Lennoxtown bard Tam Craven launches his 30th volume of verse

Tam Craven (63), from Lennoxtown, will release ‘Bonnie Scotland’ on St Andrew’s Day - Saturday, November 30 - at Candleriggs Market, in Glasgow.

The book is a compilation of Tam’s favourite poems about Scotland from throughout his career.

And the poet is now looking forward to the year ahead.

He told the Herald: “This is without a doubt the best poetry I have written in my 15 years.

“It going to be a big year for Scotland next year with the 700th anniversary of Bannockburn, the Commonwealth Games and the Independence Referendum.

“It’s going to be a big year for me as well and I’m hoping to get a publisher - I’m just too laid back to do it all myself!”

It will be the latest chapter in a remarkable story, which started when Tam fell 22 feet from a scaffold in Campsie Glen while working as a bricklayer.

The accident, in June 1987, saw him suffer a fractured skull and knee, broken ribs and a punctured lung.

He was forced to give up work but soon caught the poetry bug and has been writing verse ever since.

He said: “It’s like it has all been meant - including the accident - to bring me to this point in my life.”

For more about Tam’s poetry, including where to buy his books, go to www.insideasnowdrop.com

To hear a reading from his latest book just click on the video.