Songs and rhymes of a lead miner

A vivid picture of life in the Scottish Borders comes through in this miner’s own verses, sketches, and songs. The author recalls humble childhood days wandering glens, begrudging schoolrooms, and the hard‑won wage of a teenage lead washer‑turned‑miner, while letting the rhythm of his violin echo through village gatherings and modest concerts. Interwoven with descriptions of hills, streams and local haunts, the pieces capture the grit, humor and camaraderie of a close‑knit mining community.

The collection also turns a solemn eye to the Great War, offering raw, patriotic rhymes that were meant to lift spirits on the home front. Alongside lighter anecdotes about fishing trips, otter hunts and village characters, the poems reveal a self‑taught man’s earnest attempt to give voice to ordinary folk and the hardships they endured. Listeners will feel the echo of clanking pumps, the wind over the highlands, and a heart that beats with both pride and humility.