By The Way

Flora's compelling story of escape from her Clan MacDonald home at Dunaverty on the Mull of Kintyre, and saving the Laird's infant child when The Campbells were about to massacre all who remained. Written by Jacqueline Fitzgibbon.

The Stone of Destiny was stolen from Scotland by Edward Longshanks in 1296. This is the story of how four Glasgow students recovered it on Christmas day 1950 to rekindle the feeling of national identity and highlight the cause of independence for Scotland.

Sleep. 200 words inspired by the letter S of my acronym.

Relax. 200 words inspired by the letter R of my acronym.

Eat well. 200 words inspired by the letter E of my acronym.

Give Back. 200 words inspired by the letter G of my acronym.

Notice. 200 words inspired by the letter N of my acronym.

Be Active.  200 words inspired by the letter A of my acronym.

Learn. 200 words inspired by the letter L of my acronym.

Connect - 200 words inspired by the letter C of my acronym.

The full eight letters of my acronym. Highly personal audio essays with idiosyncratic sound design.

James "Purlie" Wilson, the Strathaven Weaver, was a local leader of the Radical Movement seeking social reform in early 19th century Scotland. He was entrapped by spies, tried on contrived charges of treason, and executed on Glasgow Green on 30 August, 1820. His ghost returns 40 years later to confront a doctor with his own demons.

Chris Tait is a unique writer, poet and storyteller from the Shetland Isles. Chris tells the story of how Asperger's Syndrome influences her writing and about the journey from her island home to poetry and storytelling performances across Scotland and beyond.

Jill Korn writes audio drama and I add sound design whiffle dust to make her words 3D. Since our first contact in August 2020, we've made some excellent audio drama through Tweets, emails and Zooms. When we met for the first time in real life we recorded part of our chat about writing, audio drama and sound design. Eavesdrop now on how it went.

The Selkie is a mythical sea creature of Scottish folklore. In the sea a Selkie is a seal, but when they occasionally come onshore they take the form of a beautiful woman. Men should be wary in case they are beguiled and end broken-hearted when a Selkie they meet returns to the sea. I've joined the thousands before me who have hung their story on the Selkie legend. What surprise awaits my Selkie w...

I've collaborated with Jill Korn to produce Galore! an audio drama inspired by the events in Compton Mackenzie's 1947 book, "Whisky Galore" and the film made two years later. The story is inspired by the events in Compton Mackenzie's 1947 book, "Whisky Galore" and the film, made two years later.

The delight of hearing hundreds of wee speugs (sparrows) feasting, squabbling, socialising or whatever it was they were doing in the middle of a buddleia bush at the side of the River Ericht lifted my heart. I hope yours too.

I'm proud to claim Don Roberto among my relations. Robert Bontine Cunninghame Graham founded the Scottish National Party as he was a passionate advocate of independence for Scotland. His memorial is carved with the words "Famous author, traveller and horseman. Patriotic Scot and citizen of the world. He was a master of life - a king among men." I really wish I'd met him.

They say the pictures are better on radio. That's why I'm making noises. I'm putting more sounds into By The Way stories. It's all about helping to create the environment where the dialogue takes place and to immerse my listener in the story. I know it's an indulgence, but here's how I put together 14 seconds of audio to convey the horror of a gas attack during the Great War.

Hill 60 on the Western Front near Ypres is the site during WW1 of the largest non-nuclear explosion ever. Gunner Graham was positioned about a mile away at Manor Farm during the first three months of 1918. This is the story of the Hill, Extra Information I couldn't include in the Gunner Graham episode.

Gunner Graham was an extraordinary soldier in the Royal Garrison Artillery during WW1. Just turned 20 years old, he was decorated in 1918 for gallantry with the Military Medal, which represents a level of valour in combat only surpassed by that for the Victoria Cross. As an enlisted man Gunner Graham didn't qualify for the Military Cross, which was reserved for officers at the time.  Listen to the...

Angus Adamson is an Arranach. He was born and brought-up on Arran. We recorded a conversation the last week I lived there and it was a delight to hear the story of his connection to the island, its people and how he's served the community in one way or another all his working days. Angus has been a mechanic, a fire-fighter and a Church of Scotland Minister. There are only two characters in this st...

Over 80 thousand people endured a downpour of biblical proportions when they attended the AUOB (All Under One Banner) procession in Glasgow on Saturday, 11 January. It's testament to their strength of feeling that so many walked happily from Kelvingrove to Glasgow Green to show their support for Scotland's right to choose its own destiny. This is a completely partisan collection of soundbites from...