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The Gaelic writer Angus Peter Campbell has been appointed to the prestigious Iain Crichton Smith Writing Fellowship which is funded by The Highland Council, the Scottish Arts Council, Skye and Lochalsh Enterprise and Ross and Cromarty Enterprise.

Mr Campbell, who is originally from South Uist, but now lives in Sleat on the Isle of Skye takes over the post from the previous writing fellow, Kevin MacNeil.

Mr Campbell said, �It�s a tremendous honour to be awarded this fellowship, which the previous writer, Kevin MacNeil, held with such distinction. I knew Iain Crichton Smith from my days at Oban High School when he was my English teacher, but later also came to know him well as a friend and fellow-writer. He was a writer of great international stature, and it is both a privilege and a responsibility to be associated with his name. Apart from gaining me time for my own writing, I intend to work closely with various schools, libraries and communities throughout the Highlands in an endeavour to encourage literary excellence.�

Councillor Andy Anderson, Chairman of the Education Culture and Sport Committee said: �We are delighted to have a writer of such stature taking up this post as people across the Highlands who are interested in writing and literature will have an opportunity to learn from his literary skills and abilities.�

Gavin Wallace, Head of Literature at the Scottish Arts Council, said: �I�m delighted that Angus Peter has been appointed to this prestigious Fellowship, and I�m sure he will make every success of building upon the great achievements of Kevin McNeil.  The Iain Crichton Smith Fellowship has amply proved that the Highlands has become one of the most vibrant centres for creative writing in Scotland, a fact of which Iain, who gave so generously to younger generations of writers, would have been immensely proud.�

Councillor Hamish Fraser, Chairman of The Highland Council�s Gaelic Working Group said: �The work of the Fellowship will greatly assist creative writing in our schools and communities. We are keen to assist and develop people�s interest in writing.� 

For the duration of the Fellowship Mr Campbell will be working from The Highland Council�s offices in the Skye and Lochalsh area but his remit covers the whole Highland Council area. 

The Highland Council was the first local authority in Scotland to set up a bilingual writing fellowship named in honour of author Iain Crichton Smith who passed away in  1998 after having worked closely for many years with the Council in the development of Gaelic writing.