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ST. DUTHAC BOOK & ARTS FESTIVAL
2021
WELCOME Welcome to the 2021 St Duthac Book & Arts Festival programme. In 2019 over a bottle of wine an idea by two former teachers for a book festival was pitched. They formed the St Duthac BAF group (pictured) with the aim to further promote literature, heritage and the arts in their community. The Book and Arts Festival proudly takes its name from the Patron Saint of Tain – St Duthac. We wanted to shine a light on Scotland’s oldest Royal Burgh, Tain, and the surrounding communities to celebrate our unique heritage as well as contemporary artists and authors. The Easter Ross Peninsula with its spectacular beaches, trails and We wanted to shine a attractions is a light on Scotland’s oldest haven for explorers. The planned Royal Burgh, Tain, and the programme of surrounding communities to events will take you celebrate our unique heritage on a journey across as well as contemporary the peninsula, allowing you to artists and authors. immerse yourself in the written and spoken word through author events, workshops, arts and heritage trails and a pop-up book shop with gallery in the centre of Tain. We encourage you to immerse yourselves in the festival and explore our stunning part of the world. Tickets are available in person from Tain and District Development Trust, The Hub, Stafford Street Tain 01862 857185 info@tainddtrust.com and on the website www.stduthacbookfest.com
2021
ST. DUTHAC BOOK & ARTS FESTIVAL
Frances Wood
Caroline Cameron
Catherine Williams
Coral Allan
Mary Fleming
David Macrae
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BLÀS OF THE HIGHLANDS BOOK LAUNCH Join us for the launch of Ceitidh Hutton’s Blàs ‘ROOTS in the SOIL’
We invite you to come and join us for the launch of local author C C Hutton’s second book in the Blàs series. Meet the author, buy a signed copy and receive a free chocolate inspired by the story and developed by Highland Thistle Chocolates. Enjoy a reading and some fun. Where Whimsical is a way of life...
DATE: Friday September 24th TIME: 11.30a.m.-12.15p.m. WHERE: Pop up shop, High Street, Tain
Who said the Scottish rural Highlands were quiet? From illicit alcohol to a ‘bad luck’ skull, old traditions to child eco-warriors, Stroma and her quirky community must find a way to save what they love. Add in a TV series, an overabundance of apples and the long standing rivalry with the next village and life on the North Coast 500 doesn’t sound so gentle after all. Will Stroma and her delightful friends manage to maintain their way of life and keep hold of their beloved forest? Or will the woods be destroyed for ever? Follow the villagers as they struggle, laugh and celebrate in the beauty that is the Scottish Highlands. This is a free event, but due to the current restrictions please let us know if you are coming along. cchuttonwriter.com
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ST. DUTHAC BOOK & ARTS FESTIVAL
2021
Ceitidh Hutton Ceitidh spent many years dashing around the Highlands as a Gaelic Development Officer. She writes under the name Ceitidh Hutton in Gaelic (children’s books) and C C Hutton in English (Scottish Highland Fiction). Her latest Grumpa book was released in April. Her next book about her quirky fictional village, Blàs, is due out soon. Ceitidh is registered with the Scottish Book Trust Live Literacy Programme. She is the secretary of the Society of Authors, Scotland and a member of ALLI. She was short listed for the 2020 Gaelic Literature Awards. Grumpa agus an Latha Fuaimneach’ won Best Young Children’s book at the Royal National Mod 2019. She divides her time between writing, events, school visits, Gaelic Bookbug and family and dog duties. She still promotes Gaelic when she can and finds it hard to say no to a cup of tea. Contact her on Facebook pages or her website cchuttonwriter.com
FESTIVAL POP-UP SHOP ON TAIN HIGH ST Any book lover will love our pop up bookshop on the High Street in Tain. Our team has had a presence at all of the 2021 Tain markets, raising awareness about the festival and gathering stock for the preloved section of the highly anticipated pop up bookshop alongside a selection of new books supplied by Waterstones in Inverness and a pop up art gallery featuring the works of local artists. Official opening of the Pop-Up Shop will be at 10am on Wed 22nd- please come along. Opening hours will be 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Wed 22nd - Wed 29th September.
