A Traveller in Two Worlds

Duncan Williamson came from a large Scottish Traveller family. Born in a tent by Loch Fyne in 1928, with his Grandmother as the midwife, Williamson grew up surrounded by storytellers, ballad singers and musicians. He attended Furnace Public School, although the Travellers were often subject to prejudice in the local area. He left home at 13 working at everything from farm work to coaching boxing. He eloped and married his cousin Jeannie Townsley with whom he had seven children. Following her death he met and later married Linda Headlee who instigated the publication of his stories and encouraged him to take his reputed repertoire of three thousand tales from the tent to the world. David Campbell's desire to broadcast one of Duncan's stories on BBC Radio Scotland brought about their eventful meeting. Williamson died in 2007 aged 79. This first volume of A Traveller in Two Worlds follows Duncan Williamson's life until 1971. His story will be continued in Volume Two.