Playing her part in fighting abuse

Nov 25 2009 by Lynn Jolly, Paisley Daily Express

TOP crime writer Alex Gray has thrown her weight behind a conference being staged in Paisley to hammer home the message that domestic abuse must not be tolerated.

The Outrage Conference, which takes place in Paisley Town Hall today, is part of the global White Ribbon Campaign to encourage men to put an end to violence against women.

Speakers at the event will include Scotland’s top legal eagle, Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini QC; Louise Moore, from Women and Children First; and Margaret Nilsson, of Renfrewshire Women’s Association (RWA).

Alex, who lives in Bishopton and is a former teacher at Park Mains High School, in Erskine, has given permission for her play In Memoriam to be performed at the conference.

She told the Paisley Daily Express: “A lot of people wrongly believe that domestic abuse is a working class problem but In Memoriam shows that abuse is not a working class thing.

“It portrays a middle class woman whose solicitor husband dies of a heart attack. He had put her through a life of hell but his public persona was very different.

“When he dies, she has the chance to spill the beans about what he was really like but she maintains her dignity.

“The play will appeal to men and women alike because it focuses on a memorial service and a funeral. Everybody has heard eulogies and thought, ‘Is that actually about the person I knew’, and there is an element of that here.”

Alex is among 11 of Scotland’s masters of crime fiction who came together to create Shattered – a collection of short stories released to support Victim Support Scotland.

Her tale, Voices Through The Wall, sits alongside others by writers such as Christopher Brookmyre, from Barrhead, and the introduction is by Ian Rankin.

Every writer penned their story, unusually, from the victims’ point of view and they donated their royalties to Victim Support.

Alex added: “It is absolutely vital for people to show their support. Abuse against any member of the human race is wrong.”

Any man who wears a white ribbon to support the project makes a personal pledge never to commit, condone or stay silent about violence against women.

RWA member Sharon McAulay, who is also adult support worker with Paisley’s STAR Project charity, is among local organisers of the conference.

She said: “Myself and Louise Moore will be hosting workshops on the day and there will also be a display of artwork by ladies at the STAR Project and Mossvale Nursery Parents Group in Paisley.

“I think it is great that the Lord Advocate will be there. It shows that people are listening and that awareness is being raised.”