Jess Smith @ The Wighton, Sat 18th June 11am

It is the Year of Storytelling and Friends of Wighton are delighted to welcome one of Scotland’s best to the Wighton Heritage Centre!

Jess Smith, storyteller, writer and fine singer, is our guest at the NaeCoffee (but feel free to bring your own) Concert on Saturday 18th June, 11am to noon.

Jess was raised on the road in her large travelling family  of parents and seven sisters. Home was a single-decked Bedford bus; her ‘mansion’ on wheels. It served the family for ten years until it gave up the ghost in Lennie’s yard, Kirkcaldy. Two more years travelling with trailers and most of the family married off, Jess left her cultural map to settle with a young Crieff lad; Dave. Three chicks feathered their nest, grew and flew. It was then that Jess remembered a promise she made her father to write a book about Travellers in Scotland. However her knowledge of the community only covered her own travelling days in her wheeled mansion.

Memories were fresh so she retired at age 50 and learned basic computer and keyboard skills.

Jessie’s Journey was the result! Within months it was no 1 in Scottish biographies. Her love of sharing the culture was welcomed into the literary world, two more biographical books followed, a novel, a story collection and then ‘the book’ she promised dad; Way of the Wanderers.

She has travelled the world taking her story to wherever and whoever wants to hear it. She loves meeting people, sharing tales and also enjoys singing a few old favourite songs.