IAN Rankin, one of the world’s leading crime writers, paid a visit to Fife College recently to award scholarships to three deserving journalism students.

Cardenden man,Ian, famous for his popular fictional character Rebus, took time out from writing his latest book to meet with the three students, Caitlin Sharkey, Jack Weir and Roseanne Sunter, who all study HND Practical Journalism.

Ian presented the students with their awards at a special awards celebration managed by the Adam Smith Foundation which looks after the scholarship programme.

Gaynor Jamieson, Trust Fundraiser for the Adam Smith Foundation, welcomed Ian to the College’s St Brycedale Campus in Kirkcaldy.

This year’s scholarship was open to students studying a wide range of creative courses including Journalism, TV, Radio and Acting and Performance. To take part, students had to submit a piece of creative writing and their work was read and judged by Ian Rankin himself.

At the event the students got the chance to have lunch and chat with Ian and find out more about him. He was delighted to meet them and told them how difficult it was to judge this year’s scholarship.

Said former Beath High pupil, Ian: “When I was reading the entries I was looking for creative writing that contained something different, a voice I’ve never heard before.

"The winning entries are excellent examples of this, with new viewpoints and surprising plot twists.

“It was great to meet this year’s award winners in person and to also come home to Fife and Kirkcaldy for a short visit. I hope the scholarship inspires this year’s winners on to great things and I wish them the very best for the future".

As well as being awarded £600 each, the winning students also received a signed copy of one of Ian’s books, ‘Knots and Crosses’.

Adam Smith Foundation Trustees, Carol Hunter and John Paterson, were also delighted to attend the event along with Curriculum Manager James Bisset and Journalism lecturer Marie Penman.

After lunch the students got a unique opportunity to take part in a question and answer session with Ian to find out what inspires him which was filmed by journalism students.

Adam Smith Foundation chair, John Paterson said: “Receiving a scholarship from such a well-known author as Ian Rankin means a great deal to the students and is a fantastic achievement which will help them secure future study, employment opportunities as well as providing some extra financial support which is always very welcome.”

“We are delighted that Ian was able to give up his time again to come in to College and to present this very prestigious scholarship award. Ian has been supporting this scholarship for 14 years and awarded over 40 students in that time.

"The Adam Smith Foundation, staff and students of the College are very grateful for this ongoing support which makes such a difference. We are also thankful to Ian for presenting the awards in person and taking time out of his busy schedule to visit the College and meet the students".

Students at Fife College can benefit from a wide range of scholarships which are available for application throughout the year. For further details about the Adam Smith Foundation visit the Fife College website or email scholarships@fife.ac.uk