Colin Brown writes with more information about the McGonagall Walk taking place in Edinburgh next week:

Edinburgh Peoples Festival in association with the Scottish Poetry Library present…

McGonagall’s Feat

Renowned Actor, Local Historian and Rebustours guide Mr. Colin Brown will conduct a walking talk from World’s Worst Poet and Tragedian Mr. William McGonagall’s grave in Greyfriar’s Kirkyard to the Scottish Poetry Library at 6.30p.m., Thursday 24th May 2012.

Mr. Brown will essay readings from several of Mr. McGonagall’s poems and will venture to describe the life and times of this most tortured genius.

Please attire yourself appropriately.

Tea, shortbread and Dundee cake will be provided in the Library for sustenance and revival.

Minute McGonagall

Participants are encouraged to produce their own poem, in the style of McGonagall, lasting no longer than one minute, which they will be asked to read in the Library.

This event is FREE, but numbers are limited, therefore please avail yourself of a ticket by contacting the Library –

E-Mail – reception@spl.org.uk
Tel – (0131-) 557-2876.

It sounds like a great event, I only wish I lived close enough to Auld Reekie to attend myself. If anybody wants to share their “Minute McGonagalls” with the world at large, do feel free to send them in.

On 24th May this year there’ll be a McGonagall Walk organised by the Edinburgh People’s Festival. The plan is to meet at McGonagall’s grave in Greyfriars Cemetery at 6:30pm, and walk to the Scottish Poetry Library at Crichton’s close.

McGonagall fans in the Birmingham area might be interested in this: the Kitchen Garden Café are combining a Burns Night supper with a performance of William McGonagall and the Mystery of Loch Ness by the rather splendid Don’t Go Into the Cellar theatre company.

This not-entirely-historically-accurate piece is described thus on their website:

Exiled from Dundee for bringing the city into disrepute, Sir William Topaz McGonagall (Knight of the White Elephant, Burmah) travels to Inverness. There, he stumbles upon mysteries manifold involving an imperilled maiden, sinister monks, and the Monster of the Loch itself!

Sounds brilliant! Tickets cost £24.50 and include a three-course meal.