Firefighter’s poignant transatlantic cycle to mark 30th anniversary of Lockerbie disaster

A firefighter has completed an epic transatlantic cycle to Syracuse University in New York to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the Lockerbie air disaster 30 years ago. Continue reading Firefighter’s poignant transatlantic cycle to mark 30th anniversary of Lockerbie disaster

Tracy Beaker author meets young Scots to sound out real-life experiences

Acclaimed children’s author Jacqueline Wilson has met young people,  currently in care and recent care leavers,  in Edinburgh who have lived the real experiences of Tracy Beaker to find out what they think about her creation in an exclusive feature for The Big Issue.

In the latest instalment, My Mum Tracy Beaker, published last month, we revisit central character Tracy Beaker as a single mother in her 30s living in a council estate with her nine-year-old daughter Jess.

Wilson met with people currently in care and recent care leavers involved with charity Who Cares? Scotland to discuss whether they felt that their real, lived experience was being reflected in popular fiction.

Ashley, 28 and recently graduated from university, says: “I didn’t realise until today that I’m the same age as Tracy and, like Tracy, I’ve been moved around a lot to the point where I’ve moved 53 times now. You were the first children’s author that I was exposed to as a young child in care and there was so much that I related to.

“However, we also face a lot of societal and structural stigma and it felt like this was a chance to change the narrative a bit – but I don’t feel like Tracy got her happy ending, the ending we all want and imagine.”

“I think you’re absolutely right and I’ve been thinking about the sequel I hope to write… I think it will be more satisfying for you,” Ms Wilson says. “I think a lot of people hoped that Tracy would automatically have fantastic relationships and a brilliant career and all the things that, nowadays, we think equal success.

“I was more interested in showing that she’s a brilliant mum even though she might still have faults – which mother is ever perfect? But showing that even though her own mum let her down repeatedly, she’s never once let her own daughter down.

“I think in the sequel we might help Tracy achieve some really great things, but I think it also has to be realistic,” she contined. “For every great success there are very many other kids who haven’t been able to get to that position, and I want everybody to feel a success story. But I think I will try very hard to make sure that the next Tracy book does have a really positive and yet realistic ending too.”

A few days later The Big Issue caught up with the author as she reflects on the meeting. “I found it very interesting and liked everyone enormously. I thought they were very brave in what they were saying – it’s not easy to sit in front of someone and try to point them in a different direction. I found it touching and illuminating to listen to their stories.”

Managing Editor of The Big Issue, Vicky Carroll, explained: “When news first emerged that Tracy’s destiny was to become a single-mum who was struggling somewhat on a council estate, we noticed that a few care-experienced kids were expressing disappointment that she was fulfilling a cliché of poor outcomes for kids that have been through the care system. They’d hoped for better from this character with whom they had identified.

“We spoke with Kenny Murray, who was in care himself and now works with Who Cares? Scotland, and he put us in touch with a few young people who had a lot to say. I approached Jacqueline Wilson’s agent to see if she would like to comment or – even better – to meet the young people in person to talk to them about Tracy and her future. She said she would like to, and so we’re delighted that it was such a positive experience, with Jacqueline saying she got a lot out of it.”

The Big Issue, sold by vendors to lift themselves out of poverty, is out from 12th November across the UK for £2.50.

Last Post

In memory of the 19 million who died and the countless millions more whose lives were changed forever by The Great War.

LAST POST

In all my dreams, before my helpless sight,
He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.
If poetry could tell it backwards, true, begin
that moment shrapnel scythed you to the stinking mud …
but you get up, amazed, watch bled bad blood
run upwards from the slime into its wounds;
see lines and lines of British boys rewind
back to their trenches, kiss the photographs from home –
mothers, sweethearts, sisters, younger brothers
not entering the story now
to die and die and die.
Dulce – No – Decorum – No – Pro patria mori.
You walk away.
You walk away; drop your gun (fixed bayonet)
like all your mates do too –
Harry, Tommy, Wilfred, Edward, Bert –
and light a cigarette.
There’s coffee in the square,
warm French bread
and all those thousands dead
are shaking dried mud from their hair
and queuing up for home. Freshly alive,
a lad plays Tipperary to the crowd, released
from History; the glistening, healthy horses fit for heroes, kings.
You lean against a wall,
your several million lives still possible
and crammed with love, work, children, talent, English beer, good food.
You see the poet tuck away his pocket-book and smile.
If poetry could truly tell it backwards,
then it would.

