On Monday 28th August 2006, a lovely crisp Summer morning as St Serf’s Clock struck  7 o’clock four sturdy men in their blue jeans were seen to be walking very briskly, beyond Romangate…heading out the road to Forteviot not only carrying large bags, but also mallets, spades and ropes…obviously on a mission. Someone spied them turning down the track beside our Kincladie wood and disappear, birds in the trees were seen to take flight so it was assumed that the quartet were in the wood.

The children of the school were first heard from the wood as they turned along the path by the bowling green and their voices got louder and louder as they meandered two by two across the berry fields. At the edge, before entering the wood the children were halted to reorganise and a Pied Piper was appointed to lead the way happily into the clearing. They seated themselves under the canopy looking expectantly towards the large smiling eyes and red cheeks of this well kent author Jess Smith.

The tales of travelling folk started and Jess walked back and forward relating her memories of moving around the countryside with her parents and her seven sisters in a big bus which they lived in. Seasonally employed by local farmers who made sure there was enough tasks to keep them fed, her mother hawking round the neighbourhood with her handmade wares. The two rings of stones round the fire with the tripod over with hanging pots cooking their food maybe… porridge, soup or rabbit stew. Her demonstration of how a baby was carried safely in a checked wool shawl round a mother’s body

The children were enthralled and so were the grown ups present. She looked up beyond the canopy and illustrated how to listen to the breeze, the rustle of the leaves, the call of the buzzard close by and the sunlight beams shining through making patterns on the ground. It was a magical moment…. children in nature.

There was a hush as Jess told some of the many tales she had learnt round the fireside from other travellers who joined the gatherings told their stories, and when related through the years, changed by the telling.

A juice break for the children meant that as the grown ups had coffee the children although close at hand looked up at the trees and were putting their hands out to get shadows on their arms.

When regathered and after few more tales Jess asked her young audience if they had any questions and in full flow our children asked the most interesting and amazing things of Jess which led to another insight into her world.

An hour and a half had flown by and thanks were given to Jess and the DCT for such a grand experience of being in the wood with someone who had actually lived their during her travelling life and a privilege for all present to have Jess with us.

The children went off back to school with their reflections which will be stored in their memories of the magical morning they spent with the Travelling Woman Jess Smith.

The blue jean boys appeared and having been joined by two others the useful atmospheric canopy departed. Everyone had smiles on their faces …………… another successful time in Kincladie Wood.