The FRUITS OF THEIR LABOUR CD represents the culmination of the work of the LANARKSHIRE SONGWRITERS for the FRUITS OF THEIR LABOURS PROJECT supported and funded by CLYDE AND AVON VALLEY LANDSACAPE PARTNERSHIP ( CAVLP ) and the HERITAGE LOTTERY FUND.
This CD includes original songs from ROBIN LAING, GORDON NEIL, JOHN MALCOLM, CHRIS McCULLOCH, MARTN COFFIELD, BOB BRADFORD, DOUGIE SEMPLE, IAN WALKER, FRANK RAE, JOHN YOUNG, RAB ARMOUR, IAN MAIRS, and BILLY STEWART.
The idea for the project came from Billy Stewart who himself is the son of a Fruit Grower and Nurseryman. It was felt that the industry that was the CLYDE VALLEY was now gone with very few growers still involved. For the main part the Clyde Valley now represents Garden Centres and Coffee shops in people’s minds. In the past a “ Trip down the Clydeside “ meant going out for plants , tomatoes or strawberries and now means a visit to a coffee shop then a walk round the Garden Centre. Many people will not realise the part the CLYDE VALLEY played in Scotland’s History. The Lanarkshire Songwriters decided to support the project and to create a CD of songs that relate to the Clyde Valley’s historical past. Some songs were created form the interviews collected from people who had been involved with Fruit Growing and Horticulture and some were written from personal experience. Many of the songwriters had no previous knowledge of the Clyde Valley and came to the project with a completely blank canvas. Through research and listening to the interviews they found the inspiration for their songs. With others it was talking about the past
that reminded them of previous involvement either personally or from other family members.
The initial idea was to get the information and to create a CD of new original songs. However after discussions with CAVLP a more expansive project was envisaged. The initial phase was to meet with and record the memories of people who had been involved directly or indirectly with Fruit Growing and Horticulture in the Clyde Valley. This information was then made available to the Lanarkshire Songwriters to help them in writing the new songs. It was also decided to involve three local Primary Schools in the project. This entailed songwriters visiting the schools over a specified period of time to discuss the project and to work with a specific class to create songs about what is their local history. The schools involved were Kirkfieldbank Primary, Underbank Primary and Overtown Primary. When the songs were written they were then recorded by SOUND SENSE RECORDING SERVICES and a CD produced.
The CD is APPLE DAY and the songs can be heard by visiting www.clydeandavonvalley.org
There were also concerts which allowed the children involved to perform their songs to a wide audience. This part of the project also allowed for Songwriters who have not worked in schools before to become involved with established Songwriters in this area.
We also offered a songwriting workshop as part of the CLYDE and AVON VALLEY FESTIVAL and The Lanarkshire Songwriters performed their songs from the CD at a Cappuccino Concert in FLOWER OF SCOTLAND GARDEN CENTRE in Rosebank.
Overall FRUITS OF THEIR LABOURS was a superb project to be part of and we thank CAVLP and the HERITAGE LOTTERY FUND for their support
Hopefully the songs will create an ongoing history of this growing time that will mean that the CLYDE VALLEY will never be forgotten nor will the contribution to Scotland’s history that it made.
All the songs from the CD and the interviews can be found at www.clydeandavonvalley.org
The Lanarkshire Songwriters would like to thank CAVLP and the HERITAGE LOTTERY FUND for all the support given and for making it possible to complete this fantastic project and ensuring that the history of Fruit Growing and Horticulture in the CLYDE VALLEY will live on.