Family Legends Community Ambassadors
Throughout Family Legends we had a team of volunteers working across Scotland to encourage as many people as possible to take part in the project. Our Family Legends Community Ambassadors hosted coffee mornings in their communities, spread the word in book groups and writers’ circles and interviewed locals to get their stories.
Amanda Block - Roaming Ambassador
Amanda is based in Edinburgh, yet acting as the Family Legends’ "roaming" volunteer, as her job with the Edinburgh International Science Festival takes her to primary schools all over Scotland. This has provided an ideal opportunity to spread the word about the Family Legends project to children and adults alike. In her spare time, Amanda writes both her own fiction and does freelance ghostwriting work. She is keen to encourage as many people in as many places as possible to start telling their family’s stories. After attending the Family Legends Writing Workshop in Edinburgh, she made sure to pass on the useful tips she learned to other writing groups.
A few stories from Edinburgh:
- Grandad and The Gorilla - by Josh Brock
- My Mum's Dream Came True - by Lewis Fraser Muego
- Super Gran's Lucky Van - by Hannah Gillies
Kirstin Fairnie - Orkney Ambassador
Kirstin has been coming up with creative ways to draw out Orcadian Family Legends, from fireside gatherings with local storytellers to an exhibition of treasured items of clothing. She also contributed her own story, a touching tribute to her Granny, to Family Legends.
Family Legend events on Orkney:
- Storytelling in Shearer's - Orkney residents gathered around a roaring fire in family owned shop Shearer's to share their Family Legends. Storytellers Marita Lück and Tom Muir were in attendance and a military theme began to develop as locals shared their tales of wartime heroes.
- Legendary Garments from Orkney - The Longship shop in Kirkwall set up an empty rail so that locals could put their most treasured items of clothing on display. Each garment was accompanied by a tag explaining why it represented an important part of the owner's family history.
Kirstin in the press:
- Bringing family legends to life, The Orcadian
- Local celebrities pen family tales for legends project, The Orcadian
A few stories from Orkney:
- Black Market Eggs - Fraser MacNaughton
- Granny McArthur - Liam McArthur
- One for Sorrow - by Rosie Wallace
Jelica Gavrilovic - Inverness Ambassador
Jelica has been writing about the work she is doing to promote Family Legends on her blog. She is a keen observer and listener and this led her to studying community theory and practice at Bradford and Ilkley Community College. She has twenty five years experience in community development, practice and management and she provides writing workshops for beginners, children and young people who are looking for inspiration to formulate their ideas and to create stories. Jelica's Family Legend is about her inspiring mother.
Family Legends events in the Inverness area:
- Coffee morning in Drumnadrochit Library - Jelica visited the library to hear stories from the locals about their family histories. Councillor Margaret Davidson dropped in to talk about a special lady in the Highlands and one man told the story of a family goat.
Jelica in the press:
A few stories from around Inverness:
- When Past and Present Meet - by Tracy Mortimer-Jones
- No Such Thing as Coincidence - by Jane Sandell
- Woodbines and Daisies - by Wendy Toner
Yvonne MacLean - Oban Ambassador
Yvonne has been encouraging people in the Oban area to get involved with Family Legends.
A few stories from around Oban:
- Gone Fishing - by David MacLeod
- Life Saver - by Niamh Rowan
- Moleskins and Mufflers - by J. Williamson
Uuganaa Ramsay - Ayrshire Ambassador
"I was born and grew up in Mongolia and have been living in Scotland for the last 10 years. I found inspiration and motivation through meeting many extraordinary people in the breathtakingly gorgeous countryside. I am so privileged and honoured to be the Family Legends Community Ambassador. I’m very excited about the project and hope to bring out and share stories of many incredible and amazing family legends in our community.” Uuganaa wrote her Family Legend story about her son, Billy.
Family Legends events in Ayrshire:
- Coffee morning with the Learning Shop's book club - Visitors to South Ayrshire's Adult Learning Centre reminisced over tea and scones. The group swapped tales about their ancestors and about their own experiences.
- Coffee morning in St Meddan's Church - Ayrshire residents shared family stories about wartime romances, domino champions and heroic relatives.
- Coffee morning in the Velvet Apple Cafe - Another opportunity for locals to gather and talk about their family stories, then get guidance from Uuganaa on how to submit them to Family Legends.
Uuganaa in the press:
A few stories from Ayrshire:
