History

Below is a general list of pertinent dates and events in my background.

Date(s)

1955ff



1974ff


1976 - 1979






1979 - 80

1983 - 89



1989 ff






1990


1990 ff




2000






2005 - 2007





2007 - 2008






2007


2008 - 2011 



2012 - 2013 



2015 


2013 - 2015     

Event

Born and raised with a strong living oral tradition of story and song.  Didn't see a TV until 10 years old.

Began collecting, memorising and performing folk-songs.

Worked voluntarily archiving in the Museum of Scottish Tartans, then in Comrie with Thomas Stuart-Davidson, the founder of Tartan House and the Scottish Tartans' Society and Dr Miceal MacDonald, anthrpologist.

Abroad preaching and teaching as a missionary. 

Designing and producing original tartans/plaids for outdoor people and heritage groups 

Began work as a traditional storyrteller at the invitation of Duncan Williamson, working mostly in schools but also arts festivals, and heritage events etc

Joined and became involved   with heritage groups


Began to construct original folk-songs.



Made honorary Bard/Seanchaidh for Clan Gregor Society





Wrote and published my first epic Brainheart extolling great Scots who changed the world.  This book has since been recrafted and increased volume to 101 great Scots and renamed as:


Wrote Scotland the Brain





Joint-winner of the national Burnsong song-writing competition


Wrote The Broach, the Yarn and the Unicorn


Wrote De Moray



Wrote/compiled The Bards o' Allan Water


Published the above 4 ebooks
De Moray, The Broach, the Yarn and the Unicorn, Scotland the Brain & The Bards of Allan Water.

Nominations and accolades

2007   Inventor of the Metrical Mirror Rhyming System (Brainheart/Scotland the Brain)
2007   Joint-winner of the Burnsong national song-writing competition 
2012   Nominated for Makar of Stirling
2013   Inventor of the Companion Poem (De Moray)
2014   Nominated for National Scots Scriever post
2015   Nominated for Makar of Stirling