Border Telegraph | News | Legend of sweetie salesman unwrapped

Friday, 16th May, 2008

Published: Wednesday, 7th May, 2008 12:00

Legend of sweetie salesman unwrapped

By Ally McGilvray

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A VICTORIAN millworker from the Borders who inspired one of the most famous children’s songs of all time is to be celebrated by a new group set up to study the area’s past.

Local history enthusiasts Graeme McIver and Mary Craig have been unwrapping the life of 19th century wool weaver Robert Coltart, of Galashiels, for Border Voices.

He dreamt up the ditty, now well-known lullaby Coulter’s Candy, while hawking his sweets around the streets of local towns to attract new customers in a bid to earn extra money.

It is memorable for its opening verse which has been sung to thousands of children across Scotland and many more around the world over the years - Ally, bally, ally bally bee, Sittin’ on yer mammy’s knee, Greetin’ for anither bawbee, Tae buy mair Coulter’s Candy.

However, with Robert Coltart - whose name sounded like Coulter to those who wrote down the song - less well known, Border Voices has an ambition to create a playpark, stage a festival of children’s song and build a statue in his memory.

Speaking to the Border Telegraph this week, Graeme, 39, from Galashiels, said: “I think the song is both the best known and best loved children’s song in Scotland. The fact is it was written by a guy from Galashiels and has been passed down through the generations.”

But he added: “Virtually nobody knows about him and we think he should be commemorated in some way.”

The history buffs want to erect a plaque outside the former millworker’s homes at 48 and 50 Overhaugh Street, where he made the candy before he eventually died in 1880 and was buried in an unmarked grave at Eastlands Cemetery, Galashiels.

Political and historical researcher Mary, 41, from Stow, said: “I think it’s a disgrace that someone like that should be buried in a pauper’s grave.”

Coulter’s Candy, which has a variety of verses, took off beyond the Borders when a song historian published it in a newspaper in the 1950s and got a great response from readers.

It was then recorded by a number of musicians and became the well-known lullaby it is today.

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