Erskine Writers

 Tuesday 7th October

This particular meeting was held at our, possibly temporary, venue at Bishopton Library. There were a handful of apologies - Donnie, John Mac, John H, Joan, Morag, Lorna and Joyce meaning our turnout was eight. However, we were pleased that President Sandra was able to join us given what she and her family is undergoing at the present and, subsequently, even more delighted on hearing that Donnie had got home from hospital. Another point of ‘celebration’ was the fact that Irene has agreed to become our new Treasurer and that the paperwork has now been completed in order for her to take up her duties.

The subject for the day was a piece of writing which had been inspired by our recent field visit to the Burrell Collection. Sandra M opened proceedings with a charming poem entitled ‘AParadox of Love” in which she detailed her response to a panel of medieval stained glass which illustrated the story of Abraham and his near sacrifice of his son Isaac. A very thoughtful and concise piece of work. Rob also highlighted his reaction to the collection of stained glass, in particular the scenes of everyday medieval life. 

Jackie was moved by a Renaissance  bust of Mary Magdalene, and what her expression told us of her emotions. This led her to investigate the subject of facial expression along with body language ending with the comment that one ‘cannot tell a book by its cover’. Irene posed a quandary ‘What is my inspiration?’ , the eventual answer being a picture painted by Joseph Creswell of Sir William’s sister on a bicycle - a safety bicycle rather than, as she put it ‘the obscene penny farthing’! This was followed by Sandra R’s reaction to a painting highlighting the story of Judithand how she helped raise the siege if Bethulia. It was done in 1530 and showed the young lady sitting with an amused look on her face with the head of the Assyrian general Holoferne at her feet. This led to a wide ranging discussion amongst the group about a little known Biblical heroine.

Hilary followed with a treatise on boots and shoes entitled ‘Boots and Shoes Go Walking in Your Heart’ inspired by a pair of embroidered shoes from the late 15th and led her to look at shoes styles - and names - more generally which went down very well indeed. Brian was moved by a 16thc oaken English bed which may have been slept in by Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. (Haven’t they all!!) and this led him to discuss the importance of the bed in history and, indeed, in modern life. 

Finally, Jackie read out two pieces submitted by Morag. One was a wonderful poem entitled ‘Persian Paradise Carpet’ and the detail she managed to glean from the carpet was very comprehensive and the other was an extremely clever pice of work in which she composed a sketch, a dialogue between Mary Burrell, Sir William’s sister and a rehearsing ballerina from a painting by Degas completed in 1874. In it they compared their lives and it does give rise to an excellent topic for next year’s syllabus.

Next week we are in Erskine Parish Church on Rashielee Drive. The post code is PA8 6HS. The actual timing needs to be confirmed and I will text everyone once I have the details.