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The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
King's Birthday Honour for book festival founder Alistair Moffat
He has written more than 40 books on Scottish history and is considered one of the most popular Scottish historians. He founded the Borders Book Festival 22 years ago, and is based in Ettrick and Lauderdale in the Borders. The festival has become one of the UK's most highly regarded literary festivals, attracting an international audience, and now draws more than 30,000 visitors who have contributed an estimated £3 million to the local economy. Mr Moffat was also a critical figure in the creation of The Great Tapestry of Scotland in 2010, acting as co-chairman and narrative creator, which tells the history of Scotland in visual panels, similar to the Bayeux Tapestry. Read More The Great Tapestry of Scotland, now installed in its purpose-built museum in Galashiels, in the Borders, has become a major tourist attraction and was visited by the King and Queen in 2023 on its 10th anniversary. It was a collaboration of ideas shared between Mr Moffat, author Sir Alexander McCall-Smith and artist Andrew Crummy and was hand stitched by 1,000 women from across Scotland. The tapestry tells the story of 420 million years of Scottish history, heritage, innovations and culture through its 160 panels. Mr Moffat receives the royal honour for showing a 'strong and consistent commitment to bringing the arts to local communities', including through the tapestry. Mr Moffat said: 'It is just a monumental bunch of flowers to get. 'One of the reasons was for starting the Borders Book Festival, which starts on Thursday. 'The announcement will be in the middle of the book festival, which started 22 years ago. 'It has a big, beneficial impact on the region, and it brings in lots of visitors. The MBE has been very well-timed. 'The Great Tapestry of Scotland began 15 years ago, Alexander McCall-Smith rang me to say 'go and look at a tapestry in Edinburgh about Bonnie Prince Charlie'. It had 50 panels, I was astounded at how beautiful it was. 'I started working on the idea of The Great Tapestry of Scotland, it ended up with 150 panels. 'I had always dreamed of doing something like this. 'The King and Queen opened it in 2023, I showed them around. It is telling Scotland's history in pictures, and it was made by women.'
Daily Record
21-04-2025
- General
- Daily Record
Carsphairn SWI ladies learn how to make slate-based coasters at latest meeting
Maggie Phillips provided everyone with the materials needed and talked everyone through the process. Carsphairn SWI president, Melissa Ade welcomed a good turn out to the meeting. The first part of the evening addressed relevant business. Nancy White gave the treasurer's report. Jennifer Harvie then updated members with her work on the heritage element of the SWI. Work is progressing well on Carsphairn's team entries for the Federation Show in May. Plans for Carsphairn's open meeting beetle drive were refined and there has been positive interest from other SWIs in the Stewartry to attend. Lots of enthusiastic discussion then took place on where the summer outing might take everyone and it was agreed that during the year there will be a visit arranged to The Great Tapestry of Scotland in Galashiels. Notice and reminders were shared regarding upcoming events both Stewartry-wide and more local. Melissa then handed the meeting over to Maggie Phillips. Maggie provided everyone with the materials needed to make an individual slate-based coaster. She explained and demonstrated how to do this by using a napkin, water, and modpodge. Everyone was absorbed by the process and the results were very pleasing indeed. Maggie shared ideas on how to transfer the same skills to glass. There was a great variety of colourful coasters to see when finished and some members had plans to carry on creating at home. Jennifer thanked Maggie for leading the workshop. This was heartily endorsed by everyone there. While everyone was enjoying the refreshments provided by Jennifer and Merle, Jennifer kindly judged the competitions. The daffodils on display which members had brought to enter the competition were beautiful and vibrant. Vase of daffodils (Watret Trophy) – 1 Irene McCreath; 2 Lavinia Morris; 3 Sheila Little. Simnel cake – 1 Nancy White; 2 Judith Marsden; 3 Dorothy Faulds. Flower of the month – 1 Nancy White; 2 Melissa Ade; 3 Christine Whipp. The raffle was drawn and Melissa thanked Jennifer and Merle for providing the refreshments and members for their contribution to the evening. Tidying up was done by one and all before heading for home. The evening was well attended and everybody had enjoyed coming together to share news and ideas, learn a new craft, sample welcome refreshments and laugh.
