The Sair Road written by William Hershaw and illustrated by Les McConnell is a poem sequence written in Scots based on the Stations of the Cross and set in Fife during the coal mining strikes of the twentieth century. It is being published by Grace Note Publications in 2018 to co-incide with the exhibition Hewers of Coal and Verse at the Lochgelly Centre which will celebrate the life and work of the Cardenden dramatist and playwright Joe Corrie, (1894 -1968) as well as the lesser known miner poets Peter “Pindar” Leslie, (1835 - 1905) and Robert McLeod, (1876 - 1958). Les McConnell’s drawings of the Stations of the Cross will form part of the exhibition which runs from 4th of May until the 8th of August, 2018 at the Lochgelly Centre, Fife
Blessit are thaim wi a drouth for richt
In The Sair Road by William Hershaw pays tribute to miners and their communities, setting their tragedies and resilience in the context of the last days of Christ. The structure of the Stations of the Cross (plus a song and some fine Beatitudes by way of conclusion) works well. And there’s a helpful introduction, setting out his purpose.
His rich, authentic Scots is well-suited to express this drouth for richt. That he can find humour as well as pathos as the story relentlessly unfolds, is a measure of his skill.
Les McConnell’s drawings are a potent addition to the words – transforming the biblical narrative to a 20th century Fife coal-mining landscape.
With their powerful words and images these two artists have revealed the dignity of a mining community.
King Coal was a bad old cuif:
Spine-snapper, baa-squeezer, jaw-drapper,
Knee-capper, airm-twister, dislocater, wife-slapper,
Bairn-beater, son-stealer, saul-pauchler, undertaker,
Doo-strangler, match-fixer,
Compensation-refuser, inquest-wrangler …
… Despair-warseler, telegram-bringer,
(Amang other hings).Review by Christine DeLuca
William Hershaw evokes the downfall – or rather, the planned and systematic destruction – of Scotland’s mining industry in plain authentic Scots, using verse of which the measured and disciplined tread highlights, rather than veiling, the anger which the story arouses; and in an audacious but devastatingly effective move, presents the narrative as a re-enactment of the Biblical account of Christ’s journey to the Cross. The Sair Road is a noble memorial to a proud but doomed part of Scottish social history; but it is also a triumphant affirmation, unexpected in modern literature, of faith in God and in the indomitable strength of human nature. The poems, together with Les McConnell’s memorable illustrations, form one of the outstanding works of contemporary Scottish literature. Review by Derrick McClure
A note about the Author
William Hershaw is a poet, playwright, folk musician and Scots Language activist. His Stars Are The Aizles – Selected Poems In Scots 1976-2016 was published in 2017 by The Neepheid Press. He is the leader of The Bowhill Players, a musical and dramatic group who perform the works of Joe Corrie and other Fife based miner poets. Other works by the author published by Grace Note: Tammy Norrie (Novel) Postcairds Fae Woodwick Mill – Orkney Poems In Scots (Poetry). Plays: The Tempest in Scots; Michael - A Ballad Play; Jennie Lee’s Homework Project.
A note about the Illustrator
Les McConnell received his art education at Edinburgh College of Art in the 1960s, a time of great social and cultural change In 1970 he was awarded a post graduate scholarship and travelled to study art in Holland. He participated in numerous exhibitions over the years, highlights being the Royal Scottish Academy, the Society of Scottish Artists and a one man show in Fife. The greatest highlight, however, is the present collaboration with Willie Hershaw. Translating his words in ‘The Sair Road’ into images has been an exciting challenge and a privilege.
