The Bairns O Fa'kirk

Work took me today to the place of my birth - yes, I'm a Falkirk Bairn. My parents lived in nearby Kincardine on Forth, and so I was born in Falkirk Infirmary. It's not a town I know well, and I was there to look at regeneration proposals.

I was introduced to a stonecarver called Gardner Molloy, who was cutting letters in stone ground slabs that had just been laid. Clearly a real craftsman, he was fascinating to talk to, and his enthusiasm for the work he had done recently with local schoolkids was infectious. I wanted to try lettercutting, but time would not permit it. His beautiful work is to be found all across Scotland.