By Amanda MacMillan
SCOTLAND’S national poet, Edwin Morgan, will be remembered at a special funeral service at the University of Glasgow.
The bard, who passed away last Thursday aged 90, was a former student and a Professor of English at the University from 1975 until his retirement in 1980.
The service will take place on Thursday 26 August and will include a number of readings from the poet’s extensive work.
Liz Lochead, the Scottish poet and writer, will be among a number of figures to read the famous verses.Paying tribute to Morgan last week Professor Anton Muscatelli, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Glasgow, described Morgan, as “one of the finest poets Scotland has ever produced”.
He added: “His contribution to poetry and the arts in Scotland and beyond is huge and he will be fondly remembered by a great many people.”
The coffin will lie in wait in the University Chapel from 9am before the funeral at 1.30pm at the University’s Bute Hall.
Dr George Reid, former Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, will deliver the eulogy.
The University service will be followed by a private cremation for Morgan’s family and close friends.
Morgan penned more than 60 poetry books and will be remembered worldwide as one of the most progressive poets of modern times.
He was appointed the inaugural Poet Laureate for Glasgow in 1999 and Scotland’s first national poet – or Scots Makar – by the Scottish Parliament in 2000 in recognition of his talent.
Morgan was awarded an OBE in 1982 and was winner of the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry in 2000.
He was the last remaining member of the ‘Big Seven’ poets of Hugh MacDiarmid, Robert Garioch, Norman MacCaig, Iain Crichton Smith, George Mackay Brown and Sorley MacLean.
