The Italian Garden, Newbattle Abbey College

Last September I spoke at a reception in the Parliament to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Newbattle Abbey College, a place about which I had a great curiosity given both its educational achievement and its association with two of my literary icons.

Today I finally got to visit, to speak at a Lifelong Learning Conference.

It is a a fine building, full of wonderful things and a great staff and with superb grounds. It is a huge asset to Scotland and to every aspiring learner who is , in the words of the College motto - which was also the motto of the Marquis of Lothian who gifted the building to the nation in 1938 - Sero Sed Serio (late but in earnest)