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Hillfoots Tales came to Alloa, meeting in the Station Bar’s function room on a cold, dreich evening.

Our theme was “Ghosts and Goblins”.

We had a fantastic turn-out with both long-term members and new ones offering some scary stories – some of them true!

The evening was hosted by Eleanor, who encouraged us to share something which had made us feel happy recently.

The tale of the Coalsnaughton Ghosts was the first tale of the evening, which told of the aftermath of a mining tragedy.

Next up was “Sigurd O Gord”, in which a talented fiddler is lured away by the trows or goblins from his home on Shetland.

Our third tale was “The Ghost of Howbog”, a true story set in and around Dollar.

This was followed by stories of eerie goings-on in the South Bridge Vaults in Edinburgh.

Our resident poet shared her self-penned poem, called simply “The Ghost” next.

A Puca tale from Ireland was our sixth offering.  A puca is a shape-shifting, mischievous creature from folklore.

“A Chilling Whitby Tale” came next, involving the Barguest Coach, a ghostly coach pulled by headless horses that appears in St Mary’s Churchyard.

We also had not one but two new storytellers making their Hillfoots Tales debut, as well as two more attendees who came to simply listen, but were inspired to share ghost stories of their own.

We heard “Rules for Woodland Living” about how to stay safe from the Mothman and other creatures in North Carolina and a true story about a poltergeist disturbing and ultimately driving a young family out of their home in Hickory, which had us all thoroughly spooked.

We were also treated to the legend of the White Lady Ghost, who roams the woods near Penicuik.

The penultimate story of the session was “The Graveyard”, a humorous tale of two Scottish men who separately encounter a ghost whilst walking though a graveyard.

And the last tale was another true story of the time a young cleaner met the ghost of what is now The Fubar nightclub in Stirling!

What a fantastic, spine-chilling night!

 

HILLFOOTS TALES COMES TO ALLOA!

Our next storytelling session will take place in the function room of The Station Bar, Primrose Street, Alloa, FK10 1JG at our usual time, 7.30-9.30pm.

Our theme for the evening is “Ghosts and Goblins”.

Come and join us for an evening of stories from near and far which is sure to be thought provoking.

You may even have your own tale to tell!

The theme of our first meeting in November was “On Fire!” as it was, of course, Bonfire Night.

Several of our tales this evening were about how the gift of fire was given to various peoples.

We began by hearing the Greek myth of Prometheus, who gave fire to the first men and how Zeus punished him for this act.

“Firetail” told how fire was brought to Scotland from Tir Na Nog in Ireland.

“The Gift of Fire” is a story from native Canadian folklore.

In “Grandmother Spider Brought Fire” from the Choctaw people of Tennessee, Mississippi and Oklahoma, Grandmother Spider succeeds in bringing fire to the people.

“Rainbow Crow” is a tale reputedly from native American culture which tells how the crow got his black feathers and rasping call.

“Fionn MacCumhaill and the Fire Fairy” is an Irish legend in which Fionn outwits the fire fairy and saves mankind.

We also listened to Mary de Morgan’s story, “Through the Fire”, about Princess Pyra and Prince Fluvius’ impossible love.

And finally, in “Coyote and Silver Fox Dance the World into Creation” , the two animals dance around a fire.

 

Our first session of October will have the theme, “Autumn/Fall”.

Come and join us to hear tales of the season of “mists and mellow fruitfulness” or perhaps tell your own autumnal tale.

A warm welcome awaits in The Woolpack, Tillicoultry, 7.30pm – 9.30pm.

Our theme this week was “Ochil Tales”.  We met, as usual, in the cosy surroundings of The Woolpack, Tillicoultry.

Several of the stories told are well-known and much loved favourites of our members.

Our first tale of the evening was “Red Cap and the Smuggler”.

Secondly, we listened to an old folk song, “With God on our Side”, sung by one of our long-standing members.

“Davie Rae’s Wife” was the next traditional tale to be shared.

The penultimate offering was a story told many times within the family of another of our members, “Coalsnaughton Ghost Story”.

And finally we heard an original poem written by our resident poet, “The Ochils”.

As the nights begin to draw in, it was an uplifting and entertaining evening as usual.