A Rose Loupt Oot, edited by David Betteridge

A Rose Loupt Oot is a collection of songs and poems associated with the work-in at the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders, now nearly 40 years ago. The bulk of the work here was created at the time, for the workers, but there are a few commemorative pieces included too. Extensive notes introduce the songs and poems in turn, and help explain the historical context. This was, roughly, that Ted Heath’s government refused to bail out the UCS, it led not to a strike, but to a work-in where the workers completed all of the existing orders the shipyard had, gaining massive public support and eventually forcing the government’s support too.

The book explains this properly, don’t worry. And it’s a great book, where the historical notes set up the creative pieces nicely, and the creative pieces fill out the historical context – to get a good sense of this event, it’s very valuable to have a record of the art of the time. It’s a notably strong selection, with work by everyone from folk singers Matt McGinn and Jimmie MacGregor to poet Jackie Kay, and even TV dramatist Donna Franceschild. The quality is probably so high because the common subject was, and is, such a strong inspiration. [Keir Hind]