2021
ST. DUTHAC BOOK & ARTS FESTIVAL
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EXHIBITING ART IN INVER Rosie MacKenzie - Artist
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Rosie MacKenzie After teaching Mathematics and Computing for several years, Rosie had the opportunity to complete a Visual Studies degree. This time, with other creatives, opened up a very different world for her. Rosie’s work is varied and can be digital, textile, paper, metal etc, often in the form of constructive sculptures. Her inspirations are the natural world and mental health. Rosie will show three examples of her work. The “Reading” diptych, using 2 printer’s trays was created during her degree. This work was on loan to “The Reading Rooms” cafe in Norwich and will be very apt for this festival. The second piece is a driftwood raft constructed this summer for local dance artist, Julia MacGhee. Lastly is a paper sculpture inspired by the feathers and habitat of Zelda, the European Eagle Owl. Rosie’s glass and bronze Creusa series can be seen in Brown’s gallery in Tain. Open showing at 1 New Street, Inver - Friday 24th, Saturday 25th, and Sunday 26th from 11 a.m. until 4pm
ST. DUTHAC BOOK & ARTS FESTIVAL
2021
THE MUSICK FYNE SOLOISTS
The vocal ensemble The Musick Fyne Soloists is an offshoot of the Highland choir Musick Fyne and performs smaller-scale repertoire for ROSS ‘THE LEADING voices both in liturgical contexts and LIGHTS IN THEIR FIELD in concerts. The Soloists also take – MAGNIFICENT!’ - THE solo roles in concerts by the Baroque ROSS-SHIRE JOURNAL, ensemble The Marvel of Peru, the Renaissance consort Coronach, and in NOVEMBER 2019 performances by the larger choir, as in the recent performances of Purcell’s ‘Dido and Aeneas’, when the Soloists sang the principal roles. The group is directed by D James Ross, who in 2017 was appointed a member of the Order of the British Empire for services to Renaissance and Baroque Scottish Music. In 2020 Musick Fyne was due to celebrate its fortieth anniversary. Well known Harpist, Bill Taylor, will compliment the Singers with a selection of pieces
THE MUSICK FYNE SOLOISTS – DIR D JAMES
Sunday 26th September 3pm – 4pm
2021
£10
ST. DUTHAC BOOK & ARTS FESTIVAL
07
Barbara Henderson Inverness-based Barbara Henderson is the author of historical novels Fir for Luck, Punch, Black Water, The Siege of Caerlaverock and The Chessmen Thief as well as the ecothriller Wilderness Wars. Her energetic school visits have taken her across Scotland and beyond - and as a Drama teacher, she loves to get young people on their feet. Barbara shares her home with one teenage son, one long-suffering husband and a scruffy Schnauzer called Merry. barbarahenderson.co.uk @scattyscribbler Barbara will be at Knockbreck and TRA on Friday 24th. Ticket Price £5
Meg McLaren Meg is an award-winning picture book maker based in Inverness. Her fourth book, Peep!, was published this year by Andersen Press. Her first picture book, Life Is Magic, was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2017 and The Station Mouse won the Bookbug Picture Book Prize 2020. Meg likes building worlds for her characters to live in and uses detail and typography to add humour to her images. When she’s not up to her eyeballs in ink Meg can usually be found on a very long walk, or trying to convince her dog that it’s not dinner time yet. Meg will be at Craighill Primary on Monday 27th. Ticket Price £5 08
ST. DUTHAC BOOK & ARTS FESTIVAL
2021
FOLKLORE OF THE SEABOARD VILLAGES Author Session with Laura Kirk at THE ART ROOM
In my 20 years of living in the local community, I was never told folklore stories about the area. In the summer days when I was younger, I would pester my neighbourhood Gran next door over the garden wall. Asking her to play the recording of the Mermaid’s story for me. Even from that young age, I was intrigued and eager to learn folklore all over the world. Thanks to my fourth year in my college course in Visual Communications, I was able to start something I felt passionate about. By asking the locals for information on these fading folklore stories, I felt myself grow eager and excited to create Laura Kirk something that could represent these stories. I wished to create a book that included a collection of folklore stories from the Seaboard Villages. All illustrated and rewritten by myself. I focused on four folklore stories for this book, though I wish I had the time to represent I wished to create a book that them all! I focused on The Three included a collection of folklore Kings, The Mermaid of the North, Sailor Superstitions, and The stories from the Seaboard Villages. Drowned Village below Nigg Bay. All illustrated and rewritten by With my illustrative style, I felt it myself. gave the stories a softer edge, one that would be perfect for younger generations to feel drawn to. The stories aren’t too dark in nature so to keep them reasonably child friendly, but edgy enough for the older readers to still enjoy the stories. Laura will be at The Art Room on Sunday 26th. Ticket Price £5 2021
ST. DUTHAC BOOK & ARTS FESTIVAL
