Our first storytelling session in September will have the fitting theme of “Autumn”. 
A warm welcome awaits in our usual venue of the Woolpack Inn, Tillicoultry, 7.30pm – 9.30pm.
Join us for tales about the season of mellow fruitfulness as the nights draw in.
Our regular twice monthly session in the cosy environs of the Woolpack, Tillicoultry, featured stories with an international theme.
Firstly, we listened to a tale from Russia, “Baba Yaga and the Very Good Girl”, in which the titular very good girl outwits her stepmother and her stepmother’s sister, the fearsome Baba Yaga, with the help of a little mouse.
Our second offering of the evening was a legend from the African Endebele tribe, “Why the Painted Dog Hunts”.
Next, we listened to a Japanese tale, “Taro the Fisherman” in which Taro helps a turtle who in turn invites him to her underwater realm. Taro has a wonderful time, but after awhile, he wants to return to his home… but what will await him there?
The forth tale was from South Africa, “Abiyoyo”. A young, mischievous and curious boy causes great distress to his neighbour when he uses something he is not supposed to, but later saves the day by his wit and cunning… using the self-same thing he is not supposed to use!
The last story we listened to was from Ancient Egyptian times, “The Girl With the Rose Red Sandals”. This is the oldest surviving written example of the Cinderella story, attributed to a Greek, Strabo, from around 1BCE.
Once again, an enjoyable and informative evening was had by all on a wet and windy Wednesday.
Our next storytelling session will be in our usual venue of the Woolpack Inn, Tillicoultry, on Wednesday, 21st August 2024, 7.30 – 9.30.
Our theme for this evening is, “International Tales”.
So come along and join us to hear tales from other countries and cultures, and perhaps tell your own tale. Or just come and listen.
All are welcome!
Storytelling sessions for 2024 are held on the first and last Wednesday of each month (unless stated otherwise). We usually meet in The Woolpack, Tillicoultry, between 7.30pm and 9.30 pm.
Dates and themes for 2024 are as follows:
JANUARY
10th: New Beginnings
24th : Burns
FEBRUARY
7th: Love and Romance
21st: Spring
MARCH
6th: Changelings
20th: TBC
APRIL
3rd: The Wee Folk
17th: Trickster Tales
MAY
1st: May Day, The Green Man, Trees
15th: Children, Childhood
JUNE
5th: Summer Sunshine
19th: Castles
JULY
3rd: A Different Perspective
17th: The Senses
AUGUST
7th: Tilly Tales Event
21st: International theme
SEPTEMBER
4th: Samhain
18th: Farming; Growth
OCTOBER
2nd: Colours
16th: Wild Winter Weather
NOVEMBER
6th: Fright Night
20th: Witches
DECEMBER
Dates to be confirmed.
The theme for this session was “The Senses” and took place in our usual haunt, The Woolpack in Tillicoultry.
First of all, we listened to an original poem written by one of our long standing members, “A Walk in the Park”, in which the protagonist felt they were being followed… but were they?
Our second offering of the evening was “Pier Shonks and the Dragon”, a legend from 12th century
Hertfordshire during a time called The Anarchy. Pier was famed for defending the area where he and his neighbours lived from the warring factions of The Anarchy.
After that we listened to “New Territory”. In this story, a fisherman falls in love with a beautiful woman. They live together, she cooks him sumptuous feasts, but she often goes away for long spells of time. Eventually, the fisherman discovers that the woman turns in to a wolf and runs with the pack.
Next we heard another self-penned untitled poem about the cleverness of women.
Our fifth telling was “The Kilmarnock Ring”, a true story.
The penultimate tale of the evening was “Come Fly With Me”, another true story about the transformative power of music in a respite care home.
Last but not least, “The Emperor’s New Clothes” was told – but transplanted to our very own Clackmannanshire!
Another interesting and informative evening was enjoyed by all present. As our resident poet says: “It’s better than doing the ironing”!
On Wednesday, 3rd July, our fortnightly session had the theme of “A Different Perspective”. We also heard some tales about castles, as the previous session was cancelled.
First, we heard the story of The Myretoun Maid, as told from the perspective of her father. This is a very well known local story about a Tullibody woman called Martha who fell in love with the local priest but sadly their romance did not last as the priest cast her aside. You can still visit the maid’s grave in the old graveyard in Tullibody.
