Wild moment: Dick Clark
In 1999, Dick Clark presented a trophy to Durness School in memory of his wife Jem and the many happy times they spent exploring Sandwood.
The first recipent of Durness School's ‘Sandwood Quaich for artistic merit’ was Catrina Veitch. Dick said: "The next day Catrina visited to show me her artwork. She brought her paintings, but also her little book of poetry and, although written from a youthful perspective, the poems mirrored in some ways those penned by Jem...”
Sandwood Bay by Jem Clark
Dark angry clouds move swiftly by,
Casting shadows o’er black peat bogs,
Draped with flowering heather,
Firm against the moorland breeze
Oh this ever changing weather.
Weary of leg I rest,
And feel the loneliness and beauty
Of this desolate empty wilderness,
Reaching the souls of all who tread this path
In search of the mystical Sandwood Bay.
Dark clouds break to clear blue skies,
Brown earthy water gurgles underfoot
Sparkling in the autumn sunlight.
The summit is near, spirits are high.
A feast of splendour surrounds me.
Lush green pastures give to glorious golden sands,
Where fairies hold their moonlight dance.
Offshore there lies a stack spearing into the sky,
It’s said a beautiful mermaid is resident nearby.
Memories of shipwrecks pattern the golden sand,
Thundering seas claim this beautiful lonely land.
When the moon climbs high in the heavens,
And fairies come out to play,
The sweet music of the mermaid singing I’ll hear,
When I return to Sandwood Bay.
© Jem Clark, 1998