Fife author Ian Rankin praises blind student's Louis Braille poem
A blind student's poem about his hero'' Louis Braille has won him a prestigious writing prize - and the admiration of Ian Rankin.
The crime writer presented Andrew Pettigrew, 14, with an award for his work at a ceremony in Edinburgh, telling the Royal Blind School student: I'm thrilled for you pal.''
It was not until he lost his sight that Andrew, from Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, became interested in reading and began making up his own stories which he wrote down in braille.
His poetic tribute to the French creator of the code, titled Who is my Hero?, won him a Pushkin Prizes creative writing award.
Rankin, creator of the best-selling Rebus series, told the student he was very impressed'' with the work. Andrew said:I wasn't interested in reading until I lost my sight when I was young.
Then I used action figures to tell stories and from there I started writing them in braille.
I was so happy when I found out I won the award - I did a bit of a victory dance.''
His mother Josephine said: It was brilliant to see Ian Rankin present Andrew with his prizes, I think there are a few similarities between them. It meant a lot to Andrew to meet him.''