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James Miller Born and brought up Caithness, Jim Miller studied zoology in Aberdeen and marine biology in Montreal. He worked for several years with the British Council chiefly in London until his growing interest in writing led him to resign and return to the north of Scotland. He has written a number of books, including Scapa, The Dambuilders, Swords for Hire, The Gathering Stream and, most recently, The Finest Road in the World, which was shortlisted for the Highland Book Prize in 2018. Apart from his non-fiction books on historical themes, he has published fiction and poetry, and contributed regular columns on current affairs and local topics in the John o’Groat Journal and the Inverness Courier. Join us in welcoming James to the Platform 1864 in Tain to talk about his book - The Story of the A9 - The Finest Road in the World. The book tells the dramatic and sometimes surprisingly humorous story of travel and transport in the Highlands. Jim will be at Platform 1864 on Friday 24th. Ticket Price £5
Clio Gray Clio Gray is an award winning novelist, Booker nominated & Bailey’s longlisted and has been described as a master of atmosphere and sensuousness. She has had 12 books published ( including the Stroop Quartet & the Scottish Mystery series) and has recently been signed by Scottish publisher Sparsile, about which she could not be more pleased. Clio will be at Tain Bowling Club on Friday 24th. Ticket Price £5 10
ST. DUTHAC BOOK & ARTS FESTIVAL
2021
MOO MUSIC Come along and have lots of fun with Louisa, enjoy the music and games, play an instrument, catch bubbles and chase lights. You might be a super hero, fly into space or go on a train, you might even meet a dinosaur who likes marmite sandwiches. Come along with your parent, grandparent or carer, they are sure to have great fun too. Monday 27th September 10.00 - 10-30 12.00 – 12.30 3.00 – 3.30 St Vincent Church Hall, Tain. Birth – 5 years Moo Music (each of 3 sessions) FREE or donation
FIND THE BOOK COMPETITION Children can have fun looking for books specially placed in certain shop and business windows. First find the book, then work out why it is there. A history linked competition which all the family can enjoy. Entry forms will be available from the Pop Up Book Shop and on the website at https://www. stduthacbookfest.com Entry forms to be returned to the Pop Up Bookshop or to the website by 5pm on 29th September. There are three £10 book tokens to be won. Have Fun and Good Luck. Wednesday 22nd September to Wednesday 29th September inclusive
2021
ST. DUTHAC BOOK & ARTS FESTIVAL
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S.G. MacLean Shona is the author of two series of historical crime novels – The Alexander Seaton Series, set in 17th Century Scotland, and the Damian Seeker novels, set in the London of Oliver Cromwell. She has a PhD in sixteenth and seventeenth century Scottish History from the University of Aberdeen. Married with four grown-up children, Shona spent her childhood years in Balintore, where her parents ran the Commercial Hotel, and she was a pupil of Hilton Primary school. After many years living in Aberdeen and on the Aberdeenshire coast, she is now back living in the Highlands, at Conon Bridge. Shona’s work has been long- and short-listed for several awards, and she has twice won the Crime Writers’ Association Historical Dagger. She is currently working on her tenth book, The Bookseller of Inverness, which is set in the 1750s and due out next year. Shona will be at Tarbat Discovery Centre on Friday 24th. Ticket Price £5 Cynthia Rogerson Cynthia Rogerson is a Californian Scottish writer living in the Highlands. Winner of the V.S.Pritchett Prize, she’s published five novels and a collection of short stories. I Love You Goodbye was translated into six languages, short-listed for Scottish Novel of the Year, and dramatized for BBC radio. Wait for Me Jack was published in 2017 under Addison Jones. A Sunday Times top summer read, it’s also an audiobook. Her memoir titled Wah! will be published in November 2021. She’s taught on the Edinburgh University Creative Writing program and holds an RLF Fellowship. cynthiarogerson.com. Cynthia will be at Tain Bowling Club on Friday 24th. Ticket Price £5 12
ST. DUTHAC BOOK & ARTS FESTIVAL
2021
Sally Magnusson Sally Magnusson is a writer and broadcaster, based in Glasgow, who has presented a wide range of programmes for the BBC, including Reporting Scotland, and authored a number of books. In 2014 the memoir of her mother’s dementia, Where Memories Go, became a Sunday Times bestseller. In 2013 she founded the charity Playlist for Life to encourage access to personal music for people with dementia. Her 2018 fictional debut, The Sealwoman’s Gift, based on the true story of a 17th century Algerian pirate raid on Iceland, was shortlisted for six literary awards. Her second, The Ninth Child, published in 2020, blends Victorian social history with ancient folklore in the Trossachs. It was described by Scotland on Sunday as “cementing Magnusson’s place … as one of Scotland’s leading writers of historical fiction.” Her third novel, based on the women who resisted the Strathcarron clearances in the 1840s and 50s (with several references to Tain), will be published early in 2023. Sally will be at the Carnegie Lodge Hotel on Monday 27th. Ticket Price £10 Moira Forsyth Moira Forsyth is the author of five published novels, and her short stories and poetry have appeared in magazines and anthologies. Since 2002, as Publishing Director of Sandstone Press, she has selected, commissioned and edited both fiction and non-fiction for Sandstone Press, including books which have won or been listed for awards, including the Booker Prize, the Man Booker International, the Wainwright Prize, the Betty Trask Award and others. She lives in the Highlands of Scotland. Moira will be at Tarbat Discovery Centre on Friday 24th. Ticket Price £5 14
