My father told me this many years ago. He was working down the Highhouse pit that Saturday morning. He and his mate, Jock McCormick, completed their shift then had to run, quoit in hand, down through the estate to compete in the quoiting competition which he won. Quite a feat at nineteen years of age and, I thought, worthy of a few lines of verse in recognition.

Wull Bryden

Staunin’ in the pit bottom, soaking wae sweat
mumblin’ tae his mate “we’ll get a man tow yet”
They had hewn and drawn twenty hutch o’ coal
an early tow had been their goal.

The bottomer didnae ken, or care
that they hudnae time tae spare.
Suddenly the bell rings loud and clear
chaps three for men, sweet music to the ear

The cage is cleared and on they go
“My is that bottomer no deed slow”
He signals and the cage moves up the shank
no be long tae the pit head bank.

Aff the cage, doon the stairs they dash,
for, before they go they will hiv tae wash.
In hame, stripped, and into the tin tub
“Hey Mither, gie ma back a rub”.
A slice o’ breed, a swally o’ tea
Hurry ma mates here for me.

They grab haud o’ a quoit apiece
head towards a big hoose caud Dumfries.
Will be too bad if he’s disqualified
efter hoo hard they have tried.
Doon through the estate fae Highhouse raw
in time, delighted to be there ataw

This is the biggest quoiting tournement he’s ever been in
he’s to beat all the champs if he’s to win
the tounement at Dumfries House Estate,
run for the Red Cross. His future in the hands of fate.

His first opponent he easily beat,
now relaxed and prepared the rest to meet.
Meet them he did, and by the wayside they did fall
through to the final, awaiting his call.

Triumphant, a gladiator that day
to collect his prize he made his way.
A gold watch, presented on stage,
quite a feat for a lad nineteen years of age.
His name, his feat on the watch back to see
inscribed there to eternity
“Won by William Bryden at the Red Cross Fete Dumfries House, 22.6.1918”