In the autumn of 1993, Senator Gordon Wilson visited Grangemouth High School in Central Scotland and told me the story of his daughter, Marie. He spoke of her life, her death in the Remembrance Day Bombing in Enniskillen in 1987, and of the aftermath.
A few weeks later a member of the RME Department was to visit the Corrymeela Community Centre at Ballycastle. Some senior pupils volunteered to accompany him. Their offer was declined but it became apparent that Gordon's visit had left its mark. Two of the pupils, Nicola Clark and Julie Finlayson, suggested with others that they might correspond with pen pals in Northern Ireland. It seemed worth considering.
While at Ballycastle, the idea was floated of a Scottish-Northern Irish pen pals scheme and the idea was received with considerable interest. Names and addresses were exchanged but nothing came of the good intentions.
By late 1994 the world had moved on. Ceasefires in the North of Ireland raised further interest in the events there. Further discussion between staff and pupils took place. It bacame clear that the question of pen pals raised almost a year previously had been more than an emotional short term response. It was agreed that further efforts should be made to establish links. Guidance was sought from a number of organisations working in Northern Ireland. In Scotland we were anxious that nothing we might propose or do would unnecessarily cause offence.
It had been agreed that if pupils were to write to Northern Ireland from Scotland they should be encouraged to write at the same time to Scottish contemporaries. We considered whether all we required was to encourage pupils to use one of the commercial services offering pen pals and to ask for correspondants in Northern Ireland. It was decided that a more direct approach to schools in both places would be worth trying and to this end Royal Mail "Letter By Letter" was established. Permission was sought from the acting rector of Grangemouth High to begin the process.
Letters inviting schools to offer the opportunities for pen pals were sent to all post-primary schools in Scotland and Northern Ireland. In addition where personal contacts existed these were pursued as much as time allowed. Pupils were to be grouped by age and interests into groups of three, two Scots and one pupil from Northern Ireland being given opportunity to correspond. Some guidance was produced to encourage continuing correspondance. While the initiative had historical roots in an RE department it was recognised that different schools would take matters forward in the way best suited to their local situation. It was also recognised that though letter writing is not high on the list of desirable skills for many in an era of electronic communication, friendship is clearly still highly valued and a beginning through correspondance seemed justified not least as some staff support might be forthcoming.
In some situations pupils were simply given sight of the leaflets giving details of Royal Mail "Letter By Letter". Those who saw value in the scheme, posted applications with payment of £1 and awaited news from the organisers. In other cases school staff clearly encouraged pupils to participate; for example by collecting forms and fees and posting them to us. The number of contacts with named individuals continued to grow.
As the holidays for Easter were earlier in Scotland than in Northern Ireland a member of staff took the opportunity of visiting a few schools where Royal Mail "Letter By Letter" had been well received and met with staff and pupils, such as Crossmaglen, Enniskillen, Kesh, Castlederg, Dungiven and Antrim, and made contact with others who had shown some interest or a willingness to spare some time to hear of the scheme.
The warmth of the welcome received suggestion that pupils who develop friendships with their peers in Northern Ireland will not be disappointed. To date some 400 pupils from over 50 schools are participating in Royal Mail "Letter By Letter". In a number of cases we have as yet not been able to find pupils in Northern Ireland for Scots to correspond with. It is hoped that Royal Mail "Letter By Letter" will have a life which expands into coming school sessions.
Ian Cranston,
RME Department,
Grangemouth High School.
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