ST. DUTHAC BOOK & ARTS FESTIVAL
2021
THE DEMI-GOD OF ROSS
St Duthac and pilgrimage to Tain in the middle ages A talk with Dr Tom Turpie St Duthac of Tain was one of the most popular Scottish saints of the later Middle Ages. According to sixteenth-century Bishop of Ross, John Leslie, Kingis, Princis and the commune people had flocked to the tomb of the northern saint in the decades prior to the Protestant Reformation. Duthac’s fame had even spread beyond Scotland. In 1513 an English poet described ‘Doffin their demigod of Ross’ as one of the patron saints of the Scots, and an image of the patron of Tain was painted onto a pillar in Cologne Cathedral. Join us at the Collegiate Church, where Dr Tom Turpie will explore the legends surrounding the identity of St Duthac, his close relationship with the Stewart dynasty and the pilgrim experience at Tain in the later Middle Ages. Sunday 11.30 a.m. - 12.30 p.m at The Collegiate Church Ticket Price £5
MILLING AROUND MILTON Catherine Williams
Milling Around Milton is a guided walk through the Conservation Village of Milton, Easter Ross. Take a walk back through time, to the Milton of the 1750’s when the village was a bustling centre for the flax linen weaving trade, the flour mill was said to be the best in Easter Ross and 4 Markets a year were held around the Mercat Cross on the village green. The guided walk begins at The Mercat Centre, where there is parking, and where there will be welcome refreshments at the end. Monday 27th - 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. Ticket Price £5
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ST. DUTHAC BOOK & ARTS FESTIVAL
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Liz Treacher Liz Treacher is a writer and creative writing teacher based near Dornoch. She has written two romantic comedies set in 1920 called The Wrong Envelope (2017) and The Wrong Direction (2018). Although light in tone, they reflect on how the shadow of the war hung over Britain and made life difficult for women at that time. She has also written a darker contemporary novel called The Unravelling (2020) that explores family, immigration and finding fulfilment in life. Liz publishes her novels independently through the Skelbo Press imprint. She enjoys explaining the nuts and bolts of self-publishing and encouraging people who are interested in publishing their own work. Liz will be at The Underground on Saturday 25th. Ticket Price £5 Debbie Ross Debbie put a pinny on aged 8 and has never taken it off. A prolific recipe writer, her creations have appeared, occasionally, in magazines, on her blog, and now for the first time, in her own cookbook.She was a finalist in the first Hampshire Fare Cookery Competition - a home cook up against two professional chefs - and once cooked, and danced, on stage at the BBC Good Food Show with Ainsley Harriet. She lives with her husband, in a cottage at the top of a hill overlooking the Cromarty Firth. She turned her lifelong love of cooking into a career in 2015 and you can find her with her bread and bakes at markets and events across the highlands. Debbie will be at Milton Mercat Centre on Monday 27th. Ticket Price £5 16
ST. DUTHAC BOOK & ARTS FESTIVAL
2021
TRAVELS FROM MY TWILIGHT ZONE Jeff Zycinski and Karen Bartke
Jeff Zycinski
The former Head of Radio Scotland, Jeff Zycinski, talks about life before, during and after the BBC and describes his childhood as the youngest of eight children born to a Scottish mother and Polish father. His recollections begin in a hospital’s intensive care unit as he recovers from nine hours of life-saving surgery. Doped on morphine, he dreams about the many fictional characters he created for radio and magazines. Karen Bartke (Officer Karen from Scot Squad) brings those dreams to life as she performs live extracts from Jeff’s book. There’s also a guest appearance from Jeff’s own alter ego -Johnny Sellotape, pioneer of adhesive comedy. At The Underground on Saturday 25th. Ticket Price £5
“Undeniably entertaining.” – Gavin Docherty, Scottish Daily Express “A comical read that will whisk you away from the world’s pandemic woes.” –Nicola Smith, Daily Record “His irrepressible desire to entertain enlivens every page.” – Ken Bruce, Radio 2 Karen Bartke
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ST. DUTHAC BOOK & ARTS FESTIVAL
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PROGRAMM OFFICIAL OPENING OF BOOKSHOP Thurs 23rd
A.M
Friday 24th What
Where
What
10am Graham Rooney “Long Story Short” 11am Jim Miller – The Story of the A9 “The Finest Road in The World” Barbara Henderson
Platform 1864
10.30 -2.00 pm Nigg Book Fair 10-11 am Graham Rooney “Long Story Short “ 10.30 am Tain Civic Trust Walk Around Tain
Nigg H
11am-12.00 Lorna Sutherland – Story telling for children.
Eddert
2pm Music by Louise, Debbie and Olivia
Booksh Street
CEITIDH Hutton 11.30 Ceitidh’s Launch
Afternoon
Saturday 25th
Platform 1864
Knockbreck Pr TRA Craighill Gaelic Bookshop.
