THE launch of a new compilation of the works of the Miners' Poet took place yesterday (Tuesday).

The launch was of a book of a remarkable collection of poems and songs by Cowdenbeath miner, Robert MacLeod (1876 –1958).

The collection has been made by 95 year-old Arthur Nevay from Glencraig, a retired hair-dresser, who has devoted his life to preserving Fife’s social history.

Growing up among mining families, Arthur recalled hundreds of miners who relied upon his father for a haircut: “The manager of the pit used to say there’s mair coal stripped in Jimmy Nevay’s shop than in the Glencraig Colliery!”

Among Arthur’s papers is a remarkable collection of over 120 compositions by former Cowdenbeath miner, Robert MacLeod, (1876–1958).

When a horrific accident hospitalised him for a year, MacLeod became an entertainer, and in the hey-day of the music-hall, performed at the Tivoli, in Cowdenbeath, as well as in pubs and clubs.

He sold broadsheets to earn a few coppers, and in times of strife 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 moral and spirits 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.’

The book was launched by Mr Craig Munro, who accepted books for all the schools. There will be a performance of some of the songs and poems, including one of the remarkable compositions made during the First World War.