About Scotland

5-minute Scotland

		Billy Kay Billy Kay was born in Galston, Ayrshire in 1951, and educated at the local High School, Kilmarnock Academy, and Edinburgh University. As a Producer with the BBC, he created the acclaimed Odyssey series of documentaries using the oral history of the Scottish working class. Later as a freelance writer and broadcaster he continued this theme in a number of Television documentaries for BBC Scotland.
These included the story of Scottish colliers, Miners, and The Mother Tongue. He has written two plays for radio and one for the stage, They Fairly Mak Ye Work which broke box office records at the Dundee Rep in its two runs at the theatre in 1986. A popular lecturer, he is invited to give talks all over Scotland. In 1989 he was invited to the University of Guelph, Ontario, while in 1987 the British Council sponsored his tour of the German Universities. His radio series The Scots Tongue and the dramatised documentary, Darien: Key of the Universe both won international awards from the Australian Academy of Broadcasting Arts and Sciences. In 1989 his radio series The Scots of Ulster won a silver medal in the New York Radio Festival. At the same festival in 1992 his documentary The Road and the Miles won a Bronze Medal. Also In 1992 his play for Radio Scotland Lucky's Strike - set in Ayrshire during the recent miners strike - won the Sloan Prize for writing in Scots at St Andrews University. In 1994 the U.K. Wine Guild gave the best radio or TV programme to Kay's feature Fresche Fragrant Clairettis. He has been a constant campaigner for a Scottish parliament, invited to speak at cross party rallies for the creation of the parliament during the 1990's. As a trustee of Common Cause, he was delighted when the campaigning finally bore fruit in the referendum of 1998. He looks forward to the extension of democracy in Scotland, and the cultural confidence that will bring. Billy Kay is married to Maria João de Almeida da Cruz Diniz. They have two daughters Joanna and Catriona and a son Euan. For more information on Bill, see www.sol.co.uk/b/billykay/

A favourite outdoor location

For drama and flair and fear, The Bullars of Buchan near Peterhead are unmatched - sheer cliffs and wild waves crashing within them - awe inspiring. I wonder if Bram Stoker visited them when he was thinking of Count Dracula at Slains Castle nearby?

A favourite viewpoint or landscape

The most breathtaking view in Scotland is from the top of the Wallace Monument at Abbey Craig near Stirling…. You turn and see the Highlands, the Carse of Stirling, the Ochills, the Forth …you remember Scott's words…"breathes there the man with soul so dead, who never to himself hath said, this is my own my native land.?"

A favourite journey

One of the our best kept secrets is the road that hugs the South bank of the Tay from Newburgh to Wormit - with views over to the Carse of Gowrie, the Braes of Kilspindie and ever nearer, the port of Dundee. On a sunny day high above the river it is like a corniche in the Med, while all around there are historic detours to romantic ruins at Balmerino and Lindores.

A favourite historical place

For precious peace and piety, Iona.
For power and glory, Bannockburn.

A favourite country walk

The back road between Galston, Newmilns and Darvel in Ayrshire's Irvine Valley. I've walked in more dramatic scenery - the hills of Thailand, Madeira, Skye and Oahu ...but the lush green braes of the Valley, speckled brown and white with the native Ayrshire breed of cattle, that is my ideal of pastoral beauty. Just visualising the scene I can almost taste the sweet milk and cream of childhood. That is where I am hame, content.

A favourite city walk

Through the cobbled streets of Old Aberdeen, taking in St Machar's cathedral with it's magnificent heraldic ceiling celebrating Scotland's place as an historic European nation, and ending up at the Brig o' Balgownie - the childhood haunt of wee Geordie Gordon, better known as Lord Byron.

A favourite hotel

So many…that classic country house hotel within its own island retreat - the Isle of Eriska near Oban is hard to beat, but with much simpler accommodation the Inn at Pennan on the Banffshire coast is just as wonderful - to sleep within the sound of the sea after dining on fresh seafood and a bottle of Chablis …does life get any better.?

A favourite way to spend a day in Scotland

Watching Dundee United beating Rangers or Celtic or Dundee FC …or anyone, at Tannadice.

A favourite food, menu or recipe

Cullen Skink, the rich bree of cream, potatoes, smoked fish and butter….sheer sensual indulgence.

A favourite whisky

For a dreich winter's nicht, that basso profundo of Islay malts, Lagavulin…. for poetry, conversation and dalliance…Springbank.

A favourite museum or gallery

The Verdant Works, the former Jute Mill in Dundee….I wrote and narrated the audio-visual material there, so I have to plead special interest, but every place with a historic industry which has gone deserves a living monument like this….wrought with the gallous memories of that special breed, the Dundee mill lassies.

A favourite place for shopping

For clothes, Buchanan Street in Glasgow, for antiques the village of Rait near Perth.

A fond memory of Scotland

The Hogmonay party in the house in Galston with everyone doing a turn at singing, the Burgh Band playing "A Guid New Year Tae Ane and Aw" on New year's morning, the trek round the huge Kay clan to first foot them in the afternoon, and the Co-operative Steak Pie for dinner. Hogmonay was also my parents wedding anniversary, so they always made the New Year celebrations warm and memorable.

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