People
Welcome to the many people who contribute to the life of the Scottish Centre for Geopoetics.
Founders
Whilst many have contributed to the development of the centre, three deserve special mention: Kenneth White's ideas and works form the foundation of Geopoetics; Tony McManus was responsible for launching the Centre in 1995; and Norrie Bissell has led the development of the Centre over several decades.
Kenneth White
Kenneth White is the creator of the concept of Geopoetics. He was a writer of poetry, essays and "waybooks" that mapped out the terrain that the Centre continues to explore.
Norman Bissell
Director
Norman is the author of the poetry collection Slate, Sea and Sky, the novel Barnhill about George Orwell’s life on Jura , and Living on an Island Expressing the Earth, a memoir about Geopoetics and the Isle of Luing where he lives.
Tony McManus
Tony was a writer, musician, teacher and educationalist and the founder of the Scottish Centre for Geopoetics
Council
The current council oversees the day-to-day running and direction of the Centre.
Alistair Duncan
Alistair is an eco-psychologist working in nature to facilitate meaningful encounters with the more-than-human world.
Alyson Hallett
Chair
Alyson is a poet and artist. She works with migrating rocks and stones
and has collaborated with many scientists, composers, dancers and sculptors.
Carol McKay
Carol's poetry, fiction and creative non-fiction have been widely published over many years.
James McCarthy
James McCarthy is a writer based in Edinburgh, the author of 7 published books, currently focussed on historic Scottish travellers and explorers
Marcelle Newbold
Diversity and Inclusion Officer
Marcelle is a writer exploring place, inheritance and feminism.
Norman Bissell
Director
Norman is the author of the poetry collection Slate, Sea and Sky, the novel Barnhill about George Orwell’s life on Jura , and Living on an Island Expressing the Earth, a memoir about Geopoetics and the Isle of Luing where he lives.
Patrick Corbett
Assistant Director
Patrick is an academic geologist who has been involved with the Centre since picking up poetry as a pastime following retirement several years ago
Members
There are many people who make up the membership of the Scottish Centre for Geopoetics. Here are some of them. If you are a member and would like to be added to this page please email us with a short biography and a photograph of yourself.
Bill Eddie
Bill is a teacher, a writer and a scientist with a love for the approach of Geothe.
Elizabeth Rimmer
Elizabeth has always been a writer. Historically she did translations, written articles on spirituality and various forms of fiction, but now has a focus on poetry.
Gordon Peters
Gordon has a lifetime's experience in public and social services in many locations across the world that has enabled him to stravaig the earth writing poetry on the way.
R.M. Francis
R.M. Francis is a writer from the Black Country, the UK’s Industrial heartland. His writing is deeply focused on place-identity in this post-industrial region.
Rachel Tennant
Rachel is an artist, poet and photographer with a background in landscape architecture.
Steve Pardue
Steve is an Artist Interpretator working in a wee studio in Hexham, Northumberland.
Those we remember
Former members who are remembered dearly
Richard Meyers
Richard worked as a nature reserve warden. But more than that he was a poet, writer who saw Geopoetics in the backgardens of London.