014.

It is a promenade drama, meaning that the action takes place around the audience, who are encouraged to move with it and be involved.

Come and join us in a story where the principle characters are entwined in a complex web of family tensions and political struggle… revealing greed, ambition, intrigue, and violence and the eventual downfall of the 4th Earl of Huntly, the “Cock of the North”.

The production will be a rich, colourful and interactive spectacle, bringing alive historical events, with music and an infusion of good humour and the added element of a “whodunit”. No ordinary historical drama!

Please note:
Seating will be limited. If required, you are welcome to bring your own seat with wooden legs. Metal seats are not permitted unless placed on a mat. Cushions may be brought to sit on the low walls.

Huntly Castle
Thursday 26 June 2014
Friday 27 June 2014
Saturday 28 June 2014
6.30pm
Tickets £8 (£5 concession) from Rizzas and the Castle or phone 01466 700324
Written by Anne L. Forbes and presented by See Thru’ Productions

This is a site-specific play to be performed in the precincts of Huntly Castle for Homecoming 2014.

It is a promenade drama, meaning that the action takes place around the audience, who are encouraged to move with it and be involved.

Come and join us in a story where the principle characters are entwined in a complex web of family tensions and political struggle… revealing greed, ambition, intrigue, and violence and the eventual downfall of the 4th Earl of Huntly, the “Cock of the North”.

The production will be a rich, colourful and interactive spectacle, bringing alive historical events, with music and an infusion of good humour and the added element of a “whodunit”. No ordinary historical drama!

Please note:
Seating will be limited. If required, you are welcome to bring your own seat with wooden legs. Metal seats are not permitted unless placed on a mat. Cushions may be brought to sit on the low walls.

Huntly Castle
Thursday 26 June 2014
Friday 27 June 2014
Saturday 28 June 2014
6.30pm
Tickets £8 (£5 concession) from Rizzas and the Castle or phone 01466 700324
Written by Anne L. Forbes and presented by See Thru’ Productions

This is a site-specific play to be performed in the precincts of Huntly Castle for Homecoming 2014.

It is a promenade drama, meaning that the action takes place around the audience, who are encouraged to move with it and be involved.

Come and join us in a story where the principle characters are entwined in a complex web of family tensions and political struggle… revealing greed, ambition, intrigue, and violence and the eventual downfall of the 4th Earl of Huntly, the “Cock of the North”.

The production will be a rich, colourful and interactive spectacle, bringing alive historical events, with music and an infusion of good humour and the added element of a “whodunit”. No ordinary historical drama!

Please note:
Seating will be limited. If required, you are welcome to bring your own seat with wooden legs. Metal seats are not permitted unless placed on a mat. Cushions may be brought to sit on the low walls.

Huntly Castle
Thursday 26 June 2014
Friday 27 June 2014
Saturday 28 June 2014
6.30pm
Tickets £8 (£5 concession) from Rizzas and the Castle or phone 01466 700324
Written by Anne L. Forbes and presented by See Thru’ Productions

This is a site-specific play to be performed in the precincts of Huntly Castle for Homecoming 2014.

It is a promenade drama, meaning that the action takes place around the audience, who are encouraged to move with it and be involved.

Come and join us in a story where the principle characters are entwined in a complex web of family tensions and political struggle… revealing greed, ambition, intrigue, and violence and the eventual downfall of the 4th Earl of Huntly, the “Cock of the North”.

The production will be a rich, colourful and interactive spectacle, bringing alive historical events, with music and an infusion of good humour and the added element of a “whodunit”. No ordinary historical drama!

Please note:
Seating will be limited. If required, you are welcome to bring your own seat with wooden legs. Metal seats are not permitted unless placed on a mat. Cushions may be brought to sit on the low walls.

Talk and workshop by Ian Crockatt, winner of the 2013 Society of Authors Schlegel-Tieck Prize for translation
OAP Hall, Church Street, Huntly
Wednesday 16 April 2014
7.30pm
Admission free — donations welcome
Refreshments

Ian Crockatt is a poet and poetry translator. His most recent books are the poetry collection Blizzards of the Inner Eye (Peterloo Press, 2003); Skald: Viking Poems (Koo Press 2009, reprinted 2011), a series of original poems based on a Viking poetic form; and, in translation, Pure Contradiction, selected poems of Rainer Maria Rilke (Arc Publications). This was awarded the Society of Authors’ 2013 Schlegel-Tieck prize for translation.

