Community Groups


Kirsten Wood (Education Officer, Stirling Castle), linked up with the Adult Literacy Department at Stirling Council in 2008 to establish a running programme of creative writing workshops at Stirling Castle.

The workshops have run since September 2008 with around six participants taking part once a week on Friday mornings. Although the groups are based at Stirling Castle they make trips to other Historic Scotland sites around the Stirling area to find inspiration for their writing. Work has previously been exhibited onsite and groups have visited BBC Scotland in Glasgow to audio record their work.

Some excerpts from the group’s work can be found below

Kate Durie, from ‘The Mother’

Billy Drummond stood at the door, panting. His mouth was moving, but no words came out that I could hear. Then something came through my fog. ‘The Birkenhead’s gone down.’ I still didn’t follow. ‘Going to the Cape. With the Argylls the 91st Reserves. With your boy.’

I shut the door in his face.  Later some of the women came. I shouted at them to go away, that no, I wouldn’t hear it. But I knew. My folks had once been fishers. We ken what the sea does. I thought soldiering was safer.

Sally Evans, from ‘The Scullery Maid, 1910

My favourite holly in the castle

grew outside the Douglas Garden,

softening the large, bare courtyard

and attracting songbirds in winter.

Though holly leaves are prickly and dark

they please both Christian and Pagan,

useful as cooks' decorations,

while the tree is reckoned good fortune.

Jim Stratter, creative writing excerpt

The Earl asked their private minister to bless the food before a morsel

was taken. He also prayed that the discussions would be peaceful which

displeased James immensely. There was much wine and ale drank during

the banquet, which was far from peaceful. James was all but cordial

during the six-hour feast. Voices were loud and verbal exchanges

between the Earl and James became heated. At one point both the Earl

and James in turn stood up to announce the virtues of their different

religions.