PATRIOTIC school pupils in Port Glasgow are using their love of reading to find out about legendary Scots.

The youngsters at St Francis’ Primary in East Barmoss Avenue took part enthusiastically in a special ‘Scottish Authors and Inventors’ week, which included a visit by poet Julie Douglas.

It was all organised by primary 7/6 teacher Julie Docherty and proved to be a great success.

Depute head teacher, Jane Stinson, said: “We investigated Scottish authors such as Chani McBain, Mairi Hedderwick, J.M Barrie, Kathleen Fidler, Kenneth Grahame and Robert Louis Stevenson.

“The children discovered facts about where these authors were born, educated and even their previous careers. 

“P7 and P7/6 were interested to discover that Robert Louis Stevenson was formally both an engineer as well as a lawyer.

“Each class also compiled factfiles and leaflets as well as creating their own quotations.

“One of our favourite quotations was Robert Louis Stevenson’s ‘a friend is a gift we give to ourselves’.”

The upper school went on to write quotations of their own, based on the school’s values.

Mrs Stinson added: “We also benefitted from Julie Douglas’s visit.

“In addition to listening to her fabulous poetry, the children participated in class workshops, during which they wrote blackout poems, slow river poems, recipe poems as well as a wonderful Nessie poem.

“Primaries five to seven visited Port Glasgow Library to further develop their knowledge of Scottish authors.

“The children also gained an insight into the impact of Scottish inventors — ranging from Kirkpatrick Macmillan, John Logie Baird, Alexander Graham Bell and Alexander Fleming to George Macintosh.”

And the depute head added: “One of the important things our children have learned from each of these wonderful inventors is the importance of making mistakes and having perseverance. 

“During this showcase, our children have been given the opportunity to further develop their love of literacy.”