(Nov 08) Stanley Becomes a Master of the University! - our esteemed honorary president, Stanley Robertson, has finally been recognised for his services to storytelling, ballad-singing and folklore in NE Scotland and the wider world by being awarded an honorary M.Univ. by the University of Aberdeen at a recent graduation ceremony. Stanley says he is 'jist tickled pink' at this award. Wife Johann and Stanley's children were on hand to see husband and Dad get his scroll. Myself, Sara Reith and Dr Tom McKean of the Elphinstone Institute - of which Stanley was a creative fellow in residence a few years back - were there also, and representing GAS as well as picking up an MRes in English Literature with Distinction was Anna Fancett.
Well done to both Anna and Stanley who graduated at the Elphinstone Hall, last used for graduations about 300 years ago! As Marischal College is currently undergoing refurbishment, the Mitchell Hall is currently closed. The university staff commented on the appropriateness of the venue as it reinvigorated the Kings College campus which will soon host the new university Library - a glittering glass tower full of lovely books!
For pictures and links to movie files of the graduation, go to the Archive Vault (click sidebar link)
(June 08) Doctor of Storytelling picks up Award - Heather Forest, a US storyteller based in Huntingdon, New York State who graduated in her PhD last year from Antioch University, Ohio, is picking up an award this week at Aberdeen's Robert Gordon University for her thesis - Inside Story: An Arts-Based Exploration of the Creative Process of the Storyteller as Leader as an example of excellence in digital theses online.
Much of Heather's work is in the field of education and stories for children. She has published books and recordings as educational resources and is involved in 'Curriculum Ideas Exchange' where teachers and storytellers can swap ideas to use oral narrative in the classroom
Heather will be our esteemed visitor to this week's FFF, and she'll probably contribute a story or two to our DIY gathering, which is the last before the summer break. So if you fancy hearing from her, do join us at the usual venue at 7.30pm THIS FRIDAY 6th JUNE! Heather's website is www.storyarts.org
Sad Loss of Storyteller Duncan - As many in the storytelling world will now be aware, Duncan Williamson died at the age of 79 on Thursday, 8th November. He had been ill for some time and after several strokes recently, passed away, leaving the world poorer for his absence.
Donald Smith, director of the Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh said of Duncan 'He was uniquely gifted with a keen sense of poetry and above all else a passion for wonder.' Our own chair, Maggie Fraser recalls: 'He was the first traveller I heard telling stories and that was nearly 30 years ago. All my children heard him and always wanted more as did everyone listening to him wherever and whenever he told.'
Born on the shore of Loch Fyne, the seventh of sixteen children, Duncan was Traveller through and through. He has done everything in his time, fishing, cooking, navvying, horse-trading, but when he sang folk stopped and listened. He started to collect stories, inspired by those he'd heard around the camp fire in his childhood. With his fantastic memory, Duncan could cast a spell over his listeners, and take them to the story-world. From a dad in Fife, Duncan went on to be an international storyteller, teacher and author. Let's hope he's entertaining the angels right now with tales for all eternity!
Maxwell MacLeod of the Herald wrote a lovely tribute to him in Friday's paper. You can read it here.
DUNCAN WILLIAMSON 1928-2007
Tales fae the Gaels - After a visit to the Outer Hebrides the last fortnight, I met Chrisella Ross, who runs the Gaelic Arts Agency in Stornorway, Isle of Lewis, and she told me about their Gaelic Storytelling project - similar in concept to our Persephone Project, focusing on folktales as well as memories.
From their website, this quote describes Proiseact Sgeulachdan: Established in 1999 the Gaelic Storytelling project has developed numerous events throughout the Western Isles to capture and regenerate this ancient tradition. The Project has enabled events within the community, local groups and societies, schools, youth groups, festivals, arts centres and many others. A Database of stories and storytellers has generated great interest in the community and with further events being planned the Project is receiving a very positive response.
Magic Circles The other fantastic idea from this project is the 'i-paq', an MP3 player device which people can borrow in the community shop, Uig (Lewis), and walk across Traigh Mhor (The Big Beach) hearing stories and tales recorded by academic, educationalist and storyteller himself, Dr Finlay MacLeod.
