Scots Radio Special Edition

 ‘THE DUNECHT LOON’S CAIRN.’

Fowk fae aa roon the North East an further,  gaithered  tae witness the unveilin o a memorial cairn to the legendary broadcaster,  Robbie Shepherd.  Frieda Morrison hid the honour of bein in that company to celebrate the unveilin of ‘The Dunecht Loon Cairn’ – an spoke tae Robbie’s close freen Robert Lovie faa led the memorial team. Foo wid he describe Robbie Shepherd.

A new book is being published tae mark the centenary o Hugh MacDiarmid’s iconic poem ‘A Drunk Man Looks at the Thistle’.  The new anthology will bring thegither a wide range o poets, scholars and writers tae reassess een o the defining wirks o modern Scottish literature. First published in 1926, MacDiarmid’s poem challenged ideas o nationhood, language, identity and social justice wi a darin vision aat continues tae provoke debate.

The Anthology has been pit the gather bi writers – Jim Macintosh, James Robertson and Allan Riach.

Frieda Morrison spoke tae Jim Mackintosh an asked him aboot fit the new anthology wis gaan tae add.

In the wirds o the wise fowk – ivery mickle maks a muckle.

In celebration o David Attenborough’s 100th birthday and his love o the links wi aa oor craturs in the warl, Frieda Morrison spoke tae the Chair o the Torry Heritage Group, John Dunn OBE, aboot the food cycle o the sea.  

John is a retired Marine biologist fa wirked oot o the Marine Laboritory in Torry near Aiberdeen. He telt Frieda aboot the importance o wee fishies caad – Copepods.

First – fit are they.

Trying to catch up with a legend like Dolina Maclennan is not easy.  Especially when the afore-mentioned actor is busy travelling hundreds of miles with a new stage production that entails a powerful evening of song, music and story with Dolina jointly narrating the story with writer Donald S Murray.  The music is performed by Charlie McKerron on fiddle, Lisa Mulholland on song and piano, Juliette Lemonie on Cello, John Joe McNeil with Gaelic song and Willie Campbell on guitar and song. With Art-work and images by Doug Robertson to set the scene, this is no ordinary stage production - more a stage ceilidh that is taking village halls and theatres by storm, all over Scotland. The production is called Metagama, An Atlantic Odyssey and it is enjoying a sell-out tour.  Frieda Morrison eventually caught up with Dolina before the cast embarked on stage at the Universal Hall in Findhorn, Morayshire. Dolina begins by unfolding the Story behind the production.

In 2018, the much- loved Leanchoil Maternity Hospital near Forres in Morayshire, was closed, due to staffing difficulties.

But now a historic community asset transfer, by NHS Grampian, is about to be finalised and will lead to a refurbish and a re-purpose of the Hospital on the nine- acre site, for the community.   Marianne Nicolson, a Consultant Medical Oncologist, is the Chair of the Leanchoil Trust.  She told Frieda Morrison more about the plan and the background of this historic building. 

Norman and Robina Fiddes are twa busy fowk tae say the least.

Norman is a fourth generation Aiberdeenshire  fairmer faa breeds pedigree Heilan cattle and Robina rins the Gordon School o Dancin in Montrose – fit his jist celebrated it’s 60th anniversary. Bit that’s nae aa!

They hiv a ground-care company and a storage an distribution company an apairt fae that, they are the prood owners o an ivints company.  And that’s foo Frieda Morrison eventually managed tae trak them doon as she jined them for a Burns Supper at Meldrum Hoose near Old Meldrum in Aiberdeenshire. 

The incredible story that is aboot tae unfold is a tribute to human endeavour an sheer strength o character.  

First Norman tries tae find a job description.

Welcome to this Scots Radio Special Feature.

I'm Frieda Morrison and a wee while ago, me an oor very talented soon sorter, fa guides us through the wiggley waves - Richie Werner – were presented wi a gem o a new album.  It's caad the ‘Songs o Robert Burns - bi Andy M.Stewart’.  As a tribute to Andy and in his memory, the album wis remastered and guided through that process, bi Andy's son Donald and Andy's close pal Martin Hadden. Richie an me had the pleasure o their company and first, Martin telt us aboot the first recording.

The Aberdeen Amateur Radio Society, get tae places maist fowk can only imagine. As pairt o the Tall Ships ivent an celebration in Aiberdeen, the group set up their Special Events Station on the hill, aside the Torry Licht-hoose lookin ower the North Sea. In keepin wi their expertise in radio transmission an muckle great big aerials, the members spoke tae fowk fae aa roon the warl aboot the ivint. Frieda Morrison jined this amazin group at their shed in Torry tae fin oot mair aboot the wark of the Society. John Grieve wis busy on the microphone.  

Wi hae passed the Spring Equinox – so it must be Spring. An in this April edition o the programme wi jine the gaitherin at the James Hutton Institute in Aiberdeen tae enjoy the ‘Young Biodiversity Awards’. We’re wi the Irish an Scots Poets as part o Neu Reekie at the Poetry Library in Edinburgh, an we experience the spectacular production o ‘Nordics In Exile’ at St Nicholas Kirk in Aiberdeen. Aa this an enjoying the company o oor Studio Guest, folklorist and musician, Steve Byrne – spikkin aboot a new CD o Ballads fae Sir Walter Scott’s Minstrelsy o the Scottish Borders. Jine us.

Dinna ging castin ony cloots afore May is oot. An afore onybody says – it’s the Mayfloor wir spikkin aboot – itherwise kent as the Hawthorn.  In Episode 58 o Scots Radio, wi hear fae Rosemary Ward fae the Scottish Book Trust aboot plans for this year – includin a spleet new award for publishers o Scots.  Wiv got Kay Gibb fae the Scottish Curlin Trust on the ice spikkin aboot their new exhibition an wiv got a video wi Kay on oor webpage. We jine Richard Ross in his Tea plantation in the Perthshire hills.  Aye – Tea plantation!  So – ye niver ken fit micht happen wi oor wither – keep on yir cloots an Liberty Bodices.  Enjoy the programme.