From left to right, Frank Geoghegan-Quinn, Roger Pim, Jan Anderson and Pete Hancock toast the launch of BSA Scotland.

Cathy Peattie, MSP and keynote speaker at the launch.

Claire Arneil (right) takes the opportunity to speak about her experiences of education with a disability officer from Napier University.

The British Stammering Association (Scotland) was praised by Cathy Peattie, MSP and keynote speaker, at our formal launch at the Edinburgh City Chambers on 1st December 2004. Cathy was extremely encouraging about the arrival of the new Scottish branch and demonstrated a real willingness to support our efforts.

The launch was attended by people who stammer, MSPs, speech and language therapists, voluntary sector organisations, disability officers and journalists. It was opened by the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, The Rt. Hon. Lesley Hinds, followed by an introduction to BSA Scotland from our new Scottish Convenor, Frank Geoghegan-Quinn, and Jan Anderson.

Three speakers (Roger Pim, Claire Arneil and Allan McGroarty) described their personal experience of stammering before Rachel Everard (BSA Chair) provided a perspective on the UK organisation. The event was rounded off by a spine tingling rendition of the song 'Circle Game' from John Boyd, member of the Edinburgh Stammering Support Group.

The launch featured on BBC Radio Scotland and BBC Reporting Scotland (TV news). Articles also appeared in three newspapers, including a double-paged spread of personal narratives in the Edinburgh Evening News that moved several callers to contact us. These callers, who had never had speech and language therapy, said they would like to meet others who stammer. They were dumbfounded that perhaps 60,000 people in Scotland share the experience they have struggled with alone for many years. We see part of our task as reaching out to the many adults who stammer who either cannot or have not accessed therapy, to provide opportunities for mutual support. We need to appeal to the widest possible group to gather sustainable numbers to flourish in Scotland.