He has twice been awarded Scottish Arts Council (now Creative Scotland) grants for writers, and has won prizes in a number of national poetry competitions.

He has just completed a PhD, centred on the translation of Old Norse skaldic poetry, with particular focus on the work of Rögnvald Kali Kolsson, Earl of Orkney from 1135–1158. Ian’s next book, to be published by Arc Publications in 2014, will be translations of Rögnvald’s poems.

A Scottish Book Trust Live Literature Event

OAP Hall, Church Street, Huntly
Wednesday 19 March 2014
7.30pm
Admission free — donations welcome
Refreshments

Donald S. Murray will read from his new book The Guga Stone, allowing a discussion of how prose and poetry can allow us to repopulate lost and forgotten communities such as Upper Cabrach and other places around Huntly, and examine their myths. Much of this work is light-hearted.

Described as having “one of the most original and innovative voices in contemporary Scottish literature”, Donald S. Murray was raised in Ness, Isle of Lewis. A weaver’s son, he went to the Nicolson Institute in Stornoway, later returning there as a teacher before moving to both Benbecula and Shetland to follow this profession there.

Throughout this period, he has also written; his work widely published both in newspapers and literary magazines. A Gaelic speaker, he can also sometimes be heard and seen on BBC Radio nan Gàidheal and BBC Alba. He has also appeared on national TV and radio.

He is best known for his creative writing. His first book of short stories, Special Deliverance, was shortlisted for a Saltire Award while his non-fiction work The Guga Hunters was widely praised, including by the critic Will Self. Similar plaudits have been given to his later works, such as And On This Rock, Weaving Songs and Small Expectations. Recently his new book, The Guga Stone; Lies, Legends and Lunacies of St Kilda was shortlisted by the Guardian as one of the best nature books of 2013.

Over the past few years, he has also been awarded the Robert Louis Stevenson Fellowship and Jessie Kesson Fellowship for his work. Continually experimenting and developing his writing, he has just completed a play to commemorate the centenary of World War One and was appointed as Writer in Residence for Stornoway Harbour for its 150th anniversary in 2013. He has also spoken at various venues including New Networks for Nature in Stamford, Lincolnshire, University of Reykjavik in Iceland and on BBC 4’s Bird Britannica, alongside David Attenborough!

A Scottish Book Trust Live Literature Event

 

Orb’s Bookshop • 33a Deveron Street • HUNTLY AB54 8BY
Friday 2 August 2013
Saturday 3 August 2013
Wednesday 7 August 2013
Friday 9 August 2013
Saturday 10 August 2013
Monday 12 August 2013
9.15am–5pm – readings at 11am each day

Members of Huntly Writers will be in residence in Orb’s bookshop on several days during August 2013. People are invited to come along and talk to them about their work and writing in general, at any time of the day.

In addition there will be readings by local authors at 11am each morning. Everyone will be welcome.
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Photo by Maureen Ross

OAP Hall, Huntly
Sunday 21 October 2012
2pm–5pm
Admission by donation

Following on the popularity of a previous event, Huntly Writers are keen to welcome you to a renga workshop led by renga master Colin Will. Join us at the OAP Hall in Church St, Huntly, to discover more about this fascinating poetic experience.

Colin is a full-time writer and, when not leading workshops and writing groups, is website designer and webmaster for Poetry Scotland magazine and the StAnza poetry festival. He is experienced in writing Japanese forms — haiku, tanka, haibun and renga.

For the uninitiated, renga is an ancient Japanese poetic form that is unique in being written collectively, by a group. Each member of the group contributes verses and discusses the poem as it grows, link by link. No experience of writing in this form is necessary — the poem is itself an absorbing and enjoyable learning process for all participants, as Huntly Writers who attended the previous workshop can confirm.

A Scottish Book Trust Live Literature Event

John Mackie, Haworth Hodgkinson and friends
Brander Library, Huntly
Thursday 4 October 2012
6pm
Admission free

Once again, Huntly Writers and the Brander Library team up to bring you a National Poetry Day event with a difference. Two guest poets will perform, and there will be opportunities for you to read your own favourite poem if you wish.

John Mackie and Haworth Hodgkinson are two poets whose work takes them way beyond the printed page. Both experienced collaborators with performers from many disciplines, they understand that poetry can be enhanced when it is combined sensitively with music, dance and visual images.

Each poet has this year launched a new collection from Malfranteaux Concepts, now established as Aberdeen’s leading poetry publisher, and at this event they will perform selections from the books in musical contexts.

