Authors to launch 'Science and Imagination: True Stories from the Falconer Museum' at public event on Friday November 18
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THE community is invited to the launch of a new book celebrating one of Forres’ most successful sons as part of ongoing celebrations for 150 years of the Falconer Museum.
The Friends of the Falconer Museum have issued the invitation to the free event at Forres Town Hall on Friday, November 18 at 7pm to celebrate historical essay collection ‘Science and Imagination: True Stories from the Falconer Museum’ with contributing authors.
Editor Christiane Friauf confirmed, as well as opening a window into Victorian polymath Hugh Falconer’s world and the museum’s collections, there will be storytelling, a Q&A with authors and a prize-giving ceremony.
She said: “We felt that an easily accessible book on Hugh Falconer and the museum was missing, and we are proud to present the result of a lot of hard work. Anthologies are not popular with publishers so we published it ourselves thanks to a grant from the Berry Burn Community Fund. Many of the essays within were written to celebrate 150 years since the museum first opened, and we are grateful for the time and effort that each author took to contribute.”
The anthology celebrates the visionary scientist and explorer. In 16 essays, authors from three different continents discuss important aspects of Falconer’s work, life, and influence.
In preparation for the anthology, the Friends organised an essay competition, promising the first prize winner’s would be included. Several essays in fact made it into the book and three winning authors will be celebrated during the book launch.
First prize winner, researcher Scott Keir from London, convinced the judges with a reflection on the usefulness of museums. The long-time member of the Friends of the Falconer Museum has lived far from Forres for most of his life but is still very much connected.
Emerging writer and second prize winner, Jude Clay from Norfolk, will read from her prize-winning short story.
Lithic expert, Edinburgh-based Torben B Ballin, is the third winner, contributing an analysis of the early Palaeolithic material in the museum.
More authors will join the launch to read from their stories - all connected to the varied history of the museum or to Hugh Falconer’s life and adventures in India.
Anne-Mary Paterson, known for her books on Scottish railways, narrates how British botanists bypassed China’s tea monopoly, with Falconer playing a prominent role. Tea appears in several essays and will be served on the evening, amongst other drinks and nibbles.
Norman Thomson, known for popular walking guides including ‘The Moray Way Companion’, contributed to the anthology with a reflection on canon and heritage.
Bob Davidson from Peterculter will be available for questions on the hero of his essay, surgeon and geologist John Malcolmson. Malcolmson was Falconer’s colleague and also from Forres. His is one of the heads on the museum’s façade.
Geologist Alison Wright, who will also be speaking, honours Kinloss-born Grace Milne, Lady Prestwich, Falconer’s niece, who followed in her uncle’s footsteps and became a geologist.
John Barret, author of ‘The Making of a Scottish Landscape’, adds an essay about the stone heads outside the Falconer Museum.
Finally, writer Ruth Fishkin shares the story of her unexpected encounter in the museum store with 250,000 years old hand-axes.
The book launch will feature a 50 per cent price reduction on the regular sales price of Science and Imagination. Various other titles will be available to browse during the evening.
