Town that inspired RLS to hold festival

THE life and work of Robert Louis Stevenson is to be celebrated in his favourite summer haunt with a major festival.

Residents and business leaders in North Berwick are working together to create a jam-packed calendar of special events as a tribute to the Edinburgh-born author, who enjoyed long childhood holidays with his family in the town.

Some of his work is said to have been inspired by the visits, with the island of Fidra credited by some as the basis for the swashbuckling Treasure Island.

The festival in June, which organisers hope will become an annual fixture, will feature writing and art competitions, a treasure hunt and storytelling events.

And at a special commemorative dinner, to be held at the Marine Hotel, one of RLS's direct descendants, Archie Leslie, will speak alongside the sculptor Sandy Stoddart, who has created bronze sculptures of Stevenson characters, such as Alan Breck from Kidnapped.

RLS's writings are peppered with vivid references to the coastline and its landmarks, which included several lighthouses built by his own family, who were engineers.

Festival spokeswoman Anna Levin said: "The idea came about when we were thinking about how landmarks from his life, in places such as California and Samoa, are commemorated with plaques, memorials and museums, whereas there was actually nothing here in North Berwick, where he had so many connections.

"It has just snowballed from there. I'm not sure whether you can definitely say Fidra inspired Treasure Island, because most writers work from their imaginations as much as the real world. But he was inspired by North Berwick landmarks, and came here with his whole family to spend their summers."

RLS's works feature several East Lothian places.

The best example is when David Balfour, the central character in Catriona - the sequel to Kidnapped - is imprisoned on the Bass Rock.

In The Lantern Bearers, the invalid author wrote of the Bass Rock being: "Tilted seaward like a doubtful bather, the surf ringing it with white, the solan geese hanging around its summit like a great and glittering smoke". He also described "the foot of Berwick Law" and the "three huge towers and broken battlements of Tantallon."

Pat Coxhead, chair of the RLS Festival Committee, said the event would have wide-ranging appeal.

"People in all parts of the community have been very enthusiastic - it will be something that everyone from young children to older citizens can take part in. Given the worldwide popularity of Stevenson's writing, the festival should attract national and international interest."

She added: "RLS wrote great adventure stories and youngsters will benefit from a degree of knowledge about their 'local author'. It might trigger an interest in stories and drama and history."

A spokesman for East Lothian Council said: "We applaud plans to hold a festival in June in recognition of the strong connections that Robert Louis Stevenson and his family had to East Lothian and the effect it had on his literary imagination."

All proceeds from the RLS Festival, which runs from June 9 to 19, will go towards the Scottish Seabird Centre.