Perhaps GAS could do a storywalk too? It's an idea! Anyway, we are happy to link up with Chrisella and the Gaelic Arts folk. The links to both Sgeulachdan and the Gaelic Arts Agency are now on the Links Page
Aberdeen City Library Local Studies Dept. Purchases CDs to loan out
Fiona-Jane Brown, GAS storyteller, here presents Catherine Taylor and Morag Penny from the Central Library's Local Studies Department with several copies of Oor First Tales, which will be available for loan as part of a new local audio archive. Susan Bell, of Aberdeen City Libraries said that the stories were a great way of entertaining and educating both adults and children.
Radio Scotland Helps Promote GAS CD
Ken Gibson of BBC Radio Scotland came to interview GAS storyteller, Fiona-Jane Brown for the North East bulletin on March 14, at 7.50am. Ken chose to highlight the story How the Buttery Came To Be, FJ's own composition, but omitted to mention our launch! Hopefully Radio Scotland listeners will be put in touch with us by our friends at Beechgrove. Thanks again, Ken!
LISTEN to the bulletin. (MP3 format)
GAS launches second digital publication
St. Patrick's Day, 17 March 2007, will see the launch of Grampian Association of Storytellers' second CD - Oor First Tales - a collection of nine favourite stories from the team, including 'The Tinder Box', 'How the Buttery Came to Be', 'Anansi and the Hole to China,' and our honorary President, Stanley Robertson, the master storyteller, with a special tale with a very timely warning - The Moose Trap.
The CD was made possible by an Employee Action Grant from Shell UK, who employs our own Pauline Cordiner, whose self-penned epic 'The Tale of Little Dan' appears on the disk, and she also designed the cover. The whole techie bit was again thanks to Sandy Noble and April Pressley, who gave their time, their working space and effort to the CD since last summer. Special thanks to the Banks and Keys families who gave space, time and effort to support the project.
The official launch will be at the Lemon Tree, Aberdeen, as part of our Storyfest contribution - a story ceilidh for all ages - on 17 March from 12.30pm as aforementioned. Do come along and support us!
Pre-launch copies are now available! CDs cost £10 (plus postage if ordering online) and are a fine example of what GAS do best! The stories are suitable for all ages, though John's Troll story may slightly upset younger listeners. Parents' discretion will suffice! It's for the folk, by the folk.
To order a copy, simply email the usual GAS address or the web admin address (grampianstoryweb@yahoo.co.uk) to request a copy, with your address details, so we can send you an order form, or send a cheque for £10 payable to Grampian Association of Storytellers, to
Maggie Fraser, GAS Chairperson,
Burnorrachie
Bridge Of Muchalls
Stonehaven
Aberdeenshire
AB39 3RU
with address details to receive your CD.
Outlets will include:
- The Elphinstone Insitute, University of Aberdeen
- Waterstones (aka Ottakars), Union St, Abdn.
- Bruce Millers, Union St, Abdn.
- Lemon Tree, West North Street, Abdn. (order forms only)
- Better Read Books, Neil Ross Square, Ellon, Aberdeenshire
- School of Scottish Studies, University of Edinburgh
You can also get them from GAS committee members, inc. Sean Gordon, Fiona-Jane Brown, Pauline Cordiner, Grace Banks, Anna Fancett and Maggie of course! See us personally or email, as we each have a small stock.
If YOU would like to provide an outlet for these top class traditional tales, let us know and we will give you some to sell!
Better Read, Better Listen!!
Bill Kelly of Better Read Books, Ellon, has kindly agreed to sell our new storytelling CD. I visited him today (Wednesday March, 7) and delivered some disks for him to display, and promptly sold a disk to a drama teacher from the local primary school who said she was coming to the launch!
Bill's shop sells modern and antiquarian books, as well as maps, book lights, book marks, and the like. There is also a Poetry Reading at the shop every so often, so budding scribblers should pop along and get details from Bill himself.
