Local man, Jamie Stirling shared this with me a few weeks ago. His wee girl Sophie had a class task about Blantyre and wrote up this excellent poem. Typed up in the library, schoolgirl Sophie won a little reward for such a first class effort. I love to see local children taking an interest […]
TAE ABSENT SOULS Our final post of the year, our own little poem….. for you. We’re quick tae mourn celebs no here, tae those of fame, yet shed nae tears, ‘this years bin rough’, we’re quick tae moan, but real sadness, kept tae oor own. Blantyre faithers, brothers and sons, nae longer here, we miss […]
Something that will be familiar to many families in Scotland and beyond…. Father was a Miner My father was a miner, He worked deep underground; The rush of drams and clanking chains. They were his daily sounds. He worked so far below the ground, Where coal was hewed by pick, The work so hard and […]
“The House by the Mill in the Meadow” by James Cornfield (2004) Down Pech Brae by Calder’s stream, in autumn is a place so green, orange, gold and yellow too, all enhanced by old Millheugh, the place that Blantyre people know, as the House by the Mill in the Meadow to describe the scene […]
‘Tis true there was a Priory here, of that there is no doubt, the markings, Tommy Hawkins, was the man who carved them out. ‘Tis said that a tunnel was discovered in the year of 1945. a monk buried under every tree? Not proven yet not denied…… This Priory built by men of God is […]
How did Blantyre get its name nobody seems to ken, some say it’s from the Gaelic, or the field of the Holy men, others say a warm retreat, still other’s the field of St Blane whatever you choose you may be right, but first let me explain…. In ancient times ‘tis written, that a […]
“A Lassie fae Blantir”, by Paul Veverka (2017) Blantir lassies, wha ken their ‘ain minds, staun’ heidstrong ‘an sure, ‘ur awfy kind, some blessed wi’ fortune, others in the mire, But ye’ll never tak a lassie awa’ fae Blantyre. Fair heided maidens, wi’ love ther herts’ fill, Fae Springwells tae Kirkton, Barnhill ‘an Coatshill, their […]