John Mackie’s Pearl Diving by Moonlight will be accompanied by guest musicians, sometimes improvising in response to the words, at other times providing the backdrop for which John will find appropriate words.

Haworth Hodgkinson’s Tractor Bastard, a sequence of twenty poems beginning in geological time, taking a tour of the seasons in Northern Scotland, then departing in cosmological time, is accompanied by his own specially composed music played on a range of wind and percussion instruments.

Read Mark Pithie’s review of John Mackie and Haworth Hodgkinson performing at the Lastbus Works Canteen, New Pitsligo, during this year’s New Words festival.
Poet’s websites

 John Mackie: www.johnmackie.net

 Haworth Hodgkinson: www.haworthhodgkinson.co.uk

New Words (previously Wordfringe) was North-East Scotland’s innovative festival exploring the spoken and written word in performance, with events taking place in venues in Aberdeen and towns and villages throughout Aberdeenshire. The festival was held annually from 2006 until 2012, then again in 2014, but withdrawal of local authority support has meant the festival has had to be suspended for the time being.
Keep abreast of the local literary scene with North East Writers
Information for promoters
The New Words festival was part of North-East Scotland’s autumn season of performing arts festivals.

New Words
September
Festival of literature in performance

 

Dance Live
October
Festival of contemporary dance

 

Sound
October/November
Festival of new music

 

 

 

Huntly Castle, Huntly
Sunday 5 August 2012
3pm
Admission free

Anne L. Forbes launched her new book Trials and Triumphs, telling the story of the Gordons of Huntly in Sixteenth-Century Scotland.

This book first traces the rise of the Gordons from minor magnates in Berwickshire to major players in the north and nationally. They reached their zenith in the person of George Gordon, 4th Earl of Huntly, during the sixteenth century. The rest of the book focuses on his family, with the parallel biographies of four of his sons and two of his daughters. Their very different stories illuminate the period because they participated in, and were deeply affected by, the lives of Mary Queen of Scots and her son James, who were vital pawns in the European power play between England, France and Spain during a crucial time of religious and political change. This book is an important addition to the historiography of the Gordons of Huntly, rulers of the north of Scotland and involved in most significant events of sixteenth-century Scotland.

The Author

Anne L. Forbes gained a degree in Early Modern Scottish History from the University of Aberdeen. She has taught in schools in London, Norfolk, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Northern Ireland and North-East Scotland. After some years working in Africa, she and her husband returned to Scotland in 2001 settling near Huntly, the centre of power for the Gordons, her ancestors.

Trials and Triumphs
Anne L. Forbes
John Donald
£25.00

ISBN 978-1-906566-52-4

 

Review by Linda Smith

Led by lone piper Julian Henderson, we took the path below the imposing facade of Huntly Castle that rises proudly above the land the Gordons ruled so long. On that cool August Sunday, we were to gather in the courtyard of the castle to celebrate the launch of Anne Forbes’s history of the Gordon family, Trials and Triumphs: the Gordons of Huntly in Sixteenth Century Scotland. Surely no more perfect place exists in which to launch a book that follows the progress of the Gordon clan’s most powerful characters!

Maureen Ross, convenor of Huntly Writers, welcomed the company, outlining the programme for the afternoon and introducing us to Anne, who is a loyal member of Huntly Writers. Over the years, the writers have offered support and encouragement and have sat enthralled as Anne read extracts from her history at our meetings. The publication of her book has therefore been much anticipated by the group and members were delighted to receive an invitation to attend the launch at Huntly Castle.

The first speaker was Alex Forbes of Druminnor Castle, who has considerable knowledge of local history and proved to be of great assistance when Anne was researching her book in the early stages. He spoke about the significance of this turning point in Scottish History, with its dramatic, religious and political changes: from Catholic to Protestant; from alliance with France to alliance with England. The Gordons and other important North-East families would play an important role in the harrowing and often bloody events that swept the land. In his view Anne’s book will be vital in filling gaps in the historiography of the clan.

Here in one of her favourite places, where she feels her characters come alive, Anne held a copy of her book aloft and gave entertaining — and tempting glimpses of the delights in store for her readers — a castle going up in flames at Corgarff; a barefoot earl escaping from his palace in the nick of time; a bloody execution in the streets of Aberdeen. It is clear that Anne is not only deeply knowledgeable of this dark and turbulent period in Scottish history, but she also conveys a genuine enthusiasm for these charismatic, but often outrageous, figures, the 4th Earl of Huntly — the Cock of the North, Mary Queen of Scots’ Lieutenant of the North — and his family of four sons and two daughters. Her decision to focus also on Jean and Margaret Gordon, both strong and determined women, is refreshing, as the lives of the women of those days were so often dismissed as of no account.