11.00 am Storyteller for St Duthus School
Seaboard Hall
Gordon Morrison
TRA
BOOK HUNT
BOOK HUNT
ART TRAIL
ART TRAIL
2 pm Cynthia Rogerson
Bowling Club
3.30 pm Clio Gray
Bowling Club
BOOK HUNT
Wh
Platfor
2.30 pm Liz Treacher 2.30 WALK AROUND TAIN
Underg
4pm Jeff Zycinski and Karen Bartke
Underg
ART TRAIL BOOK HUNT MAD HATTER’S AFT TEA.
7 pm Festival Launch by Gordon Morrison at Carnegie Lodge Hotel
Greens Restaurant
6.45 pm Moira Forsyth
Discovery Centre, Portmahomack
8 pm SG MacLean
Discovery Centre
ART TRAIL MAD HATTER’S AFT TEA
Greens Restau
7.00 pm Helen Sedgwick launch of new book
Carneg Lodge
ME OF EVENTS ON Wednesday 22ND September @ 10am
here
Hall
Sunday 26th
Monday 27th
What
Where
What
Where
10.30-11.30 am St Duthac Pageant
Collegiate Church
Moo Music
11.30- 12.30 Dr. Tom Turpie
Collegiate Church
St Vincent Church Hall Mercat Centre, Milton
rm 1864
11am-12.30pm Debbie Ross -bread making/ chat re cooking
Bread tasting and soup.
ton Hall
Meg McLaren
Craighill Pr.
hop/High
11.00 Philip Paris
Bookshop
ground
BOOK HUNT
BOOK HUNT
ART TRAIL
ART TRAIL
1.30 Laura Kirk
Art Room
3-4 pm Music Fyne
Collegiate Church
ground
2-4pm Catherine Williams “Milling Around Milton”
Mercat Centre, Milton
BOOK HUNT BOOK HUNT ART TRAIL ART TRAIL
s rant
gie Hotel
7.00 pm Sally Magnusson
Carnegie Lodge Hotel
LONG STORY SHORT A talk with Graham Rooney
Tain station, opened on the 1st June 1864 by the Highland Railway and in its heyday was operated by up to thirty people. The building closed to passengers in June1991 the station, now unstaffed, still operates. The disused railway buildings were reopened on 2015 by Graham Rooney as a gastro - pub and family restaurant. Come along and hear about the journey of a listed railway station and how it has been used in a new and imaginative way. Be entertained by Graham as he talks about how the restaurant got its name, how the floor became a ceiling and so many more stories. Enjoy a tour of the building while Graham points out the memorabilia, including the ceiling that the many passengers passing through would have walked on! Fri and Sat night at the Platform - Ticket Price £5
NIGG HALL BOOK FAIR SATURDAY 25TH SEPTEMBER 2021 10.30 -2 pm
The Book Fair in aid of Nigg Hall is back for the 4th consecutive year. We’re pleased to announce that this year we’re back to being live and in person. Come along and meet your favourite local authors with their latest releases including Helen Sedgwick, Margaret Kirk, James Andrew, Barbara Henderson, Liz Treacher, Debbie Ross (page 16) and more. Browse our second hand book stall or stop by for some cake and a blether. No entrance fee. Proceeds in aid of Nigg Hall. 20
ST. DUTHAC BOOK & ARTS FESTIVAL
2021
TARBAT DISCOVERY CENTRE Portmahomack
The Tarbat Discovery Centre, Portmahomack, opened in 1999 in the disused medieval church of St Colman, to display a nationally-significant collection of Pictish artefacts. The Centre’s 'Pictish Treasury' houses a wonderful corpus of sculpture including unrivalled works of art created in stone by the Picts over 1,200 years ago. These treasures include fragments of majestic cross slabs carved skilfully with elaborate and intricately designed geometric patterns, interwoven with magnificent animals and people. In addition, artefacts discovered during archaeological excavation of the early Christian monastery, that lies beneath and around the Centre, are on display. The monastery was engaged in making sumptuous holy books and works of art in gold, silver, glass and enamel, and evidence for these monastic crafts can also be seen. Open Wed – Sat 10am – 4pm please check website for details and admission fees. https://www.tarbat-discovery.co.uk or email admin@tarbat-discovery.co.uk
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2021
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THE MORRISON STORY
Welcoming Gordon Morrison BEM D.Sc During the second World war, in Nazi-occupied Poland, a young man from the Scottish Highlands, Alex Morrison, found himself in a prison of war camp. In those five years of captivity his determination kept him going as he planned a future for himself. The amazing story of how after his release he started his own business and how, from its Tain roots, it grew into an international company is told by his son Gordon who has published The Morrison Story. After an excellent school education in Tain, Gordon obtained an Honours Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Edinburgh. He spent much of his career developing a national and international construction, development and facility management company - Morrison Construction Group. After the business was sold Gordon changed careers by creating Chaldean Group, a Farming, Property and Investment business. In addition to business interests, Gordon has devoted considerable attention to supporting charities and organisations as Chairman. CLIC Sargent is now the dominant UK charity in child cancer and World Child Cancer is the only global player in childhood cancer supporting 9,000 children annually. Gordon is also Chairman of Mayfair Neighbourhood Forum. Thursday 23rd September Carnegie Lodge Hotel 7pm Ticket Price £5
