I had a fantastic day on Sunday 17th May at Paisley Book Festival 2026. I was there hosting an event showcasing the life and work of fellow Lochwinnoch Writer and celebrated poet, Betty McKellar.

Betty has earned the title of the ‘Bard of Lochwinnoch’ as a result of her fine poetry which seems to channel the spirit of not only the village itself but also the countryside around Castle Semple Loch and the Muirshiel Glen. The Sunday afternoon event in Paisley Town Hall was very well attended, and Betty regaled us with fine renditions of a selection of her poems, starting with Come Sit With Me (immortalised in stone at the Johnshill Viewpoint) and ending with Crannog Kind. Helping give Betty a well-earned rest along the way were a number of Lochwinnoch Writers, including Ross Anderson, George Colkitto, James Dunlop, Grace Houston, Michael Jarvis and Deborah Winters. They each read one or more of Betty’s poems, all selected from the newly-released retrospective collection Swan Songs, which was also launched at the event.

One of the nicest parts of the day was the opportunity to meet up with several members of the local writing community, some of whom are formidable poets and/or writers in their own right. Some were old friends, familar to Betty from her early days with Johnstone Writers. Spotted amongst the crowd (and the queue for the signings!) were Donna Bryson, Jim Carruth, Ian Hunter and Kay Metcalf – a big thank you to all of you for supporting the event and supporting Betty, too.

I think one of my favourite highlights of the day was seeing Betty connect with Renfrewshire-based poet Bobby Motherwell. Like Betty, Bobby finds inspiration in wildlife and the natural world and he was poet-in-residence at the RSPB Lochwinnoch for several years.

When I first watched Bobby perform at the Lochwinnoch Arts Festival a couple of years ago, he referred to Betty by name and even mentioned her in one of his poems. At the beginning of the year I made it my aim to get Betty and Bobby to connect somehow, so I think this photo (above) of Bobby Motherwell and Betty McKellar chatting at the signing, has to have been one of my favourite memories of the day.

Thanks to Paisley Book Festival 2026 for enabling the event and making it all run so smoothly, and thanks to everyone who attended.