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Home , The Bottle Imp, The Canongate

The RLS Club News

Issue No 47 Autumn 2016

Meeting of cultures: Hawaiian friends from the Kamehameha Schools exploring the RLS poetry trail at Aloha from Louis’s friends in Hawaii THEY travelled from half a world away brate the life of another Princess who ished in 1955, but this year’s young visi- to perform in the city of Robert Louis befriended Louis during his extended tors made a pilgrimage to the village to Stevenson’s birth – and to remember the stay in their country in 1889. visit the church and manse which was a Princess who was his friend. Princess Victoria Kaiulani Cleghorn second home to the young Louis when Pupils from the Kamehameha Schools was the niece of King David Kalakaua, his grandfather, the Rev Dr Lewis Bal- in Hawaii appeared this summer at the who entertained Louis, Fanny, Belle and four, was minister there. Fringe in an opera called Lloyd and became their friend, along They followed the Stevenson poetry Ha'upu, their own recreation of a Hawai- with other members of his family. trail, sang a deeply moving psalm under ian legend which can be fairly described Louis was particularly taken with the the yew tree in the manse garden, then as their ‘Helen of Troy’. ‘Little Princess’ and wrote a poem and explored the church before giving a su- Through traditional music, song and letters of introduction for her when she perb passage of ensemble song and dance, it tells how a Princess is kid- left Hawaii to complete her schooling in dance in appreciation of their welcome. napped, love blossoms when she recog- Britain, during which she visited her Club members Jack Shedden and Peter nises the integrity of her captor, and then Scottish father’s homeland. Berry responded by entertaining them a fleet sets sail to reclaim her… But the Dreghorn Castle in Colinton, where in Stevenson's Scots! young Hawaiians were keen also to cele- Kaiulani stayed as a guest, was demol- The Little Princess – Back Page

Inside: Club Events, Writers’ Workshop, 130 and RLS Day Preview 2 The RLS Club News Autumn 2016 3 Club Events