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ST. DUTHAC BOOK & ARTS FESTIVAL
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STUDIO SMITH Ingebjorg Smith
Luckily the last few days of the Studio Smith Summer Show coincides with the St Duthac Book & Art Festival! Open Tuesdays to Thursdays 11am -5pm & again on Saturdays. Other times by appointment. A bit of a hidden treasure, you will find Studio Smith near the end of Chapel Road. Wildlife paintings by Glasgow School of Art graduate Ingebjorg Smith & work by other local makers, as well as calendars, cards, place mats & more. Studio Smith 1st Duthus Place, Tain, IV19 1JD www.ingebjorgsmith.co.uk www.ingebjorg-studiosmith.co.uk Follow Studio Smith Tain on Facebook Email: ingebjorg.smith@btinternet.com Tel 07909604909
2021
ST. DUTHAC BOOK & ARTS FESTIVAL
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ALL JOIN IN
Led by Lorna Sutherland When Lorna tells a story we all join in When Johnny bangs the drum he makes a mighty din When Lottie claps her hands we all join in When Danny sings a song he makes us grin Come along to our fun interactive storytelling session. Listen to a story, tell a story, share a story, sing, dance, make a noise, let your imagination run wild, all join in. Saturday 25th September 11am -12pm Edderton Hall Primary age, FREE or donation spine 30mm
ory e f
Gone but not
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ar,
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‘One of Scotland
’s finest contemp
Claire Askew, autho
orary storytelle
r of All the Hidde
n Truths
rs.’
06/05/2021 11:28
26
BOOK LAUNCH
The launch of Helen Sedgewick’s new novel ‘Where The Missing Gather’ The St Duthac Book and Arts Festival will be the Tain launch of Where The Missing Gather, the second novel in Helen Sedgwick’s atmospheric crime trilogy, The Burrowhead Mysteries. Helen will discuss the writing and themes behind her cross-genre trilogy that combines aspects of a police procedural with ghost story, folk horror, social commentary, and archaeology. Her previous novels include The Comet Seekers and The Growing Season, which was shortlisted for the Saltire Society Fiction Book of the Year in 2018, and she will talk about her move from literary fiction to crime fiction, how her background as a research physicist influences her writing, and the inspiration she takes from the highland landscape. Saturday 25th at the Carnegie Lodge Hotel Ticket Price £5 ST. DUTHAC BOOK & ARTS FESTIVAL
2021
ERG are a local family business based in Invergordon and established for over 40 years. We offer a range of high quality windows and doors, along with a diverse range of conservatories, sunrooms, home extensions and porches throughout the Highlands. Specialising in home improvements we have built our business by reputation, with most new work coming from previous customer recommendations. Our products are available in a variety of materials, including timber, modern UPVC and durable aluminium and all are fitted by experienced and friendly installers working in accordance with strictly regulated standards, to achieve a perfect finish everytime.
ergscotland.co.uk
21 Lamington Street Tain IV191AA 01862 326040 07849 229 651 theartroomtain@hotmail.com The Art Room Tain is on Facebook and Instagram
Here at The Art Room we believe in supporting local artists and makers from beginners to the more established. You can purchase art materials, unique handmade gifts or add to your art collection by purchasing an art card, print or original. We are a supplier of quality brand art supplies including Winsor & Newton, Liquitex and Conte a Paris. We stock Promarkers, Fineliners, Oil, Watercolour and Acrylic essentials, Canvas, Canvas Board, Brushes, Mediums, Watercolour Pads, Acrylic Pads, Oil Pads and several Sketching Pads. You will also find a range of eco friendly Fair Trade gifts. Classes will resume shortly, the schedule is being prepared and will be advertised when complete.
