An evening of poetry readings in 2006 at a local book shop in North East Scotland, has resulted in the publication of a debut poetry collection for a poet born in the village of Lavant and former Bishop Luffa student. During the event, at Better Read Books in Ellon, Aberdeenshire, Bernard Briggs, met author and publisher Michael William Molden of Aberdeen based Cauliay Publishing, who having heard Bernard read some of his work, invited him to submit some poems for an anthology that he was planning entitled ‘Poets Centre Stage’. Following the success of the anthology, which was published earlier this year, Mr Molden then invited Bernard to compile his own collection. The resulting book, ‘Love, Cry and Wonder Why’ has just been published and is an eclectic mix of thought provoking, moving, deeply layered and, at times humorous poetry, that has been more than thirty years in the making. Bernard, who moved to Scotland with his family in 2003 and who’s Mother, Mary still lives in Joys Croft Court, St Pancras, said: ‘I started writing poetry whilst at Bishop Luffa School in Chichester, back in the early seventies, but it’s only been within the last ten years that I’ve written on a regular basis. I very nearly didn’t go to that poetry evening last year, but I’m glad I did now; I’m very excited at having my poetry published and I do hope that people enjoy what they read.’