Harry Bell Literary Travel Awards – The Scope Widens

Six years ago, as a result of a generous bequest by the family of the late Harry Bell, who was Rector from 1936 to 1960, a remarkable series of projects has developed.  Pupils in Form V are invited to apply for an award which will require travel to investigate a literary topic.  After a tentative beginning, the quantity and quality of projects having increased remarkably.  This year’s range of projects shows the enthusiasms of the pupils, the stimulation provided by the English Department, and the wisdom of the Trustees.  Last year saw five pupils receive funding for projects covering

Katrin Bosse-Foy: Murakami’s Japan
Kirsty Cook: Douglas Coupland’s Vancouver
Laura McConnell: du Maurier’s Cornwall
Flora Murray: Writer’s Venice
Louise Reid: Jane Austen’s Bath

This year over twice as many pupils from Form V have indicated an interest in pursuing the following topics:

Francesca Bouaoun: Orwell’s Paris
Tam Burt: Compton Mackenzie and Eriskay
Grace Davies: Basho’s Japan
Kirsty Gillen: Hemingway in Italy
Becky Kidd: Shakespeare’s Verona
Fergus McGhee: The Poetry of the Falls
Jamie McNish: In the footsteps of Andrew Greig
Lucy Russell: Sorley Maclean on Skye and Raasay
Kathryn Smith: Seamus Heaney and Northern Ireland
Bruce Torrance: In Pursuit of Eagles
Lewis Vanstone: Mark Twain and New York

The trustees have indicated that they would be willing to offer support to each of these applicants, given the quality and range of the proposals. 

Once each project has been undertaken, a report is prepared for the Trustees; and on the basis of this, the Harry Bell Scholarship is awarded.  This year’s scholar is Flora Murray, whose work on writers in Venice was judged to have been particularly perceptive.