WALKING TOUR OF TAIN A town centre walk covering 7 Churches and over 50 Listed Buildings, beginning at the St Duthus car park and ending in the Collegiate Church. The walk takes in the religious and architectural buildings of Tain, covering over 700 years of history. The highlights include three Grade A Listed Buildings, Collegiate Church, Sheriff Court and Tolbooth. This involves three major builders and architects, Alexander Stronach, James Smith and Andrew Maitland and Sons. The tour will include descriptions and photos of internal features. We will tell you where to find church mice and an 18th Century love inscription, plus tell you about the history and ages of the Tolbooth bell and clock. Tea and coffee included in the ticket price, available in the St Duthus Hotel after the walk. Saturday September 25th 10.30am & 2.30pm Ticket Price £5
PEGGY'S ART CLASS Seaboard Centre
Former teacher Peggy Taggart started her art class for budding artists in 1985. Her group meets during the winter months at the Seaboard Centre, Balintore and they exhibit their works at community events. Art Show in the Seaboard Centre Friday 24th Sept 2021 from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Why not browse or have a delicious meal while you are visiting. 30
ST. DUTHAC BOOK & ARTS FESTIVAL
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A CHALLENGE FOR SCHOOLS A challenge for schools in the area from Tain and District Museum. The oldest book in the museum, what does it look like, the cover, the pages, the writing? Have you ever seen a book like it before? Jason will take you inside the book and answer these questions. Next find out about the legend of the three princes who many, many years ago sailed to our Seaboard area of the Easter Ross Peninsula. Now for the challenge, retell that story in any way you choose, it can be a painting or drawing, a poem or prose, Jason Ubych what about a drama or a comic strip, you can even tell it in a Tain & District Museum musical item. Entries can be from individuals, from groups or as a class, go for it be as creative as you like and have fun. For more info, visit the Tain & District Museum website at www.tainmuseum.org.uk
The competition runs until Thursday 30th September. Winners will be announced after the October School Holiday. 2021
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from Tcd Tain @ Studio 7 sending good wishes to all and every success for st. duthac Book & Arts Festival
Spic and Span
Greens Restaurant on Tain High Street offer a warm welcome to their beautiful restaurant to enjoy their homemade baking, quality teas and coffees, locally produced drinks and food prepared with wonderful locally produced ingredients. During the festival Greens are offering their themed "Mad Hatters Tea". Why not book yours now to avoid disappointment and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and great service.
The Art Room The Art Room is a creative space for all to enjoy. We believe that everyone has the potential to be creative and we welcome artists and makers at whatever stage of their journey they may be on, from absolute beginners all the way to more established artists. Art speaks to people on many levels and isn’t always about technical ability, although to paraphrase Picasso, “Learn the rules like a pro so you can break them like an Artist”. Therefore we offer 4 weekly courses for beginners to more informal groups exploring different materials through a variety of themes. The art room is a feast for the eyes, drop in for beautiful handmade gifts, cards and prints or framed originals. Pop in just to be inspired for your own creativity, ask questions or borrow one of our artbooks. We look forward to seeing you! Open Tues - Fri 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. 2 p.m - 4 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bill Shannon Bill was a journalist in Dumfries and London before coming North to Ross-shire where he worked as Community and Public Relations Officer for Highlands Fabricators at their Nigg Yard. He has always painted in oils but in recent years has been especially busy producing a variety of works, using a range of materials including piano keys, welding wire, dilapidated stringed instruments, antique printing blocks and rusty chain as well as oil on canvas. He loves the challenge of a blank canvas. Artworks never quite turn out the way he originally imagined them - the possibilities and limitations of the materials; the vagaries of mood and climate; his own abilities and inadequacies. It’s all great fun! A selection of Bill’s art will be shown in the pop up bookshop on the High Street. Open Wed 22nd - Wed 29th Sept from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 36
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Moira MacBeath (Savage) Originally from Dingwall, Moira now lives and works as an artist in Tain. Having followed her dream to be a Primary Teacher, Moira trained in Aberdeen where she taught for 2 years, followed by 4 years in Edinburgh teaching in Special Education before returning to the Highlands to teach. After 25 years teaching, the call of the paint brush and pencils became too much so she took the huge step of deciding to leave the classroom to concentrate on developing her artistic skills full time. Using the inspiration of the Highlands’ stunning land and seascapes, Moira captures the colours and light that makes our part of the world so magical. Sheenagh Harrison Living on the Tarbat Peninsula, Sheenagh’s home overlooks the Cromarty Firth and Nigg Bay. Since moving North from the Borders, she says that she has been fascinated by the ever-changing seascapes, the little fishing villages and the way that nature, industry, tourism and the busy lives of the local people seem to coexist quite happily. Many of her paintings show the busy seascapes filled with fishing boats, tugs, tankers and the oil rigs which can sit in the bay for months. With the NC500 becoming a popular tourist route, Sheenagh has started a series of paintings, offering her take on some of the more humorous aspects of the route! She paints mostly with acrylics on box canvas and likes to build up the layers of paint, waiting to see what happens next. In her own words; “Quite often the painting going in a completely different direction to what I had imagined!”
2021
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Book, Biscuit & Blether @ Inver Inn Take a short drive to Inver and visit the Inver Inn for your tea. The Inver Inn (Bar & Kitchen) is situated in the Village of Inver, just 6 miles east of Tain. With breathtaking views over Inver Bay and the Dornoch Firth this beautiful pub is a favourite for tourists and locals alike. With an enviable reputation for fantastic food, a great whisky, gin and ale selection and first class Highland hospitality, the Inver Inn is worth a visit. Why not visit Rosie MacKenzie’s pop up gallery while you are there.
