PUPILS at a Galashiels school have been learning about the delights of writing from one of the UK’s leading football authors.

P6 pupils at Burgh Primary School took part in a ‘delights’ workshop led by Daniel Gray as part of a special week-long celebration of books at the school.

Gray is one of the country’s leading football writers and the author of several books including Saturday 3PM, Stramash: Tackling Scotland’s Towns and Teams and Scribbles in the Margins.

He hosts the cult When Saturday Comes podcast as well as being the editor of the Scottish football periodical Nutmeg.

He has been a frequent visitor to Galashiels over the last few years first to write about the town as part of his This is Scotland book, published in 2015, and then a collection of pieces on Gala Fairydean Rovers and the club’s listed stand.

Border Telegraph: Delights’workshop led by top author Daniel Gray at Burgh Primary School

In his most recent book Silence of the Stands, Gray reflects on following football during lockdown, including his visit to Netherdale where a resourceful fan used a ladder to watch a game over the fence during COVID restrictions.

During the event Gray told the pupils about his work and the various inspirations and writing processes that shape it.

Pupils were also supported to create their own ‘delight’ focusing on a smell or sound which incites happy memories and were tasked with putting these down on paper in the form of a letter as a way of introducing themselves to someone in the other class.

Gray said: "It’s one of life’s delights to be able to encourage children to read and write about the things they are interested in.

“The Burgh is such a charming building with so much character, I loved the fact that the Victorian school bell still rings to start the school day and the class were so polite, friendly and interested in writing.

“It’s always so lovely to hear about the things that delight them, like the smell of a chippy tea, sharpie pens, bacon sizzling on the pan or the sounds of waking on leaves in autumn.

“I’m always struck how they equate these delights with the people that matter to them and the lovely little stories that flow from that.

“I hope the morning we spent together encourages them to write for pleasure and reminds them that everybody has a story worth telling."

Dave Scott from the school's parent teacher council said: "It’s so kind of Daniel to volunteer his time to come along to our school and remind pupils what they are capable of.

“During his visit he took lots of questions about being a writer and it was great to see him show the children how they already had all the words they needed through the little things that mean so much to us all.

“He also talked about when he was young he didn’t think that writing was an option for someone from his background, yet because he was supported by family and teachers and was able to access library books his love of reading was nurtured, helping him to become a writer.

“We want every pupil at our school to know they have the gifts to do what they want in life and meeting people like Daniel helps reinforce this.”