[James]

30 September 2005

Dundee finds the winning words


Cameron Stout (rear) with Marilyn Rattray, Nick Marra, Sheena Wellington and Mark Thomson.

The Dundee team of rap poet Mark Thomson, headmaster Nick Marra and singer Sheena Wellington have beaten teams from across the nation to win Cameron’s Quaich in Radio Scotland’s dialect quiz “Your Word or Mine!”
The quiz, presented by Big Brother winner Cameron Stout, was part of the BBC’s “Voices” series. The show involved the teams answering questions on Scots words and culture, with buzzer rounds and a Diction or Fiction? slot in which teams tried to guess which of three definitions was correct.
The Dundee team, captained by Sheena, beat Glasgow in the first round and, with Marilyn Rattray substituting for Mark, narrowly defeated an excellent Borders team in the semi-final. Both rounds were played away from home and the final itself, against a very good team from Argyll and Bute, took place at Stirling’s Tolbooth.

“The final felt like a home game,” said Sheena. “Not only did we have friends and family who’d travelled from Dundee, but most of Stirling Folk Club turned up to cheer us on. Mind you, we are still embarrassed at failing to spot that Perth was the answer to one of the questions.”

The Dundee tongue has featured strongly in the Voices series, with several local poets, including Mark Thomson, being featured in radio and television broadcasts. Mark is also quoted in Talking Britain, the book of the series.

The winning Dundonians plan a wee celebration, but it will have to wait until after this weekend’s Fest ‘n’ Furious. Sheena is joint creative director and will also sing on Sunday afternoon.

http://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/ou...7595428t0.shtm