Our next planned Yes Dunbar events are as follows. Whilst our events are planned with Yes Dunbar members in mind, we are pleased to welcome other “Yes” supporters, and those who are simply interested in finding out more about the case for an independent Scotland. We also hold some events with a cultural or social emphasis, rather than political. (For reports and photos of past events see the News page.)
WED 26 NOVEMBER 2025 – HAMISH HENDERSON FILM EVENING
Yes Dunbar is delighted to host a special showing of a new film about the life and work of the the iconic Scottish poet and folklorist, Hamish Henderson, made by Flyting Films. The film entitled Hamish Henderson: An Artist’s Inspiration will be followed by a discussion with experts on Hamish Henderson’s life and the film’s director, Dunbar-based Michael Lloyd. Click here for a trailer and see below for more about the film.
This event is organised in the week leading up to St Andrew’s Day and is hosted at the historic Harbour Chapel Dunbar (now a high quality events space). The ticket price (£15) includes a welcome drink (whisky, prosecco or a non-alcoholic mocktail) to toast the approach of Scotland’s national day as well as the film itself and post-film discussion! Ticket sales are now open: please book via TicketTailor at: https://buytickets.at/ydevents/182165
The event starts at 7 for 7.30pm and expected to finish around 9.30pm (the film itself is 75mins). There will be a short break before the discussion with further drinks available from the bar.
About the film
Artist Charles Nasmyth takes a fresh look at one of Scotland’s literary and musical giants, Hamish Henderson. He explores his inspiration to paint a portrait of Hamish and asks what motivated this complex and sometimes underappreciated character.
Henderson was driven by his experiences in WW2, in which he fought in the desert campaign and later with the Italian partisans. He was respected by officers and troops alike. He was the only British solder fluent enough in Italian to take Italy’s surrender from the head of the Fascist army, General Rodolfo Graziani.
He absorbed the work of socialist intellectuals, such as Antonio Gramsci, whose prison letters he translated. From this he learned to value the culture of ordinary people. Not only the ‘travellers’ of Scotland, as is well known, but also the squaddies he served with, who inspired many of his songs. He was a freedom-fighting internationalist, penning the song, Rivonia, an anthem of the anti-apartheid movement.
He also wrote the ‘Freedom Come All-Ye,’ which has been proposed as a new national anthem for Scotland.
Often celebrated for recording and archiving Scotland’s traditional culture in song, poetry and stories, Hamish was also a poet in his own right. His wartime experiences provided the basis for his Somerset Maugham prize-winning collection, Elegies for the dead in Cyrenaica.
There is music from John Morran and Marc Duff, along with Alison McMorland and Geordie McIntyre. Hamish himself contributes historic recordings of his songs.
The film ranges widely from Hamish’s Perthshire birthplace and Spital o’Glenshee home to his Edinburgh haunts, including the iconic Sandy Bell’s bar.