Vicky, the queen died in 1901,
Then followed she was by Edward her son,1
Ending the era her name has inferred.
Socialist voices increasingly heard,2
From origins lowly, Keir Hardie rose,
Two Labour Parties he dared to propose.3
Tories in power with Art as PM,4
In-party discord unable to stem
Easily Lib'rals won the election,5
Introduced pensions for the old section6
Dark clouds over Europe heralded war,
The Kaiser's aggression all must deplore,7
Eight million lay dead, twenty one crippled,8
By deadly gunfire heartlessly stippled.
Four years of conflict---naivety gone,
Emperor William not brought to atone!9
Not only Scotland but we played our part,
'Er Mass conscription, were in from the start.
War One's aftermath: pandemic of flu;
Politic's raised in polemic anew,10
Liberals routed and Tories well beat,11
Each "Clydesider Red" went south for his seat,12
Another two years saw Labour's first win,13
Just for one year then again Tories in14
Mine owners' wage-cuts caused gen'ral dissent,15
Others joined in so all knew what that meant,16
On strike for nine days then called it all off,
The Congress gave in and Stanley could scoff17
People then voted for Lossie's own son;18
Depression hit hard and all was undone;
A Nat'nal approach with Mac at the head;19
SNP founded which Cunninghame led20
Places depressed helped with funds set aside,21
Queen Mary launched from the Bank of the Clyde22
Nat'nal approach now with Stan at the head;23
Telly researches which John Logie led;24
Scots culture Beeb broadcasts sought to revive,25
National feelings were bound to survive26
But shelved it must be, all Europe's ablaze,27
Because of the Nazi's Lebensraum craze28
All ports on the Clyde a vital role played,
Essential supplies---war effort maintained;
Sheltered at Greenock repaired were the ships,
Kept ocean lanes open for US trips.
Gerry bombed Clydeside, a thousand folk died,29
The Allies won through and everyone sighed.
Jobs in the Highlands created by Tom,30
While Border's farmers did better than some31
Clem was elected and Winston was out;32
From Motherwell came a Nationalist shout33
Honours conferred on Sir Alex Fleming,34
Antibiotics from his work stemming;35
Ayrshire's Boyd Orr with his Plan for World Food,36
The UN rebuffed, for peace then he stood37
In "Northern Athens" 'twas carnival time,38
All song and dance, drama, music and rhyme.
Beveridge Report was adopted at last,39
And free NHS by Labour was passed40
"Home Rule!" was the cry, they took back the Stone,41
Where Ed (one) had put it---under his throne42
Tories and Labour now end neck and neck,43
Forsaken Jo has a lonesome old trek,44
Down to the "Smoke", restating his mission,
Folk keener to watch their television45
Moving abroad reduced population,46
The cause was de-industri'lization47
SNP's Ewing won Hamilton's seat;48
And North Sea's oil kept the Chancellor sweet;
Donside now has a hamburger flavour;49
All day gin-slings you're able to savour50
The question: Should Scotland now be devolved?51
"Dinna ken" answer left it unresolved52
Chips (not with fish) made in Silicon Glen;53
Rise still in old trades of unemployed men54
Flowers in Glasgow---most refreshing sights,55
In culture the city reaches the heights,56
Music and song, the Burrell Collection,57
Some of the good things that one should mention
Flourishing tourism, but fishing declined.
For their own parli'ment Scots had a mind,58
First Minister was tall Donald Dewar,
Labour came top, Scot Nat's seats much fewer,59
Tory and Lib Dem seats almost the same,
Scots Independence now all but in name.60
Notes
1 Edward VII, (r.1901-1910).
2 Independent Labour Part founded, 1893.
3 James Keir Hardie, (1856-1915), the illegitimate son of Mary Keir who later married David Hardie,
was a pioneer socialist, and was fundamental in founding the Scottish Party, 1888
and also founded the Independant Labour Party in 1893.
4 Arthur Jas Balfour, (1848-1930), resigned 1905
5 Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, P.M. 1906, (1836-1908).
