Aberlady resident, market-gardener, local historian, author, poet and founder of Aberlady Drama Society, John Pringle Reid (JPR 1862-1930) wrote extensively about the village.
The Skipper’s Daughters
This novel is set during Aberlady’s legendary smuggling days. Very few copies of the work remain in circulation and those that possess them hold them close. It was a plan to publish an online version of the complete novel and this may still happen. In the meantime, Chapters I and II are replicated below as a taster. Please, let us know what you think about the merits of a complete republication (hello@aberladyheritage.com). In the original form of the novel, JPR renamed the village as Glenpeffer, Gullane as Sandyknowes, Luffness Mains as Muirend and Ballencrieff as Criefton.
Chapter I. At the Old Ship Inn
Chapter II. The Skipper
Facts and Fancies: Old Aberlady in Poetry and Song
Here readers will find a selection of the many poems and songs of the village that were penned by John Pringle Reid. JPR was a well-known poet in his days and we are very fortunate indeed that through his skills, and his fondness for the village and its characters, that we are able to access through his words the days of Old Aberlady. Some of these wonderful works are available below.
In Celebration
The Aberlady Race – a tribute to ‘the Race’, the precursor to the modern Gala Day. Another account of the Aberlady Race is here.
The Kirn – an account of the night-long kirns of the past.
In Memory
“Three Paintings” – dedicated to the memory of JPR’s father, village grocer and photographer, James Reid, who died while JPR was still a young boy.
“I Wonner Whaur They’ll A’ be Noo” – on looking at a photo of his old school friends
Romance
The Milk Errand – when the young laddies and lassies on summer nights past vied for their fancie’s attention while collecting milk from maids in the ‘Coo Park’. Crummie frae the kye:0)
Rural Courtship – a colourful and lively tale of rustic and earthy romance.
Of the School
The Auld Schule Bell – memories come to mind at the sound of the ‘squeek-clink’ of the bell of the former school in the village Main Street (now part of the Leddie Hotel).
Of the Auld Kirk
Jamie Smith – the ghost of the central character in The Skipper’s Daughters confronts JPR in the kirkyard. The planned renovations to the old kirk are wanted by Lord Wemyss only and, as the spokesman for the rest of the interred, the ghost warns that if plans to flatten the kirkyard are also carried out, some haunting will be done.
Of Nature and our Countryside
To the Peffer Burn – an ode by JPR to his dear Peffer Burn
Chiel o’ the Clachan: An Aberlady Boyhood 1862-1875
This is an autobiographical account of JPR’s schoolboy days in the village during the period described in the title. Written when the author was still a teenager, and beautifully illustrated, it offers an intriguing glimpse, through eyes untinted by the passage of time, of a rural way of life and traditions now sadly passed from living memory. An extract on the Aberlady Race, a forerunner of the Rose Queen, the May Queen and the village Gala, is available here. It’s a fascinating read. “These few years past”, he writes, “Aberlady has never assumed the same stir on the Race day as in the years I have described; many of the old customs having died out. And although the events and prizes in the programme of Games (the chief attraction of the day) are still much the same, and are generally well contested, there is a perceptible want of energy in the proceedings, which augurs that even the Games may not see many more years.”
A Historical Guide to Aberlady
This is a re-publication by the Society of JPR’s historical guide to the village. An extract is available here.
Both the Historical Guide to Aberlady and Chiel o’ the Clachan have been published/republished by the Society and copies may be purchased by email to hello@aberladyheritage.com