OCTOBER 12 Learning the write RLS: A EUROPEAN JOURNEY TAKING an international outlook, we meet at the French Institute in Edinburgh for a talk on the Europe- an Network In The Footsteps of THE Devil Inside is a Scottish Opera and Mu- way to tell a story and how it sic Theatre Wales co-production, with libretto won accreditation as a Cultural by Louise Welsh and composed by Stuart A BIG part of being a writer is being a lis- Route of the Council of Europe. Macrae, based on RLS’s classic South Seas tener, even assuming the role of a detective, This joint event hosted by the Fran- tale, The Bottle Imp. co-Scottish Society starts at 7pm at observing and then processing what you the French Institute, 13 Randolph Louise Welsh is one of 's most excit- hear and see. Crescent, Edinburgh. Numbers are ing contemporary writers, well known as an So said writer and Glasgow University limited to 35 so book early, by Sep- articulate proponent of RLS, so a number of creative writing professor Louise Welsh tember 30 at the latest. club members went with high hopes to the during her wide-ranging master class for Winners: Stephanie Glendinning with January performances in Glasgow and Edin- OCTOBER 21 the finalists in the 2016 Robert Louis Ste- John Macfie and, below, Brogan Coll . The opera is a compelling study of indi- WALK WITH venson Club/Edinburgh Napier University viduals tested by the seductive power of the with author Louise Welsh at the BURNS AND STEVENSON Writing Competition, at the university’s young writers’ workshop, left demon in the bottle, who grants every wish to JOIN actors John Shedden and whoever possesses it – but at the threat of dam- Campus. Seven finalists from all over Scotland Peter Berry in the spirit of the two nation for any who cannot relinquish it. Roberts as they perform and illumi- attended and were initiated into the myster- Welsh has given the story a contemporary nate with humorous interplay many ies of where to find ideas, plotting a story, competition submissions while in the South third winner from this school in as many setting, making its proponents two young of the famous works of two of Scot- backpackers who buy the bottle with their last evoking a setting, theme, characterisation, Seas and was impressed by their diversity years, with a vividly dramatic fiction set in land’s greatest writers during a 90- $50 and are propelled into the international using the five senses, creating conflict and of subject matter and style, which, she felt, a Japanese PoW camp, inspired by her minute walk up the Royal Mile from property market to wallow in riches. how point of view affects narrative perspec- reflected Stevenson’s own diversity as a grandfather’s war memories the Canongate Church to the Writ- It is an intimate production, with a cast of tive, illustrated by examples from Steven- writer. Runners-up in the fiction category were: ers’ Museum. Meet 11am at the four portraying just five characters, and de- son’s own writing. After some group exercises she had many Phoebe MacDonald (Kirkcaldy High Fergusson statue by the Canongate ceptively simple stage setting and effects. The Louise, fresh from several months in the tips to share about the writing life, such as School), Kimberley Wong (Glasgow High Church, £8 pp. Lunch option: Vitto- compelling narrative is driven with unrelent- southern hemisphere which included a trip working your way through writer’s block, School) and Nathan Copson (Gordon ria on the Bridge. ing intensity by MacRae’s vividly imaginative to Samoa and Stevenson’s grave on Mount the place of play in creativity, the efficacy Schools, Huntly). music, with effects that distinctly characterise NOVEMBER 12 even the invisible imp. Vaea, is passionate about his work. of topping and tailing a piece of writing and Brogan Coll (Auchmuchty High School, ANNUAL LUNCHEON She remembers as a small child her father the importance of fully understanding your Fife) won the reflective writing category The two young men who enter into the dia- THE RLS Club’s Annual Luncheon bolical pact and the innocent girl caught up in reading to her and being characters. with a heartfelt piece entitled Fierce about will be held at the New Club in it are sensitively portrayed in both libretto and terrified by the character of Blind Pew and The overall winner was Stephanie coming to terms with his sexuality. Edinburgh’s Princes Street, where performance, with poignant arias heightening the delivery of the black spot. She read the Glendinning from Banchory Academy, the GILLEAN SOMERVILLE-ARJAT this year’s guest speaker will be The the sense of them as individuals and dramatic Hon. Lord Stewart, Senator of the foils for one another. College of Justice, on the theme of There is a dark strand of foreboding which Stevenson and the Appin Murder. The lunch is always a popular event runs all through The Bottle Imp – it is Steven- Kidnapped 130 reaches and early booking is advised. Full son, after all – such as when Keawe discovers details and a booking form in the the deaths of his uncle and cousin have last triumphant chapter papers accompanying this issue. brought him the wealth he wished for. A UNIQUE endurance challenge reliving foots and then over a choppy Forth by DECEMBER 3 Robert Louis Stevenson’s Kidnapped has rowing boat to , with RLS IN AMERICA been completed by modern day adventur- Queensferry Rowing Club taking the place HEADING Stateside, join Dr Museum winners ers Alan Rankin and Willie Gibson. of Alison Hastie to ferry them across. Mitchell Manson for an illustrated MORE than ten years of service as volunteers at the Recreating the adventures of David Bal- Finally on August 13 the pair arrived in talk on RLS and his Club in Ameri- Writers’ Museum in Edinburgh were recognised four and Alan Breck, the pair sailed Alan’s Edinburgh, finishing their journey at the ca. Meet 10.30am for 11.00 at The Royal Scots Club, 29-31 Abercrom- when Club members attended a City of Edinburgh racing trimaran Trade Winds from South setting described at the end of the book – by Place, Edinburgh. £5 reservation Council reception to celebrate the museum being Queensferry on the Forth around Orkney the British Linen Bank, now by Nov 30 please. recognised as one of the world’s best tourist attrac- and then southwards passing Cape Wrath, Theatre and university buildings. tions in the TripExpert Experts’ Choice Awards Skye and Tiree before landing on Erraid. At the end of the challenge, raising funds From there they followed David and and awareness for Parkinson’s UK, Ocean BOOKING A BOUND copy of the vocal score for The Devil Alan’s journey on foot across Mull, Youth Trust Scotland and Stevenson Ad- To book an event or Inside opera based on Stevenson’s The Bottle Imp Morvern, Glen Coe and Rannoch Moor, ventures, Alan said: ‘We’ve seen Scot- for more information, contact Events Secretary has been presented to the Club by Scottish Opera before being forced by injury to abandon land’s coastline and headlands and wit- Margaret Wilkie at in recognition of its financial support. The score, the 260-mile trek half-way through. nessed some of our wildest lands. It has [email protected] by composer Stuart MacRae and librettist Louise But on August 6 they resumed their ad- been a great experience and Willie and I or ring 0131 477 6738 Welsh, will be housed for the time being in Edin- venture and pressed on through the Tros- and hope our efforts have helped the work burgh Napier University’s Stevenson Collection. Forth crossing: Willie and Allan with some of the ‘Alison Hasties’ at Queensferry sachs to Doune, Dunblane, Stirling, Hill- of the charities we’re supporting.’ The RLS Club News 4 Autumn 2016