6 Old age pensions, 1908.
7 William II, Emperor of Germany.
8 8,538,315 dead; 21,219,452 wounded, overall.
9 Abdicated but protected in exile by the Dutch.
10 Thirty Scots Labour MPs elected in 1922.
11 Liberals 16; Lib. Unionists 12; Tories 15.
12 The press nick-named the new Scottish labour MPs "Red Clydesiders".
13 Ramsay MacDonald PM, 1923, (1866-1937).
14 Stanley Baldwin PM, 1924.
15 General Strike, 4-12 May, 1926.
16 Railways, transport, docks, building, printing, metal trades and power industries closed down.
17 Trade Union Congress. Stanley Baldwin, P. M.
18 Ramsay MacDonald, P. M., (1929-1935).
19 National Government, under R. MacDonald.
20 The Scottish National Party led by R B Cunninghame Graham, 1928.
21 Special Areas Act, 1934.
22 Cunard liner no. 534 built in John Brown's shipyard, 1934.
23 National Government, under Baldwin, 1935.
24 John Logie Baird father of television.
25 The BBC gave opportunities to Scots writers and dramatists.
26 Saltire Society founded, 1936.
27 World War II, (1939-45).
28 Expansionist, literally "living space".
29 13-15 March, 1940.
30 Thomas Johnston, (1881-1965). The Hydro-electric scheme.
31 They prospered meeting new demands.
32 Labour under Atlee elected, 1945.
33 Dr. R. McIntyre first SNP MP, 1945.
34 Discoverer of penicillin, (1881-1955).
35 Shared the Nobel prize for medicine in 1945.
36 Lord John Boyd Orr, (1880-1971).
37 Awarded Nobel peace prize in 1949.
38 First Edinburgh International Festival, 1947.
39 Sir William Beveridges 1942. Report on social services adopted under Labour.
40 National Health Service established, 1948.
41 Scottish Convention held and 2.5 million sign for Home Rule.
42 Stone of Destiny, stolen by Edward I, was retreived from Westminster Abbey, 1950.
43 Tories win under Churchill, 1951.
44 Jo Grimond, leader of the Liberal Party, and MP for Orkney and Shetland, held the party's only seat
45 Scottish Independent Television starts, 1955.
46 1951 census, quarter of a million migrated.
47 Reduction in employment un heavy industries.
48 Winifred Ewing won by-election, 1967, (d.2006).
49 Aberdeen had become the oil capital and was being inundated by Americans.
50 Licensing (Scotland) Act, 1976.
51 Devolution referendum, 1979.
52 Only 32% were in favour, although that was a majority of those voting.
53 Over 50% of Britain's integrated circuits built there.
54 Unemployment at over 13%, 1987.
55 Glasgow Garden Festival, 1988.
56 European City of Culture, 1990.
57 Home of the National Orchestra and Orpheus, (later Phoenix), Choir.
58 74% voted in favour
59 Election, May 1999.
60 Scottish Parliament Officially opened July 1999. It removed to the new purpose-built building on
September 7, 2004 which cost ten times the original budget!
Acknowledgement:
Writing this history-based rhyme has given me much pleasure and I should just like to put on record
my thanks to Sheena for her indulgance and for proof-reading the entire text and for her suggestions
and corrections. I should also like to thank all of you, who have seen earlier draft excerpts,
for your interest and encouragement.
Charles M. Flett
Sources:
J. D. Mackie, A History of Scotland, 1976
J. Halliday, Scotland A Concise History, 1990
S. Boardman, The Early Stewart Kings, Robert II and Robert III, 1996
B. Lenman, The Jacobite Cause, 1986
I. Donnachie and G. Hewitt, A Companion to Scottish History, 1989
J. Guy, 'My Heart is my Own'. The Life of Mary Queen of Scots, 2004
T. C. Smout, A History of the Scottish People, 1560-1830, 1982
T. C. Smout, A Century of the Scottish People, 1830-1950, 1988
W. Ferguson, Scotland 1689 to the Present, 1997
A. Marwick, British Society since 1945, 1996
Scotland Office Website
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