Ross Herald Extraordinary, Charles Burnett, then drew our attention to the decorative frontispiece above the main door of the castle and gave a scholarly and fascinating account of the coats of arms, that belonged to the 1st Marquis of Huntly and his wife. We could just make out the Catholic symbols that also adorned this doorway, before being defaced by Protestant Covanters.

The launch at the castle was brought to a close by a friend of Anne’s, Martin Treacher, once editor of the Huntly Express and now entertainer at Skibo Castle, who sang for us A Gordon for Me, with several new and amusing verses, which he’d composed as a fitting tribute to Anne and her history of the Gordons.

We toasted the author with glasses of her own excellent elderflower cordial, before heading back to the castle Visitor Centre to buy copies of Trials and Triumphs, which Anne signed. A wonderful afternoon ended at the Cooper Park Pavilion, where we enjoyed a scrumptious spread, provided by members of Huntly Writers, including Anne herself, and served by the Cooper Park Youth Group.

Huntly Farmers’ Market in the Square, Huntly
Saturday 7 July 2012
9am–1pm

Meet the authors!
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Book bundles
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Numbered square
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Face painting

Huntly Writers will be hosting a Family Fun Stall at the Huntly Farmers’ Market on Saturday 7 July. There will be lots to see for all the family, including sales of local authors’ work, in Doric as well as English; sales of second-hand books; competitions; and the always popular face painting for children.

As local writers we like to promote and encourage creative writing in and around the Huntly area and invite both old friends and new faces to visit us and join in the fun.

 

Banff Castle, Banff
Saturday 26 May 2012
7.30pm
Admission by donation

Huntly Writers present an intriguing melange of music, tales and poetry to while away a summer evening.

Spoken words homespun by the Writers and knitted up with music and song from Fraser Wilson and Simon McPhun, traditional musicians of Tin Hut fame.

The writers and musicians contributing to this show are: Lucy Aykroyd, Ruth Bean, Mary Burgerhout, Carol Ann, Anne Forbes, Phyllis Goodall, Margaret Grant, Haseley Hinton, Haworth Hodgkinson, Terry Mace, Simon McPhun, Anne Rogers, Maureen Ross, Linda Smith, Fiona Wilson and Fraser Wilson.

Part of the COAST Festival

Stewart’s Hall, Huntly
Wednesday 21 March 2012
7.30pm
Admission by donation • Open mic • Discussion • Refreshments

This new bi-lingual selection by poet Ian Crockatt gathers poems from all periods of Rilke’s life and artistic development. By placing poems of similar themes or modes of expression together instead of arranging them chronologically, underlying themes which Rilke arrived at early in his life are illuminated. Crockatt’s powerful translations, with comprehensive introduction and notes, capture Rilke’s blend of crafted sensuality and inward-focused spiritual searching. Seasoned Rilke readers as well as those to new to him will find fresh insights into this iconic European writer’s work.

Arc Publications
Hardback £12.99 • Paperback £9.99
ISBN 978-1-906570-44-6

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ian Crockatt lives with his ceramic artist wife Wenna on a small croft in the North-East of Scotland, close to gannet-crowded sea cliffs and under the flight-path of seasonally migrating geese. After many years employment as a social worker with children and families, he is working on a PhD thesis at Aberdeen University, focusing on the translation of Old Norse skaldic poetry.

He has published several collections of his own poetry, including Flood Alert (Chapman Publications, 1996), Original Myths (Cruachan Publications, 1999), The Crucifixion Bird (Northwords Folios, 2002), Blizzards of the Inner Eye (Peterloo Press, 2003), The Lyrical Beast (Salix Publications, 2004), and Skald: Viking poems (Koo Press, Aberdeen, 2009, reprinted 2011). Original Myths, which includes etchings by the Scottish artist Paul Fleming, was short-listed for the Saltire Society’s Scottish Book of the Year Award in 2000.

He has been a prize winner in a number of national literary competitions, and was awarded Writer’s Bursaries by the Scottish Arts Council in 2004 and 2008.

He is currently preparing a collection of poems translated from the work of Rognvaldr Kali Kolsson, a 12th century Earl of Orkney, as well as working on a new collection of his own verse.

