Annual Memorial Lecture to Honour John Graham
The Museum and Archives annual memorial lecture will this year be held in honour of the late John Graham. The lecture will be given by Professor Michael Schmidt, university of Glasgow, and will investigate the work of poet Hugh MacDiarmid, who lived in Whalsay from 1933-1942.
John Graham made an enormous contribution to Shetland culture. He was instrumental in the creation of local archives and museum services and was an inspirational teacher of English, introducing generations of children to the delights of literature. Along with brother Lollie he was editor of the New Shetlander for over 40 years and was an accomplished writer, producing two novels and a detailed account of education in Shetland.
Professor Schmidt is the author of several books, including Lives of the Poets and The Story of Poetry and, like John Graham, has been the editor of a literary magazine, PN Review, for decades. He is also managing director of Carcanet Press, who have recently republished many of MacDiarmid’s works. Professor Schimdt said about coming to Shetland that ‘even more than the Northern Lights I want to hear the language of people rooted there, and maybe catch a glimpse of the northern sunlycht an shedow.’
The lecture will take place on Thursday 9th October at 7.30pm. Tickets are free and will be available at the Museum and Archives closer to the event.