William Letford

A don't like caerryin the buckets a water up the stairs, you shouldnae hiv tae dae that in this day an age. You know whit though, it's me thit turns the floodlights oan at night, ye know the lights thit light up the whole eh the monument so iverybudy kin see it. An it's me thit turns the lights oan at the very top, so it looks as if thur's candles burnin up there. So efter av finished an av carried aw the water up there jist tae throw it back doon the steps again, a like tae huv a wee cigarette, jist stand at the very top an look at Stirlin and the castle. An a think, naebudy kin see me, looking oot, an a like that.

From the Wallace Monument

Biography

William lives in Stirling and is currently working on a collection of short stories. In between writing poetry and stories he works as a roofer. He's never managed to get used to the heights but loves working outside.

Comment

"Writing is solitary. If you don't like your own company you're done for. You're in constant competition with yourself and confidence is everything. Someone has read my stories and enjoyed them, this means that my time has not been wasted. Someone has believed in me enough to give me this award. This gives me confidence to go on."