Broadcaster Iain Anderson - “Scotland’s answer to Parkinson”, according to the publicity issued by the organisers of Glasgow’s Celtic Connections festival - was given a special treat at one of his “In Conversation” events at the festival last week.
As if it was not good enough to have Scottish traditional musician and composer Brian McNeill and Appalachian fiddler Bruce Molsky on his show, McParky and his audience were entertained by Norman Bissell, an area officer with the Educational Institute of Scotland.
“Norrie le Rouge”, as he was known in his poaching days as the left-wing scourge of the union’s leadership, recited three poems including “Zen and the art of shaving”, much to the delight (we can only assume) of the hirsute trio of Anderson, McNeill and Molsky.
Bissell’s performance was rewarded with three hearty rounds of applause, which is four more than he ever received when he had a seat on the institute’s national council.
