AN AUTHOR from Dunbar has won Tyne and Esk Writers ‘Writer of the Year’ award for poetry for her touching poem reflecting on a memory with her late husband.

Olivia Farrington moved to Dunbar from Aberdeen three years ago following her husband’s death to be closer with her family before joining Dunbar Writers Group shortly after.

She was presented with the award for ‘Writer of the Year’ during an awards ceremony at Haddington’s Victoria Inn by Sam Tongue of the Scottish Poetry Library.

The award was given for her poem called ‘Play Replay’ which reflects on her own memory of hearing her husband humming along as she played piano.

She said: “The story of the poem is real.

“It happened not long before he died; I was playing Schubert’s Impromptu on the piano and he was humming along.

“It wasn’t until after he died that doubt crept into my mind. ‘Was he humming because I was playing out of tune?’

“The poem reflects on that and how when I play it is silent now but I still ask the question, ‘Am I playing it right?’

“The poem in the end is really about loss and grief.”

A former teacher, Olivia began writing novels when she retired and has published three novels and two books of poetry.

Now in her eighties, Olivia stays on High Street where she continues to write in her free time.

She said: “My lifelong ambition was always to be a writer but I only started writing for publication on retirement.

“My husband died five years ago so three years ago I moved to Dunbar to be closer to my son, and to my daughter who lives in Edinburgh.

“I immediately joined Dunbar Writers as I find it immensely enjoyable and encouraging meeting up with other writers.

“We’re set a prompt at each meeting and Play Replay is the result of a prompt.

“So, my advice to anyone harbouring ambitions to be a writer would be to join a writers’ group.”

 

Play Replay by Olivia Farrington

She was playing Schubert’s Impromptu in A flat.

He was on the white sofa reading.

He suddenly started humming the tune and she was pleased but not surprised -

Schubert is renowned for good tunes.

After he died a doubt crept in:

maybe that day his humming had been telling her

that she was getting the rhythm wrong.

Now when she plays the tune, as she does, often towards evening, she turns to him -

still sitting there on the sofa, but silently, no longer humming:

Am I playing it properly now?

Am I getting the rhythm right?