What Is it like to be one of the world’s most famous crime writers?
Students at Adam Smith College found out the answer to that question and many more when they met crime author Ian Rankin.
Rankin took time from his busy writing schedule to come home to Fife, where he was born and grew up, to meet with the three lucky winners of the Ian Rankin Scholarship, awarded through the Adam Smith Foundation the charitable trust of Adam Smith College.
The author was welcomed to the college by executive director Aileen Lamden, staff and students from the Centre for Creatives.
This year’s scholarship was open to all students studying HNC/D practical journalism, HND creative industries television, HND creative industries radio and NC media production.
To take part, students had to submit a piece of creative writing, with the stories being read and judged by Ian Rankin.
As well as being awarded £600 each, the winning students Andrew McArthur, Ciaran Sneddon and Paul Johnston were also presented with a signed copy of Rankin’s latest book, Standing In Another Man’s Grave. Before the presentation, the students joined Rankin for lunch, where they chatted about their course work and life in general.
They then took part in a question-and-answer session held in the college’s state-of-the-art TV studio at the Stenton Campus in Glenrothes, which was also filmed by students from the HND television course.
Rankin said: “The scholarship programme is a great initiative and provides many students with an extra bit of help and recognition while they study. I really enjoy reading the students’ work and it’s always great to come back to Fife.”