Ken Cockburn Visits Glencairn, Rekindling Resident's Love for Literature
Renaissance Care and Glencairn Care Home are proud to be participating in the local Paper Trails initiative, an event run by the Edinburgh International Book Festival aimed at combating social isolation and promoting literary inclusion.
Poet Ken Cockburn has been visiting the home on a weekly basis, engaging residents in meaningful conversation and supporting exploration of a variety of literary topics, including Autumn, Edinburgh, Scotland, and Around the World. During his visits, Ken will also incorporate objects, revealing them as they are discovered and creating a final display.
Ken said: “For the residents, the sessions are I hope entertaining – hearing some poems they know, and perhaps joining in, plus discovering and enjoying new ones. I hope too the poems and objects will spark some memories and conversation.” He added: “I might do some origami as part of the Around the World session, making a paper boat and using that to sail, as it were, from China (a rhyme about willow pattern plates) to North America (‘When it’s springtime in the Rockies’).”
Jozi Stables, manager of Glencairn, said: “Many of our residents have a lifelong love of literature, and the poetry sessions are a wonderful way to keep that connection alive. They spark conversation, keep minds active, and encourage social interaction.”
