The prizewinning story was announced at the Toulmin Prize event, introduced by lead judge, Richard Bennett at the WayWord Festival in the Sir Duncan Rice Library, University of Aberdeen, on Friday, 3 October 2025.
Congratulations to Marka Rifat from Stonehaven with her story Thyme's Arrow, the first science-fiction tale to win the Toulmin Prize. Marka read aloud her story, to an enthralled audience at the event. Sheena Blackhall read excerpts from a Toulmin story, and the event was signed by BSL Interpreter Lesley Crerar.
The Toulmin Prize publication, Dinna Mess wi the Popo & other stories of the North-East of Scotland, with readings and interviews, and featuring Sheena Blackhall.
The Toulmin Prize, established in 2008 and awarded annually, is a short-story prize commemorating the work of one of North-East Scotland's finest exponents of written Doric. There is a cash prize of £500 for the winning entry. The award for the best entry will be made at the University of Aberdeen, where the winning story will be read out by the well-known north-east writer, Sheena Blackhall.
Emeritus Professor Ian Russell, former Director of the Elphinstone Institute at the University of Aberdeen, says: 'We're proud to be able to honour John Reid and his work in this way. His writing is powerful, evocative and witty, and he is one of the finest exponents of writing in the North-East. We have had a terrific response to the previous competitions and the standard of entries has been superb.'
The Prize is generously sponsored by grandsons of Toulmin (John Reid), Steven and Martin Reid. The winner receives a £500 prize, and the story is read by well-known North-East writer, Sheena Blackhall, at a University of Aberdeen event.
The prizewinning story was announced at the Toulmin Prize event, which was introduced by lead judge, Richard Bennett at the WayWORD Festival, in the Main Hall, King's Pavilion, University of Aberdeen, on Friday 27 September 2024.
Congratulations to Deborah Leslie from Inverurie with her story Wytin. The story was read aloud by well-known North-East writer, Sheena Blackhall, and was signed by BSL Interpreter Lesley Crerar. The £500 Prize was presented by sponsors Steven and Martin Reid, grandsons of John Reid (aka David Toulmin).
Pictured left to right are: Steven Reid, Sheena Blackhall, Deborah Leslie, Richard Bennett, and Martin Reid
The judges were impressed with the high standard of writing submitted to the competition, and decided to award Highly Commended to the following stories (in no particular order):
Congratulations to the Toulmin Prize winners for 2023. Tracy Geddes and Rachel Matheson share the prize this year, as the judges felt that the standard was so high they could not choose between them.
Pictured are (left to right) Martin Reid, grandson of John Reid (aka Toulmin) with Tracy Geddes and Rachel Matheson.
Their stories, A Silent Prayer, and A Puckle Mindins were read aloud by Sheena Blackhall at the prize giving presentation and reading on Friday 22 September in the King's Pavilion as part of the WayWORD Festival at the University.
Also, this year for the first time there are four Highly Commended awards made, again as the standard was so high, the judges felt that they warranted special mention. They are:
Highly Commended The judges of the Toulmin Prize found that the standard of entries was high this year, and have made Highly Commended awards to Deborah Leslie from Inverurie for her story Skint, and to George Wood from Aberdeen for his story A Trip tae the Sannies.
Toulmin Prize 2020
Prizewinning story The Catch by Ewan Gault
Congratulations to Ewan Gault, an English teacher at a sixth form college in Tottenham, London.
Commended The judges of the Toulmin Prize found that the standard of entries was particularly high this year, and have made a commended award to Marka Rifat, a retired communications officer from Stonehaven, for Into the Sweet. You can read the story here.
Toulmin Prize 2019
Congratulations to our winner, Lyly Lepinay, and to the commended writers, Rae Cowie, Ruth MacLure, Mike Moir, and Anna Neil.
Click on the respective titles to read the stories on the Scottish Field website:
John Reid (1913-1998) 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.
In his later years he moved to Pittodrie Place in Aberdeen (later to Westhill) and was awarded an honorary degree by the University of Aberdeen in 1986.
