This is a past event
Part of the WayWORD Festival
In honour of Aberdeenshire writer David Toulmin (AKA John Reid, 1913–1998), the Toulmin Prize writing competition is held annually by the Elphinstone Institute and sponsored by the Reid family. Join us for this event at which the winning story will be announced and the winner will receive a £500 prize. The story will be read aloud by well-known North-East writer, Sheena Blackhall.
Sheena Blackhall is the Makar of the North-East of Scotland. She has published some 174 poetry pamphlets in Scots and English, 4 novellas, and 15 collections of short stories, both online and in book form. In 2018 the University of Aberdeen gave her the honorary degree of Master of the University. John Reid (David Toulmin) was an Aberdeenshire farm labourer from Rathen, near Fraserburgh, who spent most of his life working long hours for very small rewards. In odd moments he jotted down short stories, character studies, and bothy tales. Eventually, as David Toulmin, he had a few articles printed in local newspapers. The first of his ten books was published when he was 59 years old. His work consists mostly of short stories and reminiscences, with his one novel, Blown Seed, painting a harsh picture of farm life.