Stewart’s Hall, Huntly
Sunday 18 March 2012
11.30am
Admission by donation • Open mic • Refreshments

Meg Bateman talks about and reads from thirty years of writing in English and in Gaelic. Refreshments will be served and there will be open mic opportunities.

Meg Bateman is a lecturer at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig in Skye, part of the University of the Highlands and Islands, where she teaches literature and philosophy through the medium of Gaelic. She was born in Edinburgh in 1959, and learnt Gaelic in South Uist and the University of Aberdeen where she taught for many years. Her poetry is included in numerous anthologies such as the Penguin Book of Scottish Verse and the Penguin Book of Poetry from Britain and Ireland since 1945. She has translated and co-edited anthologies of Gaelic medieval, 17th century and religious verse.

Her two collections, Aotromachd / Lightness and Soirbheas / Fair Wind, were short-listed for the Scottish Book of the Year award in 1997 and 2007 and won a Scottish Arts Council Award. A collection mostly in English, Transparencies, is due to be published this year.

A Scottish Book Trust Live Literature Event

Brander Library, Huntly
Thursday 6 October 2011
6.30pm–7.30pm
Admission free

National Poetry Day celebrated by a group of Huntly writers was to be found on a windy October night tucked behind bookshelves in the local library. For an outsider to be part of this gathering was a great pleasure, hearing writers read out their own poems, some humorous, some poignant and some about the power of nature. This was a true celebration of the spoken word and of the sharing of thoughts and passions. As I head south tomorrow, I will remember the words, the music and the friendship I found and holding so strongly the landscape in my mind not left below me as I fly off but stored in my memory I will hope to return next year to read my own poem.

Louise Waugh
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Following on from last year’s successful National Poetry Day event, the Brander Library teamed up again with Huntly Writers to present an open poetry reading session in the library.

Poetry by Huntly Writers was also displayed on boarded-up windows around the town.

Ford of Clatt, Clatt
Wednesday 21 September 2011
7.30pm
Admission by donation

Monologues — by their very nature — are often the most immediate and powerful type of writing. However their composition can be challenging. In this practical workshop, fiction writer Cal Wallace explores the basic requirements for crafting stand-alone pieces; how to devise plausible situations, believable characters, and how to give them voice to deliver their rants, diatribes, soliloquies or sermons.

Cal Wallace wrote The Cat Sat on the Mat at the age of five. Accusations of plagiarism quickly ensued and his crayons were confiscated. After decades of therapy he resumed his writing ambitions, creating many fine stories. His first collection, The Man with the Silver Eye, was published in 2010 by Blue Salt Publishing.

 

 

This event is presented by Huntly Writers as part of New Words 2011, North-East Scotland’s festival of new writing in performance.

Stewart’s Hall, Huntly
Saturday 10 September 2011
7.30pm
Tickets: £8 / £5 (concession) / £1 (schoolchildren)
Medieval music, poetry and prose inspired by the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela

Walk the walk of walks from the comfort of your seat. Let London’s early-music group The Artisans whisk you to the Iberian Middle Ages of song and praise. Be stirred by Paulina Vanderbilt’s poetic pilgrimage — a journey of reflection and observation. Enjoy Lucy Aykroyd’s experiences on St James’s Way in extracts from her walking diary. Come and share the highs and lows of the Camino de Santiago de Compostela — but without the sore muscles or the blisters.

Ritual pilgrimage was an important part of medieval Christianity. Churches and places of worship would often be founded on sites where miracles took place or where religious relics were located. Music was an integral part of the pilgrim’s experience and provided a language through which pilgrims of different nationalities could communicate. Songs and hymns of devotion to the Virgin Mary helped to give pilgrims the strength to travel the long distances.

The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela was built in honour of St James the Apostle after his grave was rediscovered in the ninth century. It is said that his remains were carried by boat from Jerusalem to the city of Santiago de Compostela. The cathedral became one of the most important pilgrimage centres and The Way of St James or O Camino de Santiago was a very popular pilgrim route during the medieval period.

The music performed by the Artisans is taken from three collections, known as the Codex Calixtinus, the Cantigas de Santa Maria and the Llibre Vermell. Read more about the music on the Music Centeral website.

The poems performed by Paulina are from her book The Way — a poetic pilgrimage (Blue Salt Publishing), which will be launched at this event. It is a collection of poems enriched with information on the Camino, Galician folklore, traditions and even cuisine, called a “lively mix” by Anna Crowe, who also describes the poetry as having “great verve and freshness and evoking landscapes and people with immediacy and empathy”.

