WHUPPITY SCOORIE

Series

Series Name

Mining Review 8th Year

Issue

Issue No.

8

Date Released

Apr 1955

Stories in this Issue:

1. 1WIGAN SKIPS
2. 2WHUPPITY SCOORIE
3. 3CHASE FOR PRODUCTION
4. 4JO HAre

Story

Story No. within this Issue

2 / 4

Summary

BFI synopsis: traditional rites at Lanark.
NCB Commentary - The 1st March, 1955, saw the middle reaches of the Clyde still locked in the grip of ice and snow. The steam from the colliery winding engines at the pits around Lenark blended with the snowcovered landscape.
But in Lenark itself the townsfolk were getting ready to welcome spring with a ceremonial whose origins are lost in time. The title - Whuppity Scoorie, perhaps a reminder of pagan rites, when the crops were scourged to ensure their fertility.
March 1st this year, St. David’s Day to the Welshman, brought half a gale and a driving blizzard to make difficult the job of decking out the town square. The statue of Wallace surveyed the scene with a stoical calm.
Sharp at 6 o’clock the wee bell in the church tower is tolled for the first time since last September. Now the great bell joins its noted to those of the town band gathered in front of the Church.
Whuppity Scoorie to-day is a children’s festival. They hold a running free flight with conkers made of newspaper in memory of the scourgings of the middle ages.
The provost makes a speech to his audience of young citizens and then, with the eye of the law upon them, they set out to race three times round the old Church in the square.
With the race over the real business of the evening begins, as far as the children are concerned.
The band still plays as the Provost and Town Council throw out coppers for the young citizens to scramble over. At dusk the youngsters still have possession of the square.
Next morning, March 2nd, spring still looked as far away as ever among the grey stones of Lanark town.

Researcher Comments

Commentary recorded 7 March 1955.

Keywords

Music and dance; Entertainment and leisure; Children; Customs and traditions; Mining

Locations

Scotland; Lanark

Written sources

British Film Institute Databases   Used for synopsis
The National Archives COAL 32   /3 Scripts for Mining Review, 1949-1956

Credits:

Production Co.

Documentary Technicians Alliance

Sponsor

National Coal Board