Kaiulani’s picture: Can anyone identify the Highland scene? Scots sojourn of Stevenson’s

Little Princess Heir apparent: Princess Victoria Kaiulani Cleghorn THE Little Princess of Hawaii was just see Scotland and absorb the culture, as hear my cry and refuse to let their flag 13 when in 1889 she waved goodbye to her uncle King David Kalakaua had cover the dishonour of mine’. her friend Robert Louis Stevenson and done in 1881 when he sailed on Loch But her pleas fell on deaf ears and boarded the ship that would take her to Lomond and was entertained by the she returned to Hawaii as an unwilling school in . pipe band of The Black Watch. private citizen of a republic. She boy- Princess Victoria Kaiulani was the Kaiulani’s host during an extended cotted the eventual annexation ceremo- daughter of Princess Miriam Likelike, stay at Dreghorn Castle in Colinton was ny in 1898 and dressed in mourning sister of the King of Hawaii, and Alex- an MP and friend of her father’s, Robert black in protest at its illegality. The ander Cleghorn, a Scottish merchant Macfie, whose family were wealthy following year, having caught a fever and financier from Edinburgh. sugar merchants. The 16-year-old Prin- after getting soaked on a ride through She was to receive an education ‘fit cess was mourning the death of her the Hawaiian mountains, the Princess for a future queen’ at an English board- uncle the King, who had been succeed- died of pneumonia. She was just 23. ing school, but her father wanted her to ed by her aunt Liliuokalani, and she Her life was in some ways tragic but planted a tree in Kalakaua’s memory at she touched the hearts of many – in- Dreghorn. cluding RLS, who had penned a much- But Kaiulani, now the heir apparent, treasured poem in her autograph book.

enjoyed her stay in Scotland. She Forth from her land to mine she goes, learned Gaelic and rode her horse at The island maid, the island rose, great speed through the Highlands Light of heart and bright of face: where the Princess, a gifted artist, also The daughter of a double race. painted an unidentified landscape. Kaiulani was just 17 when her aunt Her islands here, in Southern sun, Liliuokalani was deposed as Queen in Shall mourn their Kaiulani gone, a revolution that would end in the an- And I, in her dear banyan shade, Look vainly for my little maid. nexation of Hawaii by the USA. The Princess sailed at once for the But our Scots islands far away States to plead for justice people Shall glitter with unwonted day, ‘strong in the knowledge that 70 mil- And cast for once their tempests by Scots blood: Kaiulani with her father lions of people in this free land will To smile in Kaiulani’s eye.

WHAT better way to cele- brate the wedding anniver- Californian CONTACTS sary of Robert Louis Steven- son and Fanny Osbourne anniversary RLS Club Contact: David Reid, than with afternoon tea in the pictured, who in August also 20 Beveridge Road, Kirkcaldy, garden of the Stevenson gave a Stevenson House lecture Fife, KY1 1UX. Tel: 01592 204645 House in Monterey? to celebrate Louis’s arrival in Rain was threatening but the Monterey, followed by drinks Email: [email protected] Californian sun prevailed as and nibbles in the garden. RLS Club News Editor: thirty members of the RLS And on November 12 there Jeremy Hodges, 21 Russel Street, Club of Monterey were served will be cake and conversation tea, scones, petits fours, cookies at Monterey Library for the Falkirk, Stirlingshire, FK2 7HS. and sandwiches accompanied annual Unbirthday celebration, Tel: 01324 613072 by harp music and readings by marking the birthday Louis Email: [email protected] club member Keith Decker, gave away to little Annie Ide.