INSPIRATION BY MICHAEL LLOYD

Doors: 6:30pm / Film starts: 7pm

We welcome you with a glass of Prosecco or bottle of beer. Bar is open also.

November 2024 marks 105 years since the birth of iconic folklorist and poet, Hamish Henderson.

Hamish is sometimes seen as a mildly eccentric figure, hefted to the convivial atmosphere of Sandy Bells bar in Edinburgh, holding court amongst musicians and scholars.

In this new film, artist Charles Nasmyth looks at the man behind the legend and asks who Hamish really was? Why was he inspired by his personality, to paint Hamish’s portrait?

A key element in Hamish’s development, was his war-time experience in the Libyan desert. He expressed this movingly in his Somerset Maugham award-winning poems, Elegies for the Dead in Cyrenaica.

Growing up under influences from all shades of society left Hamish free to navigate Britain’s class-based culture, without feeling out of place in any company.

Paradoxically, perhaps, he didn’t let his socialist internationalism stand in the way of a passionate belief in self-determination for Scotland. He didn’t raise Scotland above its merits – but valued the country for what it actually is.

Charles admires Hamish’s integrity. He never sold out or compromised his beliefs, even when they caused personal conflict.

This screening is introduced by two men who knew Hamish well.

Wullie Hershaw, editor of the Scots language magazine Lallans, credits him with giving clout to the Scots language.

Fred Freeman Professor of Traditional Music at Scotland’s Royal Conservatoire saw at first hand, the work Hamish did to preserve to songs and traditions of Scotland.

Following the film, Wullie and Fred will discuss Hamish’s legacy and take questions.

Tickets available online at Eventbrite