Virtual drum roll please … we’re delighted to announce that we’re the recipient of the 2021 Isobel Award (cue wild applause).
Carlowrie Castle launched the eponymous award in 2019 to celebrate those who have faced challenges and not only met them, but brought meaningful positive change to their communities as a result. We couldn’t be prouder, but to fully understand why, you need to know more about the incredible woman behind the accolade.
Born at Carlowrie Castle in 1889, (14 years before the Wright brothers made their first flight), Isobel Wylie Hutchison had an idyllic childhood. Her father, Thomas Hutchison, was a self-made man who used the Port of Leith to import and export wines across Great Britain and the world. He eventually became the Lord Provost in 1845.
The motto of Leith is ‘Persevere’ and it’s a word that could be used to summarise Isobel’s life, as she sadly lost both her brothers and her father in quick succession. Isobel channelled her grief through writing, travel and the natural world, to live an unconventional life that continues to inspire today.
In 1916 Isobel published her first book. She went on to write six books of poems, seven books on her travels, (did we mention she was an Arctic explorer) and twelve articles for the National Geographic Magazine. Her accounts let readers vicariously experience her adventures, bringing Iceland and Greenland to their attention and encouraging them to consider indigenous peoples in foreign lands with respect rather than fear.
It seems strangely fitting that the Leither’s Guide to Leith, written by S4, S5 and S6 pupils of Leith Academy, was the first publication the Super Power Agency ever produced. We think this alternative view of Leith’s ‘best bits’ would have made Isobel smile and like her, the young authors who wrote it will continue to inspire future generations, as their book is now housed in the archives of the National Library of Scotland.
Almost 40 years after her death, Isobel’s Award ensures that we can continue to encourage young people to share their stories, not just in Leith but across Scotland. Winning it is an acknowledgement of work done and an encouragement to do more. As restrictions lift, we’re forming ambitious plans to get even more young people writing, so with huge thanks to Carlowrie Castle and Isobel, now is a great time to get involved.