RIVETING TALK ON BARRIE'S LIFE
LOCAL historian Sandra Affleck was the guest speaker at Forfar Probus last Tuesday at the Royal Hotel.
As Kirriemuir celebrates the 150th anniversary of his birth in May this year, members were treated to a riveting talk on James Matthew Barrie, an account of his life from humble roots as a weaver's son in the Little Red Toon to one of the greatest novelists and playwrights this country has ever produced.
Sandra concentrated on three major biographies- Mackail, Birkin and Chaney of the 30 or so books written about him. They upheld his literary worth, comparing him to Hardy and Tennyson and repudiating accusations of him being a whimsical sentimentalist.
She reminded her listeners that JMB wrote some 22 plays, 17 novels and 500 articles for various newspapers and magazines.
He was an accurate journalist, a critical editor of others' works, a public speaker of merit, a compulsive diarist, a generous philanthropist with a caring social conscience, especially towards the young.
She read passages from 'A Window in Thrums', choosing a marvellous recollection of climbing Bellie's Brae, and 'Peter Pan', selecting the graphic, scary description of Captain James Hook.
Sandra delved into the tragedies in Barrie's life, principally the loss of his brother David when he was seven and speculated on the resulting messages in 'Peter Pan'- the child who never grew up, the mother left grieving for the lost boys, but more telling was the author's investigation into the passage of time and the joy of childhood.
Sir James Barrie, as a baronet and holder of the Order of Merit, was entitled to a St Paul's Cathedral funeral and a tablet in Poet's Corner in Westminster Abbey, but decreed that on his death he be returned to his 'poor proud home – my heart is in Kirriemuir'.
A plain stone marks his resting place on Kirrie Hill with his family.
Celebrations for the 150th anniversary in the town run from May 7 to 23 involving plays, tributes, concerts, exhibitions, dances and workshops.
Ian MacLean proposed the vote of thanks for an engrossing and well-researched talk and Sandra accepted a cheque from club president Albert Shepherd on behalf of the Kirriemuir Heritage Trust.
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Weather for Forfar
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 13 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: East
