Fife College students scoop Sir Ian Rankin scholarships

The renowned Cardenden author has supported the college for many years.

The scholarship allows all full-time students to submit a piece of writing and have their work read and judged by the recently knighted author.

The 2022 winners were Isabella Webster, HNC legal services student from Edinburgh; Sam Trotter, HND acting and performance student, from North Queensferry, and Tamzin McDonald from Penicuik, who is studying Non-Advanced European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL).

As well as the chance to meet with Sir Ian in the future, the winners got £600 each to support their studies, plus certificates to mark their achievement, as well as a copy of Ian’s award-winning book, ‘The Dark Remains’, at a presentation event held at The Academy training restaurant on the college’s Kirkcaldy campus.

Based on a manuscript by the late Scottish crime-writing legend William McIlvanney, ‘The Dark Remains’, which was recently awarded the British Book Award for Crime & Thriller at the British Book Awards 2022, tells the story of the first-ever case of McIlvanney’s famous detective, DI Laidlaw.

Lyn Gold, scholarship and alumni engagement Lead at Fife College, said: “To have a world-renowned author like Sir Ian Rankin continue to support our students in this way is amazing and we are grateful for his ongoing support.

“We are also pleased that we opened the scholarship to all students a few years back, which has led to high-quality entries from all areas of the college.”