Statue tribute to Ally Bally Bee writer

September 20, 2019 | Culture

A sculpture to remember a 19th century Scottish sweetmaker who penned a world famous children’s lullaby has been unveiled.

Hundreds of people attended the ceremony in Galashiels today (Friday 20 September), which saw the Coulter’s Candy statue dedicated to Robert Coltart revealed by sculptor Angela Hunter, local historian Graeme McIver and 14-year-old Liam Darling, a relative of Coltart.

Attendees included folk singer Jimmie Macgregor, who recorded and performed Coulter’s Candy on national television in the 1950s and 60s, helping to popularise it, and over 30 relatives of Robert Coltart from across the UK.

Jimmie said: ‘The song exploded in popularity across the world after we sang it on the Tonight programme.

‘The song has an amazing history and I think this is a wonderful tribute which Galashiels should be proud of.’

Schoolchildren who won a Coulter’s Candy-inspired design competition run by Energise Galashiels Trust also tied ribbons to the statue to symbolise how Robert Coltart advertised his products as he travelled around the town and the Scottish Borders.

Children were able to get sweets at the statue unveiling

The statue is part of a new town trail created by Scottish Borders Council (SBC), which includes a plaque at Coltart’s former home on Overhaugh Street.

The project is supported by the Scottish Government who provided a £1.18million grant last year to help fund a number of regeneration projects in the town.

The sculpture, which involved months of work by Angela Hunter, will be accompanied by statues of a boy and girl by the end of this year.

Angela Hunter, who is originally from Galashiels, local historians Mary Craig and Graeme McIver and local Councillor Sandy Aitchison have all championed Coltart’s story alongside Helen Calder of the Energise Galashiels Trust, leading to the idea of a permanent tribute.

Robert Coltart’s descendants were invited to the unveiling

Angela said: ‘I am delighted to finally see Robert Coltart returned to his hometown.

‘It has been a fantastic project to work on with the council, Energise Galashiels Trust and local community. I worked closely with local historians to try to ensure the finished sculpture reflected the descriptions of Robert Coltart from the time, as well as his flamboyant character.

‘I am looking forward to adding the two sculptures of a boy and girl to complete the piece.’

Graeme McIver, who has been championing Robert Coltart’s story for over 10 years, added: ‘My interest in his story began when I witnessed a Japanese film crew visiting Galashiels in the late 1990s to research the life of Coltart, but until now his story has largely been unknown in his hometown.

‘Robert Coltart was well known across Galashiels and the Borders in the late 19th century for selling his boiled sweets at fairs and festivals, dressing in a variety of colourful clothes, and singing his much loved lullaby song to help advertise his wares.

‘It is fantastic that Robert Coltart and his famous song can now be remembered and recognised by his local community.’

To mark the sculpture unveiling, The Borders Family Society is hosting a small exhibition dedicated to Robert Coltart in their Overhaugh Street office. It opens today and then every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10am to 4pm.