Extract from “The first official canoe trail in the south of Scotland just launched, covering a 30-mile stretch of the majestic River Tweed.” By Stuart Kenny 27th April 2024

Our first docking point was at the bucolic town of Peebles, where we tied up our boat and strolled to lunch, passing a sculpture of leaping salmon. The town motto of Contra Nando Incrementum (Against the Stream We Multiply) hung outside the old County Inn. Peebles is also home to a museum dedicated to famed local John Buchan, author of The 39 Stepsand an ex-Governor General of Canada. "He was a great fisherman," said museum volunteer David Brackenridge. "He had a strong connection with the river." To read the full article please click here

JOHN BUCHAN WRITING PRIZE TEXT Class 142 for ages 8 and 9 years old Class 143 for ages 10 - 12 years old The extract is from Buchan’s Huntingtower, first published 1922. In this extract Dickson MacCunn and John Heritage spot Princess Saskia in the house of Huntingtower. The text is to be copied in your best handwriting on A5 size paper. The paper can be lined or unlined. You can use pen or biro with blue or black ink or a pencil. Printed words and decoration of the page are not allowed. ‘Above the parapet he saw only her body from the waist up. She seemed to be clad in bright colours, for something red was round her shoulders and her hair was bound with an orange scarf. She was tall—that he could tell, tall and slim and very young. Her face was turned seaward, and she stood for a little scanning the broad channel, shading her eyes as if to search for something on the extreme horizon. The air was very quiet and he thought that he could hear her sigh.’ This extract has been chosen by Peter Worthington of the John Buchan Story Museum.

Broughton Horticultural Show 31 August 2024 JOHN BUCHAN STORY HAND-WRITING COMPETITION