William Letford
Appeared: 9 July
William Letford comes from Stirlingshire and worked in various jobs and in his family’s roofing business in his twenties. He has an MLitt in Creative Writing from the University of Glasgow. He received a New Writer’s Award from the Scottish Book Trust in 2008, and an Edwin Morgan Travel Bursary, which enabled him to go to Northern Italy where he helped in the restoration of a medieval village. He has taken part in translation projects through Lebanon, Iraq, and Palestine, and traveled to India with the Commonwealth Poets United project in 2014. In 2014 a chapbook of his poetry, Potom Koža Toho Druhého, was published by Vertigo in Slovakian. His work has appeared on radio and television, and he has performed at the Edinburgh International Book Festival and at many other events and venues. A Creative Scotland Artists’ Bursary allowed him to spend six months travelling through India. Carcanet published his debut collection Bevel in 2012, and his second, Dirt, in 2016.
Appeared: 9 July
William Letford comes from Stirlingshire and worked in various jobs and in his family’s roofing business in his twenties. He has an MLitt in Creative Writing from the University of Glasgow. He received a New Writer’s Award from the Scottish Book Trust in 2008, and an Edwin Morgan Travel Bursary, which enabled him to go to Northern Italy where he helped in the restoration of a medieval village. He has taken part in translation projects through Lebanon, Iraq, and Palestine, and traveled to India with the Commonwealth Poets United project in 2014. In 2014 a chapbook of his poetry, Potom Koža Toho Druhého, was published by Vertigo in Slovakian. His work has appeared on radio and television, and he has performed at the Edinburgh International Book Festival and at many other events and venues. A Creative Scotland Artists’ Bursary allowed him to spend six months travelling through India. Carcanet published his debut collection Bevel in 2012, and his second, Dirt, in 2016.
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William Letford performs his poem 'This Is It'.
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Spotlight on Independent Bookshops...
Stirling Bookshop
18 Maxwell Place
Stirling FK8 1JU
Telephone: 01786 465339
Email: [email protected]
Stirling Books is a second-hand bookshop situated in the city of Stirling, central Scotland, gateway to the Highlands. We specialise in rare and antiquarian books and Scottish Cultural Press. We also serve freshly brewed coffee, sell an array of unique curiosities and offer internet access. The bookshop also hosts the occasional book-signing, quiz evening, poetry event and live music. Comfortable seating is an important part of a rustic bookshop experience so why not take a seat on our shop sofa, order a coffee and relax with a good book!
William Letford says, 'You have to climb down stairs to get to Stirling Books. There's an Irish pub right across the road that can sometimes add to the trickiness of the descent. You'll get secondhand books, rare books, a coffee if that's your wish, and a feeling (because the shop is below street level) you're searching for something deeper. Digging. Long before I was published I would stealthily slip printed copies of my poems between the pages of the books on the shelves. Buy a book from there and you might unearth a turnip or two. Cheap at the price.'
18 Maxwell Place
Stirling FK8 1JU
Telephone: 01786 465339
Email: [email protected]
Stirling Books is a second-hand bookshop situated in the city of Stirling, central Scotland, gateway to the Highlands. We specialise in rare and antiquarian books and Scottish Cultural Press. We also serve freshly brewed coffee, sell an array of unique curiosities and offer internet access. The bookshop also hosts the occasional book-signing, quiz evening, poetry event and live music. Comfortable seating is an important part of a rustic bookshop experience so why not take a seat on our shop sofa, order a coffee and relax with a good book!
William Letford says, 'You have to climb down stairs to get to Stirling Books. There's an Irish pub right across the road that can sometimes add to the trickiness of the descent. You'll get secondhand books, rare books, a coffee if that's your wish, and a feeling (because the shop is below street level) you're searching for something deeper. Digging. Long before I was published I would stealthily slip printed copies of my poems between the pages of the books on the shelves. Buy a book from there and you might unearth a turnip or two. Cheap at the price.'
Spotlight on Theatres...
