Author: Rita Bradd

My writing began in 2006 when I wanted to share the experiences I had had during my travels to see sailing ships during the tall ships races that are held each year. This book is was abandoned as I completed the story of me voyaging on a heavy-lift cargo ship accompanying the oldest surviving clipper ship in the world 'City of Adelaide' aka 'Carrick' as deck cargo from Rotterdam to Adelaide, South Australia over the winter of 2013/14. I also wanted to develop children's stories that I had written. A rejected children's story that lay smouldering in a drawer at home spurred me to turn it into script, and The Three Craws series was spawned. Poetry became an unexpected pleasure, and I have had a high success rate of having them published. My first pamphlet was published in August 2017 by CrawsNest Press. Harps for me only existed in films and in orchestras until I saw Savourna Stevenson some years ago. I found out about the Edinburgh International Harp Festival and became a regular fan. I took it up in 2009 when my eldest daughter gave me the gift of a harp lesson. I play the small lever harp known as Celtic harp or clarsach.

Poetry in the Yurt – Art Root 21/22 September 2013

By Rita Bradd

We  were not just blown away by the words, but also the wind!  I arrived on Sunday morning to find the sides of the yurt were quickly being stripped off from the frame.  A quick call for help brought Anna Davis and friend down.  A contingency plan was hatched and we removed to West Barns Art Studios where we found a lovely bright corner to set up and continue our mission.

Re-housed!
Re-housed!

Art Root event 21/22 September 2013

By Rita Bradd

Over the weekend of 21/22 September 2013 I took my place inside a yurt as part of the Art Root event. We had a lot of fun writing poems on paper plates etc.  I decorated the yurt with materials I had previously used during poetry workshops with P1-P5 in schools as part of the Curriculum for Excellence.  I was delighted Ute Penny wrote her first poem here, and brought her friend Elinor along too.

Ute and Eloner write poems in the yurt, ArtRoot 2013
Ute and Elinor write poems in the yurt, Art Root 2013

Return to Aus

By Rita Bradd

YES!  Clipper ship City of Adelaide  birthday and homecoming celebrations coming up this Saturday 17 May at Port Adelaide, South Australia and I’m going to be there!  Loads of fun and entertainment and … I’ve been asked to give a talk to be held in the Speakers’ Tent about the diary I kept on her final voyage on board heavy-lift cargo ship MV Palanpur from Rotterdam on 26 November 2013  to Adelaide on 3 February 2014!

Outer Harbour, Port Adelaide. City of Adelaide being 'skidded' off MV Palanpur onto barge Bradley, her temporary home.
Outer Harbour, Port Adelaide 5 February 2014.  City of Adelaide being ‘skidded’ off MV Palanpur onto barge Bradley, her temporary home.

Three Craws Gaun Tae Bayeux Wi The Battle O Prestonpans Tapestry

By Rita Bradd
  • Craw One    –  Wesley Bradd

Craw Two    –  Bob Mitchell

Craw Three –  Nicola Louise Shepherd

and I flew to Paris, then were bussed to Normandy to join the Battle of Prestonpans Tapestry which was appearing in the Bayeux Tapestry Museum until the beginning of November. http://news.stv.tv/east-central/115465-battle-of-prestonpans-to-go-on-display-alongside-french-counterpart

We had a lot of fun! http://www.battleofprestonpans1745.org/heritagetrust/html/news/show_news.asp?newsid=3310