Home » Mary Irvine: Writer and Philhellene » Mary Irvine Writer: Tribute to Margaret Harrison

Mary Irvine Writer: Tribute to Margaret Harrison

Long time, no write…at least here!

Seems a long time but doesn’t time pass quickly when you’re having fun…or not. Very disappointed not to be able to attend  the Bearpit Brothers’ CD launch at the Glad Cafe (Nov 24th) but inability to drive due to ‘dizzy’ spells – and no, they were not artificially induced in any way – meant it wasn’t feasible. Heard it went well so congrats all round. The booklet launch /Tribute to Margaret Harrison went well, account below. Have been busy transcribing some 15 hours of tapes in connection with Margaret’s biography. In credibly boring – that’s the transcribing, not the information on the tapes which is fascinating and all grist to the mill. Have met some fantastic people, most of whom have their own story deserving of telling. Am writing up the Iona to Canterbury Peace Pilgrimage 1981 at the moment and trying to contact all the pilgrims who biked the entire route. They’re now scattered all round the world but all still working for peace. Margaret and her husband Bobby rode a tandem. The ‘threesome’ was a regular sight around Dumbarton.

Tribute to Margaret Harrison, Dumbarton Library, Tues Nov 12th

Thirty five stalwart souls braved the elements to attend the ‘Tribute to Margaret Harrison’ which formed the centre piece of the Alexandria Writing Group’s launch of their latest booklet, ‘A Miscellany’, dedicated to Margaret, peace campaigner and human rights activist, and containing several of her poems. Three members of the writers’ group told the story of Margaret’s life mostly in her own words – both poetry and prose.

Writers! Enjoy your freedom …

Robin Lloyd Jones, recently awarded the Saltire prize (2013) for best researched book – on the life of Scottish climber W H Murray, gave a short homily re Scottish Pen, pointing out all present could be arrested and imprisoned in some countries for even attending such an event. Not to mention the person who put it all together. I don’t think I would be that brave!
Robin asked those present to send postcards of protest to the Turkish Embassy on behalf of Ragip Zarakolu writer, publisher and supporter of human rights who has been harassed all his life for daring to speak out about oppressive regimes.

Everyone agreed the evening was a great success and the Group would like to extend its thanks to all who contributed to that success, not least the staff of the Dumbarton Library.

This section: Mary Irvine: Writer and Philhellene