Fairy Stories
Recorded 3 years ago
About this recording
Legends of Caithness is a project which aims to preserve the folklore and myths of the Caithness landscape. As part of this project, Wick Voices led a storytelling workshop on 13th July 2023. Recordings from the Wick Voices collection were shared.
Legends of Caithness – Fairy Stories
Ian Leith tells the story of George Wallace Levack, a blacksmith, poet, and local legend who lived in Wick. George was born in Lanark, but both his parents were from Wick. Sadly his parents died during his infancy, so he was brought up by two aunts in Wick. He was a well-known character in the town.
In 1895 George took a walk along Wick River. There he encountered the Fairy Queen and many of her attendants. On his return to the town and on regaling his experience, the people of the town, in recognition of his bravery among the fairies, organised for George, a reception and dinner in the Caledonian Hotel. He was also presented with a silver-topped cane, inscribed "Presented to G W Levack by his admirers for bravery displayed amongst the fairies." The cane is now on display in Wick Heritage Museum.
The photograph of George Wallace Levack is from the Johnston Collection.
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