A new children's book designed to inspire schoolchildren to explore the Scots language has been created to honor a Dumfries woman. The Lois Sherret Trust was established in memory of Lois Sherret, who passed away at age 40 from bile duct cancer in April 2022. While undergoing treatment at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary, Lois’s friend Claire Berridge promised to craft a book that would celebrate Lois’s life and her love of animals. Three years later, Claire has released The Sherrets’ Sma Haddin (The Sherrets’ Small Holding), a tale recounting Lois and her husband Graham’s move to the countryside to fulfill their dream of running a small farm. Lois’s cancer is a rare type with symptoms that are often hard to detect in the early stages. Claire recalls Lois as someone who brightened every room and made people smile. The two women once worked as waitresses at Burns Supper events, and Lois had a deep appreciation for the Scots language. Lois valued animals highly and believed that kindness, respect, and understanding should extend to all living beings. The Lois Sherret Trust is driven by Claire, who works as a primary school teacher. She plans to take Scots-focused educational workshops to schools across Dumfries and Galloway, paired with hands-on animal experiences. The team can visit primary schools at no cost, share the book, and recount Lois’s story, offering a meaningful learning experience without the usual trip expenses. Claire believes Lois would be immensely proud of what has been achieved and that Lois would be astonished by it—yet she would have loved seeing it come together for her memory.