The Artisans are an exciting new medieval band emerging from London. Formed of musicians from diverse backgrounds in folk, world and early music, they bring together a broad experience from different genres. This has helped them to create fresh and exciting interpretations of this ancient music, whilst still remaining historically informed.

They have an interesting variety of well-researched programmes of music, spanning four centuries from England, France, Spain and Italy. With exotic dance tunes to rousing choruses, their playing enchants all those who hear them.

Performing on a range of fascinating instruments including recorders, bagpipes, vielle, harp, rebec, symphony, oud and a variety of percussion, this is a band to look out for!

See www.the-artisans.co.uk for more.

Paulina Vanderbilt mostly writes poetry but has a number of short stories and even half-finished novellas stashed away in her drawer — waiting their turn. She describes her poetry as a watercolour of impressions, vibrant and immediate. She lives in Holland now, but Scotland is the bones of her.

Paulina recently set up her own creative writing business to take her energetic, slightly chaotic approach to creativity to schools in Holland and the people in The Hague.

Her second collection The Way — a poetic pilgrimage (Blue Salt Publishing, 2011) will be launched at this event in Huntly. Her successful first collection, In Search of Salt (Koo Press, 2009) is available by special request.

Wiltshire born, Aberdeenshire matured… Lucy Aykroyd is a mother of five and multiple granny. A virgin writer — cutting her teeth on transcripts of a mega walk across Spain in 2010, the Camino….

Naturally artistic, this new venture follows on from an extended painterly period, adding a new facet of creative expression to her portfolio of life… an interesting and unexpectedly exciting sideline to being a freelance gardener, yoga teacher and Swedish masseuse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This event is presented by Huntly Writers and Music Centeral as part of New Words 2011, North-East Scotland’s festival of new writing in performance, with the support of Gordon Forum for the Arts, Enterprise Music Scotland, Stewart’s Hall, Aberdeenshire Council and North East Writers.

Orb’s Bookshop • 33a Deveron Street • HUNTLY AB54 8BY
Monday 25 July – Monday 15 August 2011
9.15am–5pm

Members of Huntly Writers are working at Orb’s Bookshop until 15th August.
All are welcome to come along and talk to us about our work and writing in general.

For more pictures see: www.facebook.com/northeastwriters

 

Readings at 11am and 2.30pm daily, except Tuesdays

Stewart’s Hall, Huntly
Sunday 27 March 2011
2pm–4pm
Admission by donation • Refreshments available • All welcome

Kenneth Steven is a full-time writer — first and foremost a poet. Seven of his collections have been published to date and a volume of selected work — Island. He makes many poetry programmes for BBC Radio. Two books on the crafting and publishing of poems were commissioned some years back and have just been re-printed. Kenneth is also a widely published children’s author and a writer of fiction. He and his family live in Dunkeld.

 

 

A Scottish Book Trust Live Literature Event

Stewart’s Hall, Huntly
Sunday 27 February 2011
2pm–4pm
Admission by donation • Refreshments available • All welcome

Donald Goodbrand Saunders writes lyrical poetry in English and in Scots. His work is inspired by the Scottish landscape and countryside. Some of his poems have been translated into Arabic by the Egyptian poet Mohammed Al Faqui, and a number have been set to music by Sally Beamish. Recently he has diversified into writing song lyrics and musical drama.

In his own words:

I was born in 1949, and spent my early life in Balquhidder, in the Perthshire highlands, before moving down the road to Callander. In 1966 I went to university in Glasgow, and stayed in that city for most of my life since then. I now live in the village of Gartmore, in the Trossachs, with my wife and son.

That’s the bare framework of my life — and neither illuminating or relevant. One thing that has been a constant throughout a patchwork career has been poetry. I was lucky to be brought up in a household where poetry was seen, not as a strange or suspect activity, but as something quite normal for people to do and talk about. My father was the poet and editor Crombie Saunders, and his influence and encouragement and that of his literary friends was undoubtedly important. So it seemed natural I would take the first, faltering, steps myself. I’ve been making poems — mostly in English, some in Scots — since the 60s.

Auden wrote that among the factors that distinguish a major poet from a minor one is that the first must (a) write a lot of poems and (b) demonstrate a continuous development throughout his writing career. Both these criteria place me well in the “minor poet” camp. But I’m not without ambition. If I can leave behind a number of well-made poems (say 100?), then that’ll do me.

A Scottish Book Trust Live Literature Event