Breakfast, Book & Blether @ Sunflower Cafe, Tain Catch up with friends, enjoy a delicious breakfast and talk about your favourite book or the festival so far. Tuesday Closed Wednesday 10 am - 3 pm Thursday10 am - 1 pm Friday Closed Saturday 10 am - 3 pm Sunday 10 am - 1 pm Monday Closed 38
ST. DUTHAC BOOK & ARTS FESTIVAL
2021
250th issue of the Tain & District Picture Post The month of September shall see the release of the 250th edition of the Tain & District Picture Post - Tain’s long running monthly community magazine. First introduced in 2000 by the late Murray Macleod, and subsequently edited for a further 14 years by Maggie Mercer, the Picture Post is now put together each month by Niall Harkiss and Lucy Veals. Over the years, no fewer than 249 editions of the “Picture Post” have hit the shelves in Tain and its surrounding area, and this month, our landmark 250th issue goes on sale. While you take in this year’s St. Duthac Book and Arts Festival, we encourage you to pick up a copy from any of our usual stockists Tain Bothy, Tesco, High Street Co-op, Highland Prime and Alness Newsagents. The Picture Post is also available via subscription, printed and delivered to your door each month to ensure you never miss an edition. Subscription options are available on our website. Find out more about Tain’s only monthly community magazine at tainpost.co.uk. A growing digitized archive of past issues can also be found at tainpost.co.uk/archive. 2021
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Tain, Dornoch, The Seaboard Villages
& the surrounding area!
colinharveysgrasscuttingservices.com harveysgrasscuttingservices@gmail.com Colin 075465 54047 or Zac 079613 47412
K&N
CONCEPTS LTD (Tain) 5B Ross Street | IV19 1BA affordable website design for individuals or businesses bespoke web based databases sports club archives and social media solutions booklet design and publishing
Call (01862) 857366 or Email niall.harkiss@kandnconcepts.co.uk
Philip Paris Fearn author, Philip Paris, is best known for his non-fiction and historical fiction books about Orkney’s famous WW2 Italian chapel. However, his work is varied, ranging from Men Cry Alone, an award-winning contemporary novel about domestic abuse against men, to Casting Off, a novel about residents in a Highland care home who get up to some hilarious antics while trying to raise money to meet a rise in fees. ‘One of the things that excites me most as a writer is to discover an important historical event that no-one has previously used as the basis for a novel. This was the inspiration behind Effie’s War, which tells of the extraordinary mass evacuation in November 1943 when around 900 people living in the Tarbat peninsula were given four weeks’ notice to leave their homes, crofts and farms. The military wanted the land for secret D-Day rehearsals. All great stuff!’ Philip will be at the Popup Bookshop on Monday 27th. Ticket Price £5
Who was St Duthac? We have named a book and arts festival after him so he must be important! We can go into Tain Through Time and the Collegiate Church to see images of him and read about him, we can go into the centre that now bears his name to be entertained, we can even go into a hotel named after him to enjoy a meal and a drink. Come along and for a short while be a tourist as you listen to what a tour guide might have to say about St Duthac. Sunday 26th September Collegiate Church Tain, from 10.30 Donations please 42
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Funders, Sponsors and Contributors Funders Mackenzie and Cormack ERG (Easter Ross Glass) Arnold Clark Global Energy Group TDDT (Tain & District Development Trust) Scottish Book Trust Beinn Tharsuinn Wind Farm Fund William Syson Foundation H.C.Ward Discretionary Budget Balnagown Estates Sponsors Sunflowers Tranquility Glenmorangie Distillery Balblair Distillery Denis and Sarah Macdonald Fin Macrae – Dufi Art Tesco ASDA Macdonald Aviemore Resort Highlife Highland Libraries Kincraig Castle Hotel Metalwork UK Georgeson’s Estate Agency Tain Amateur Dramatic Association TADA Contributors Graham Rooney Richard Littlewood Lorna Sutherland Jeff Zycinski and Karen Bartke Niall Harkiss 2021
Michael Gallacher Jamie Stone MP Alister Sutherland Chris Williams Mairi Macaulay Morag Matheson Philip Ward Stuart Fernie Brodie Nairn Lighting Team Tain Through Time Museum Easter Ross Civic Trust Greens Restaurant Helen Sedgwick Harry Andrew Louise Douglas, Debbie Ross, Olivia Ross ERMT (Easter Ross Musical Theatre) Jim Ritchie Joanie Whiteford Aspen Spa Tain Flower Club We would also like to thank all the venues, shops, businesses and individuals who have helped to support us in all sorts of ways. Also local schools, bookstall supporters, local councillors and volunteer helpers. Apologies to anyone we have missed from the list!
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