October 15, 2002
The Evening Times
Your proud words are an inspiration;
Contest Winners: Readers' Poems will feature at new Holyrood
By Fraser Middleton

EVENING Times readers will play a historic part in Scotland's new Parliament.

For the past fortnight, we have been inviting readers to come up with their definitive view of what being Scottish really means.

You were asked to suggest a phrase - borrowed or original - which you felt best summed up the definition of Scotland.

We were swamped with entries from enthusiastic patriots, who sent in their favourite famous phrases, songs or poetry excerpts for our Voices of Scotland competition

Readers borrowed from a highly impressive array of sources, including the Declaration of Arbroath, Burns poetry, Bonnie Prince Charlie and The Corries. Even more noteworthy was that many of the heartfelt phrases and poems were penned by entrants themselves or their relatives.

Those submissions, in particular, summed up the pride and passion of what being Scottish means.

Needless to say, picking out a small number of gems was no easy task. It truly would have been a whole lot simpler to submit the 50 entries our judges originally short-listed.

Alas, we could pick just 10 winners, whose words will adorn the huge 'visual wall' hoardings erected around the construction site of the new Scottish Parliament building at Holyrood in Edinburgh.

They will be transformed into a massive parchment of words, dubbed Voices of Scotland, summing up everything that makes Scotland special.

Our lucky winners will also be invited through to the capital in December to visit the Parliament building site and see the finished article.

Scots film star Dougray Scott has been helping promote the Voices of Scotland campaign across the country and admitted to being both delighted and deeply honoured to take part.

The Mission Impossible star said: "Our culture is innately international and has touched every corner of the world for hundreds of years.

"I always thought such a project would help Scots of all ages rediscover their heritage - and the Evening Times readers have borne that out."

Dougray set the tone for the campaign by highlighting the phrase which he would choose to adorn the Voices of Scotland wall.

"I love The Proclaimers and think their 'When you go will you send back, a letter from America?' line is brilliant. A lot of their material goes directly to the heart of what Voices of Scotland is all about."

Although plans have yet to be set in stone, it is believed that the Voices of Scotland campaign and entries will be commemorated in a book to be published in conjunction with the opening of the new Parliament building.

Our 10 winning entries are above. They are self-penned unless another source is stated.

THE 10 WINNERS WHOSE WORDS SUM UP SCOTLAND

MARY McLENNAN, Linister Crescent, Howwood:

Scotland our homeland, we

honour and love you,

Land of the valiant, land of

the free.

May all of your children strive never to shame you,

Let the world see the greatness that's long been your due.

WILLIAM FALCONER, Otago Park, Hairmyres:

Welcome to Scotland, the land of the free,

Where the friendliest people just happen to be.

It's so easy to travel the world we can roam,

But I'll always be proud to say Scotland's my home.

HUGH GEBBIE, Hamilton Drive, High Blantyre:

While with life endowed, I have reason to be proud,

That I'm a Scotsman, born and bred in my land.

(Source: Hugh's uncle, 1944)

JOHN McNEAR, Dairsie Street, Glasgow G44:

For a' that an a' that, it's coming yet for a' that,

That man to man the world o'er,

Shall brothers be, for a' that.

(Source: Robert Burns, pictured)

KATE HOLLYWOOD, Almond Drive, Lenzie:

Past imperfect,

Present tense,

Future perfect.

(Source: grammar!)

Mrs MILLY BRENNAN, Kilmarnock Road, Newlands:

Scotland, the land o' the wind and the rain,

But we gi'e a warm welcome, second to nane!

DAVID QUINN, Darvel Crescent, Ralston:

It is in truth,

Not for glory, nor riches,

Nor honours that we are fighting,

But for freedom, for that alone,

Which no honest man

gives up

But with life itself.

(Source: Declaration of Arbroath, 1320)

MARY McCABE, Circus Drive, Glasgow G31:

The white rose of Scotland:

Rather a blossom than an eternal bud.

JANETTE POWER, Westerlands Park, Anniesland:

It is nice to be important,

But more important to be nice.

Scotland belongs to its people

As it has always been a people's place.

(Source: Unknown)

GEORGE POLLOCK, Ashgill Road, Lambhill:

This is the heart,

This is the place,

This is the home of a proud race.

Holyrood.

©2002 Evening Times