Sellin' Coulter's Candy

The lunch with friends, delayed by last weeks's blizzard, was taken today, as we shared a light meal at the Kingsknowes Hotel in Galashiels followed by coffee and delicious cake in a popular and friendly cafe, Pirn House Interiors, at Charlesfield.

Walking round the town later we came across this statue of Robert Coltart, the author and singer of this popular song:

Ally bally,ally bally bee
Sittin on yer mammy's knee
Greetin for a wee bawbee
Tae buy some Coulter's candy

Robert Coltart was a woollen weaver turned confectioner, born in Galloway in 1832, later moved to live in Galashiels. He was a well-known figure who made his boiled sweets in Melrose and sold them, dressing in a variety of colourful clothes, around the markets and fairs of the Border towns. He died, penniless, in 1880 at the age of 47 due to a brain tumour and is buried in an unmarked ("pauper's") grave in Eastlands Cemetery, Galashiels.

The statue,  made by Innerleithen sculptor Angela Hunter, was unveiled on 20th September 2019, statues of a boy and girl (not shown in the blip) were added three months later.