Scots Radio would like to congratulate Andrew Davidson on the publishing of the Fraserburgh on Film online heritage archive. Fraserburgh on Film is an online digital archive of collated moving heritage image clips shot by residents of Fraserburgh and the surrounding area from the 1930s onwards.  The website was created as part of a research project for Andrew's MSc in Information and Library and Studies and went live in December 2019. Andrew's idea was to create a space for digital storytelling, using film as the medium for people to learn, reflect and reminisce about the North East of Scotland with stories told in the words spoken and images created by the people who lived and worked there over the years. The website serves as a platform for community and participatory heritage by actively encouraging contributions from members of the public, providing the opportunity for their thoughts and memories to be added to the archive to complement the narratives contained within the films. The project also actively seeks new material to be added to the site and offers free digitisation from analogue formats from donors. To see more of the fantastic stories on film, visit https://www.fraserburghonfilm.com/

The status and future of the Scots language was the focus of Scots Radio’s Inaugural Lecture, delivered by one of the country’s leading advocates of Scots, writer and broadcaster Billy Kay, entitled: “Tae Be Yersels.” The Aberdeen event focused on key topics such as the future of creativity in Scots and some of the far-flung corners of the globe Scots travelled with their mother tongue. As well as the writer of best-selling books “Scots: The Mither Tongue” and “The Scottish World” Billy is also well-known as a broadcaster, poet and playwright. His numerous credits include an eight-part series for BBC Scotland entitled: “A History of Scottish Literature” and a radio and a television series on Scots for Channel 4 Schools called: “Haud Yer Tongue.” Awards and recognition include The Sloan Prize for writing in Scots, being an Honorary President of the Scots Language Society, and the Oliver Award - given to the person who has done most to promote Scottish identity and self-confidence. At the end of last year, The Saint Andrew’s Society of the State of New York, announced that Billy Kay, Writer and Broadcaster, would serve as the honored guest to receive the Mark Twain Award at the 263rd Anniversary Banquet on Friday Nov. 22, 2019 in New York City. The award recognises individuals who help the Scottish community envision the future, identify paths to success, and carry out a vision. They are leaders in their respective fields and are recognized by their peers for their contributions. Frieda Morrison, Director,Scots Radio: “ I heard Billy’s original version of this in June 2019 at the Scottish Poetry Library in Edinburgh when he delivered the inaugural Betty Boyd Memorial Scots Language Lecture and felt it deserved to be heard and seen by a wider audience. Billy adapted his talk on the literary history of Scots for the audience in Aberdeen, and this is what we are presenting here.” Scots Radio is proud to present – Billy Kay.

The Doric Board were delighted to appoint poet, storyteller an writer, Sheena Blackhall as their North East Makar.

This is the first of the Elphinstone Sessions, a series of videos by the University of Aberdeen's Elphinstone Institute, highlighting the culture and living traditions of the North-East of Scotland. The region is home to an exceptional heritage of language, music, ballad and song, story, craft, history, and lore, alongside the dynamic creativity of those who live and work here today. The Elphinstone Sessions is part of our North-East Culture Initiative (NECI), a major multi-partner project promoting and supporting North-East culture and traditions. Sheena Blackhall (www.sheenablackhall.blogspot.com) is an award-winning poet and writer from the North-East of Scotland. She has recently been named North-East Makar by The Doric Board and was awarded an Honorary Master's Degree by the University of Aberdeen for her service to North-East culture. Discussing the inspiration behind the poem, Sheena said, 'Fin we bedd in Ballater ower the simmer months, faither either drave us up Glen Muick or Glen Gairn on a Sabbath. He'd a great belief in the health giein properties o Glen air... hence haein tae drink roostie tastin Pannanich spa watter richt aff the knowe.... Onywye, aside the Glen Muick parkin airt is the Allt Darrarie, burn o the stunnin/rattlin noise... The watter skinklit like Amber Cairngorms, or Deeside hinney. A favourite faimly picnic place fur paiddlin, dookin, an guddlin fur bandies.' For more information on the Elphinstone Institute and the NECI please see, https://www.abdn.ac.uk/elphinstone/public-engagement/NECI

It’s a hunner years since the 1st rememberance day, faan those that managed tae get hame safely, remembered those that didna. The words of Dufftown poet, Mary Symon went oot wi the forces an were doubly significant tae the sodjers fae the same area – hearin the wirds written in their ain native language. Mony rural communities throughout Scotland, includin those o the Cabrach, North-East Scotland, niver recovered fae the combined loss o mony o their young men. Mary Symon wrote this poignant poem in 1933. It has been inscribed on the memorial cairn, built bi the Cabrach community an unveiled bi Prince Charles in 2015. ‘The Soldiers’ Cairn’ .