Carol Ann Duffy

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THEIR NAME LIVETH: Armistice Centenary event at Scottish Parliament this evening

Sunday 11 November 5pm – midnight

Join us outside the Scottish Parliament from 5pm this evening to mark 100 years since the end of the First World War, with a spectacular projection on the facade of Holyrood.

This event is free to attend, no ticket necessary, and will also be streamed at scottishparliament.tv.

Their Name Liveth – an illumination project

See the illumination created by artist Ross Ashton honouring the 134,712 men and women listed in the Scottish National War Memorial Roll of Honour. The projection includes names of Scottish servicemen, munitions factory workers, Merchant Navy personnel, and overseas servicemen who fought on behalf of Scotland during the war, and will be accompanied by recorded and live music.

The projection set to Sir John Blackwood McEwen’s String Quartets Volume 1 by the Chilingrian Quartet, also features images and designs that tell the story of the global war which ended 100 years ago.

It promises to be a thought-provoking and emotional performance, a fitting way commemorate this significant milestone.

When will my family or friend’s name appear?

The projection begins at 5pm and finishes at midnight. Each name from the Roll of Honour will be shown on the Parliament building for around ten seconds. Names will appear in alphabetical order sorted by surname.

Alphabetical Start – Finish Alphabetical Start – Finish
Abb – Ayt 17:00    17:13 McInty – McW 21:09   21:28
Bab – Bly 17:13     17:30 Mea – Myr 21:28  21:52
Boa – Byt 17:30    17:47 Nab – Nye 21:52   21:58
Cab – Clari 17:47   18:03 Oag – Oxt 21:58  22:02
Clark – Cyr 18:03   18:22 Pac – Pyw 22:02  22:16
Dab – Dys 18:22   18:43 Qua – Qus 22:16  22:16
Ead – Ezz 18:43   18:48 Rab – Ryr 22:16  22:39
Fab – Fyv 18:48  19:05 Sab – Smi 22:39  23:00
Gab – Gyp 19:05   19:26 Smo – Syv 23:00  23:16
Hab – Hys 19:26   19:53 Taa – Tyt 23:16  23:30
I’an – Izz 19:53  19:55 Uda – Utt 23:30  23:31
Jac – Jut 19:55   20:03 Vac – Vre 23:31  23:32
Kad – Kyn 20:03  20:13 Wac – Wyv 23:32  23:57
La – Lyt 20:13  20:29 Yac – Yul 23:57  23:59
Mab – Maz 20:29  20:49 Zah – Zwi 23:59  00:00
McA – McInto 20:49  21:09
Partners

This project has been created in partnership with The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, the Scottish National War Memorial and artist Ross Ashton of the Projection Studio.

Credits – images used in the projection were provided by the following collections:

National Library of Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, Antonia Reeve Photography – images of the Scottish National War Memorial, Imperial War Museum, National Galleries of Scotland, Scotland’s People – National Records of Scotland, CSG CIC, Glasgow Museums and Libraries Collection: Special Collections, Glasgow City Archives, University of Glasgow Archive, McLean Museum – Inverclyde Council, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum, The Black Watch Museum, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) Collection, The Gordon Highlanders Museum, The Royal Highland Fusiliers Museum

Additional images were sourced from Historic Environment Scotland’s SCRAN photolibrary, representing the following collections:

National Museums of Scotland, Courtesy of the Bruce/Leslie Collection, Dalmellington & District Conservation Trust, Dumfries and Galloway Museums Service, Archive Services – University of Dundee, East Lothian Museums Service, Falkirk Museums, John Robertson, Lothian Health Services Archive, Margaret Morrell, Montrose Air Station Museum Trust, Napier University, North Ronaldsay Heritage Trust, St Andrews University Library, The Scotsman Publications Ltd, Unicorn Preservation Society.