Tom Buchan (poet)

Tom Buchan (1931–1995) Scottish poet, novelist and playwright/dramatist.[1][2][3][4][5]

Early life

He was born in Glasgow on 19 June 1931. His father was a Protestant minister. He was educated at Jordanhill College School, Balfron High School, and Aberdeen Grammar School. He then went to the University of Glasgow where in 1953 he was awarded an MA (Hons) in English literature.[3]

Career

After University he taught at Denny High School. He joined the Iona Community (1956-1960) and through them, he was employed as a lecturer at the University of Madras and then as a Warden at Community House, Glasgow. He returned to teaching at Denny and Irvine Royal Academy before becoming a senior lecturer in English and Drama at Clydebank Technical College. From 1971 he was a freelance writer and playwright, a director of the Craigmillar Festival in Edinburgh (1973), Dumbarton Festival (1975) and the final editor of the Scottish International, a Scottish arts magazine.[3]

He worked with Billy Connolly in 1972 on ‘The Great Northern Welly Boot Show’. He was given a Scottish Arts Council award in 1969 and 1970, and started to publish his own poetry: Dolphins at Cochin (1969), Exorcism (1973), and Poems 1969–72. His play 'Happy Landings' was performed at the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh, 'Tell Charlie Thanks for the Truss' (1972)[6] and 'Knox and Mary' (1973).[4]

He was associated with the Findhorn Foundation and lived for many years round the Moray Firth, where he died on 18 October 1995, in a wooded area near Forres.[3][4]

He was married to Emma Chapman in 1962; they had two sons and a daughter.[3]

Poetry

Ikons. Madras, Tambaram Press. 1958.

Dolphins at Cochin. London: Barrie and Rockliff-Cresset Press. New York: Hill and Wang. 1969.

Exorcism. Glasgow: Midnight Press. 1972.

Poems 1969–1972. Edinburgh: Poni Press. 1972.

Forwards. Glasgow: Glasgow, Print Studio Press. 1978.

Plays

Tell Charlie Thanks for the Truss (produced Edinburgh, 1972).

The Great Northern Welly Boot Show. Lyrics by Billy Connolly, music by Tom McGrath (produced Edinburgh and London, 1972).

Knox and Mary (produced Edinburgh, 1972).

Over the Top (produced Edinburgh, 1979).

Bunker (produced Findhorn, Moray, 1980).

Novel

Makes You Feel Great. Edinburgh: Poni Press. 1971.

References
  1. "Tom Buchan". The Herald. 21 October 1995.
  2. Bruce, George. "BUCHAN, Tom". Encyclopedia.com.
  3. Smythe, David. "Obituary from The Scotsman. Tom Buchan, poet, playwright". David Smythe.
  4. McCaffery, Richie (2016). "Tom Buchan 1931 - 1995". Scottish Poetry Library.
  5. Pedersen, Michael (11 September 2011). "Like comets flew he spoke". Leither. 79: 8 – via ISSUU.
  6. "Theatre". Sunday Times. 13 February 1972. p. 31 – via The Sunday Times Historical Archive.
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