(Knowing of course that he will see him very soon) Yesterday historian, broadcaster and festival director, Alistair Moffat MBE stepped down from his role at the head of Borders Book Festival in Melrose, Scotland. The occasion was marked by a glorious brunch for 90 people at Bowhill House in the Scottish Borders. Hosted by The […]

Alexander was delighted to receive the news that his great friend Alistair Moffat had been awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours. The award was given for services to literature and culture. Alistair Moffat MBE, an award-winning writer and historian, is author of more than 30 books mostly on aspects of Scotland and Scottish […]

From the archive… ‘Very moving, very beautiful… What I love about this, all of it, is it is proper art. I mean the colour and Andrew’s design is real art but at the same time it is popular art – proper and popular art at the same time. Everyone can understand it. Everyone can relate […]

Neil MacGregor, presenter of The Museums that Make Us programmes on BBC Radio 4 and known throughout the world for his earlier series, A History of the World in 100 Objects, chose The Great Tapestry of Scotland as ‘the museum that epitomised the changes in purpose and practice encountered’ on his travels, ‘a demonstration of what the […]

Ten years to celebrate Scotland. Ten years to bring a dream to fruition. Ten years to reach the new starting point for something incredibly special… This very week, ten years ago, Alexander McCall Smith attended the opening of an exhibition in the city’s Dovecot Studios. The focus of the exhibition was the Prestonpans Tapestry, a […]