Robert MacLeod, Cowdenbeath Miner Poet: Anthology by Arthur Nevay

ROBERT MACLEOD: An Anthology by Arthur NevayArthur Nevay has collected over 120 compositions by former Cowdenbeath miner, Robert MacLeod (1876-1958), who became an entertainer after a mining accident ended his career.He wrote for music-hall performances at the Cowdenbeath Tivoli and sang round pubs and clubs, selling broadsheets to earn money, and to help soup kitchens, disaster funds, war wounded and other needy causes. MacLeod lived through two World Wars, the 1926 Strike, the Great Depression, eight decades of colliery disasters, and he wrote ‘lest we forget’. He also raised the spirit of the community, with his droll, witty, ‘one-liners’ that made folk laugh. His work inspired the late John Watt, whose songs such as ‘Fife’s Got Everything’ and ‘ the Kelty Clippie’ share MacLeod’s irreverent wit. Among Arthur’s papers is a letter from John stating that ‘lines like these should not be forgotten. This collection of Robert MacLeod’s poems, songs and other creative work would have all but vanished were it not for the dedication and devotion of one person: Arthur Nevay, of Glencraig, Fife.We owe him a huge debt of gratitude, which, as far as 95-year-old Arthur is concerned, has already been repaid by the pleasure it brought to him, knowing that theme and work of Robert MacLeod will not be forgotten, and folk far and wide may enjoy his legacy.