I first met Mary away back, nearly 20 years ago. Falkirk Council had supported several charities to run poetry or writing classes in their area. I had always wished to attend these classes but I couldn't until I had retired as these groups were held during the working day.
The first time I met Mary was in the initial class of ‘Aye Write in Falkirk’ where Allan, our tutor, read out familiar Scottish Ballads and then analysed each verse. He asked for our opinions of the poems. Mary and her friend, Helen, always participated well in the discussion and fitted in with the rest of our group.
We all seemed to enjoy these literary classes. The last such class was a storytelling group, tutored by Cecilia. Cecilia would give us a subject and we each would tell a story of a memory that came to mind. But alas! Falkirk Council fell on hard times and funding was withdrawn. They did allow us to meet in their venue but no payment for Cecilia (though we still have her guidance!).
I listened to Mary's life story with great awe. She had been brought up by her grandparents who gave her love and attention, but she had missed out at school. She could not read or write until she was 60. Mary worked in factories doing repetitive work that needed little skill. Mary became a bonnie bride to a soldier husband. She accompanied her husband to many different lands he soldiered in, but she never wrote a letter home. She became a good wife and mother of four fine sons who she was proud of.
One evening, her eldest son saw an advert in the local newspaper. The advert was called The Big Plus, and it invited people who had missed out on education to come along to a school venue where they would be taught to improve or learn to read or write. Mary's entire family encouraged her greatly.
The big night arrived and as soon as Mary entered the classroom, she wanted to turn heel and run home. She had attended the class for two or three weeks but she still lacked confidence. How could she continue? One day, she received an unexpected phone call from her tutor: ‘Mary, could you possibly come to your class a different evening? I would like you to meet this girl who is in this class’. Off she went to join Helen in her class to learn the difficult task together. From then on, they came on in leaps and bounds and, besides, they became great pals, all thanks to a kind, wise tutor.
One Sunday Morning, I was listening to BBC Scotland, where a woman was relating her story to the nation. I was a wee bit startled at the sound of the reader's voice. I knew it! Yes, it was Mary telling her story!
Mary's hope had turned into a miracle. She had become an expert storyteller. Besides, Mary can read a book and write a letter at her own leisure.