Next we listened to the tale of The Princess and the Pups, in which a baby princess is stolen away by a fearsome giant. Her father, the king, must enlist the aid of men he meets on the road in order to get his daughter back.
After that we were entertained by a poem, Your Home is Your Castle, composed by one of our long-standing members. It reminds us that a warm welcome makes any home a castle.
Our penultimate story was The Fairy Flag. This flag was, so legend tells, given to Clan MacLeod by the fairy folk and led the clan to victory in battles. It was to be used only three times… only twice was it required.
Last of all we heard a self-penned tale, The Dragon Princess. A queen gives birth to twins, but one is a dragon. It relates events in the lives of the two princesses as they grow up.
Once again it was a wonderful evening, enjoyed by all.
Our next storytelling session will be in our usual venue of the Woolpack Inn, Tillicoultry, on Wednesday, 3rd July.
Our theme will be “A Different Perspective”. Of course, all are welcome to come along and tell a story on any subject you fancy, or just come to listen. It makes for a relaxing and convivial evening. So come and join us!
Our next session will be on Wednesday, June 5th 2024 and our theme is “Sunshine”.
We will meet in the welcoming surroundings of the Woolpack Inn, Tillicoultry, 7.30pm – 9.30pm.
Come and join us to listen to tales based on our theme, or perhaps you’d like to tell a tale of your own.
Everyone is welcome!
Our second storytelling session in May, on Wednesday, 15th, was, as usual, in the convivial surroundings of the Woolpack Inn, Tillicoultry.
Our loose theme was “Children”.
First we heard the tale of Goldilocks, told from Goldilocks’ own point of view. In this telling, our heroine tries to justify her actions!
The second story of the evening was “The Menstrie Kips”. The Kip family lived in Jerrah cottage in the Ochils. Their young son, Tommy, is rescued from a deep ravine by the wee folk, but neither his father nor his mother believe his tale.
Next up was “This Be The Verse”, Phillip Larkin’s well-known poem, written in 1971. It is one of the nation’s favourite poems.
The evening’s fourth offering was “The Hanging of the Mouse”, in which a king defeats all other kingdoms around his, but one day discovers that all his subjects have disappeared. A wizard has cast a spell over the king’s lands to avenge the other lands which have been conquered. The mouse in the title is in fact the wizard’s son, caught stealing ears of wheat and sentenced to hang. Thankfully, an arrangement is reached and the mouse lives.
Next we listened to a story about another king, a handsome and vain one, who hates any signs of ageing, so he sends all his older subjects away. His kingdom soon declines without the elders’ wisdom. It takes a young girl to show the king how useful the elder generation can be.
Our penultimate tale, “Habetrot” concerned an old woman who spun yarn for a local girl who could not spin, and then convinced the girl’s new husband that she should never spin again.
Our last story was “The Selfish Giant” by Oscar Wilde in which a giant learns that keeping his garden to himself, chasing away the local children, causes his garden to wither. The giant learns to welcome the children back and to delight in watching them play.
We all enjoyed listening to and telling these stories and poems, and the accompanying memories of our own childhoods.
On Wednesday, 1st May our regular fortnightly storytelling session took place, as usual, in The Woolpack Inn, Tillicoultry.
Our theme this time was “Spring”.
We heard several stories with trees at their heart. We listened to “The Wonderful Tree,” in which, during a drought, all the trees die except for one, which can supply all creatures with food… only if the magic word is spoken.
“The Shepherdess and the Tree” told the tale of an orphaned girl, taken in by a shepherd who taught her his shepherding skills. On the first day the girl had sole responsibility for the flock, her curiosity got the better of her, and fairy magic and mischief came her way!
We also listened to “Saving the Forest”, in which the people of Scotland must find an ingenious way of saving their forests from devastating fires.
“The Wonderful Tree” is an African folk tale in which during a long drought, Monkey, Elephant and Lion all try to remember the magic word to wake up the sleeping tree which will give them limitless fruits of many varieties. However, only slow and steady Tortoise completes the task successfully.
We then heard an original poem from one of our newest members, titled “The Green Man”.
After that, we listened to “The Queen of the May”.
“Auld Cruivie” told the story of Jack, who yearned to witness the trees dancing on Midsummer’s Eve.
In “The Monster of Raasay”, a lonely but greedy man agrees to give said monster her baby back, but only if she can grant his three requests. Of course, he tries to make the last request impossible, in order to keep the baby monster, of whom he has become quite fond.
We all had a most enjoyable evening once again.
