Councillor Alston has been investigating the role played by highland landowners in the 18th and 19th centuries in slave plantations in the Caribbean, and has uncovered very moving stories of individual slaves with highland connections. When Margot Henderson was invited by the Cromarty Arts Trust to spend six months in Cromarty as a writer in residence, she found inspiration in many of these stories. The new book ‘Freedom Bound’ is the result, and an event to launch the book was held last weekend at the start of the Black Isle Words Festival.

In his Foreword to the book, Councillor Alston describes how he and Margot have together been presenting talks on the involvement of Highland Scots in the slave trade, and how their audiences have been greatly moved by Margot’s reading and singing.

The book is published by Cromarty Arts Trust in partnership with the Cromarty Courthouse Museum and will be available from local booksellers or directly from the Cromarty Arts Trust, Ardyne, Bank Street, Cromarty, IV11 8YE. Telephone 01381-600354.