Stirling Tollbooth
Jail Wynd
Stirling FK8 1DE
Telephone: 01786274000
Website: https://stirlingevents.org/
The award-winning Tolbooth is Stirling's venue for music, performance and classes. Re-opened in 2002, after a restoration and redesign by award-winning architect Richard Murphy, the Tolbooth has established a reputation as one of the best live music venues in the country. The Tolbooth has always been a feature of Stirling's cultural life; it has been a court and jail and hosted a parliament in the reign of James VI. Nowadays the Tolbooth is the base for Stirling Council's Arts and Event Team and the home to some of the best musicians and performers working in Scotland. The extended Grade A-listed building has retained many original features such as the dome ceiling in the main auditorium as well as incorporating state of the art technology throughout its eight floors.
William Letford says, 'Before I really knew up from down and back from front I would sit on the steps of the Tolbooth and drink cheap cider. It was restored and redesigned in 2002. Now it's part of the rock that Stirling sits on. Part of it's heart. I fancy maybe I even sensed that was coming I sat there on the steps - frowning at the world, and getting sozzled.'
Jail Wynd
Stirling FK8 1DE
Telephone: 01786274000
Website: https://stirlingevents.org/
The award-winning Tolbooth is Stirling's venue for music, performance and classes. Re-opened in 2002, after a restoration and redesign by award-winning architect Richard Murphy, the Tolbooth has established a reputation as one of the best live music venues in the country. The Tolbooth has always been a feature of Stirling's cultural life; it has been a court and jail and hosted a parliament in the reign of James VI. Nowadays the Tolbooth is the base for Stirling Council's Arts and Event Team and the home to some of the best musicians and performers working in Scotland. The extended Grade A-listed building has retained many original features such as the dome ceiling in the main auditorium as well as incorporating state of the art technology throughout its eight floors.
William Letford says, 'Before I really knew up from down and back from front I would sit on the steps of the Tolbooth and drink cheap cider. It was restored and redesigned in 2002. Now it's part of the rock that Stirling sits on. Part of it's heart. I fancy maybe I even sensed that was coming I sat there on the steps - frowning at the world, and getting sozzled.'
Spotlight on Libraries...
Stirling Central Library
3 Corn Exchange Road
Stirling FK8 2HX
Telephone: 01786 237760
Website: https://www.stirling.gov.uk/libraries-archives/your-local-library-catalogue-search/central-library/
In 1893 a Committee began work in Stirling to promote the formation of a free library. Provost George Kinross of Stirling wrote to the steel manufacturer Andrew Carnegie at his home in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Carnegie had earlier financed libraries in Dunfermline, Edinburgh and Grangemouth. Eventually, in 1897, Provost Kinross received a letter offering £6000 to build a Public Library on condition that the council adopt the free libraries act and provide a suitable site. Building commenced in October 1901 and the library was officially opened on February 6th 1904.
Stirling Central Library remains in the centre of the city and boasts the most visitors of all of our libraries. With a reference section upstairs, family history information, computer access, events and more, it's well worth a visit. It is currently closed due to the lockdown.
William Letford says, 'Been wandering in and out of Stirling Central Library since I was 5 years old. Remember feeling elated when I was old enough to walk there on my own and pick a book from the shelf. The books in that beautiful building rattled ma young heed and fed my imagination. Although, I believe right now I owe them the princely sum of £50. That's a story for another time. Shh.'
3 Corn Exchange Road
Stirling FK8 2HX
Telephone: 01786 237760
Website: https://www.stirling.gov.uk/libraries-archives/your-local-library-catalogue-search/central-library/
In 1893 a Committee began work in Stirling to promote the formation of a free library. Provost George Kinross of Stirling wrote to the steel manufacturer Andrew Carnegie at his home in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Carnegie had earlier financed libraries in Dunfermline, Edinburgh and Grangemouth. Eventually, in 1897, Provost Kinross received a letter offering £6000 to build a Public Library on condition that the council adopt the free libraries act and provide a suitable site. Building commenced in October 1901 and the library was officially opened on February 6th 1904.
Stirling Central Library remains in the centre of the city and boasts the most visitors of all of our libraries. With a reference section upstairs, family history information, computer access, events and more, it's well worth a visit. It is currently closed due to the lockdown.
William Letford says, 'Been wandering in and out of Stirling Central Library since I was 5 years old. Remember feeling elated when I was old enough to walk there on my own and pick a book from the shelf. The books in that beautiful building rattled ma young heed and fed my imagination. Although, I believe right now I owe them the princely sum of £50. That's a story for another time. Shh.'