Grant Stone, a 30-year resident of Summerland, read cowboy poetry to a crowd of seniors gathered at the Summerland Seniors Drop-In Centre for a potluck dinner last week.
Stone, whose day job is driving the local HandiDart bus, reads and writes poetry as a hobby.
He defines cowboy poetry as verbal images of hired hands gathered around a campfire sharing their experiences.
When asked why he chooses to entertain people with his poetry readings he quoted a friend who said this of him: “Grant has gift and he is willing to share it.”
Stone recited Robert Service’s poem Dangerous Dan McGrew from memory in response to an audience request.
He went on to point out that another of Service’s poems, The Cremation of Sam McGee was based on a man who had lived three years in Summerland.
Service never met McGee, but chose his name from a bank deposit slip he found.
There is a street near the Summerland golf course that is named after Sam McGee.