A Glencraig Boy

Note: This is about me and the struggle to find out who my dad was. I was never told and at the age of 67 I had a DNA taken and found out to late he died when I was only 9. My mother even on her dying bed with cancer never told me or my family, Only a few left. This definitely gave me a lot of trust issues in my life. A GLENCRAIG BOY Rejoice a new- born child, welcomed into this grey and poverty world. In Glencraig mining village before Christmas in 1951 But the wee laddie was not the chosen one. Far from it four sisters in the family and now a son there was hope However, another mouth to feed how would they cope. Willie toiled all his live every night in the depths of the pit Exchanging his health to excavate the black gold for his wealthy owners. His wife Maggie born into an extremely hard life But this was demanded and expected of the miner’s wife. The eldest girls how little the new were sent away to work in service for the privilege few. Young Margaret taken early out of school to look after the family jewel. Young William had now idea how much she had to sacrifice. As years flew by and housing improved Glencraig was dying and the family moved. Ballingry a new housing estate new houses with toilet, three bedrooms a garden with fields and everything A far cry from the Glencraig where your garden was a bing. Glencraig village died along with the pits they never survived. Unemployment was on the rise and families emigrated was no surprise. Young William grew before you could blink. He was 15 now and it was time to think? So many questions and at home an uncomfortable place. Hidden truths to be told but not to his face. At school becoming so difficult to bear The maths and English he just didn’t care The big wide world did appeal Far distant shores where he longed to be And at fifteen he discovered the sea. Being so young he needed his parent’s consent Just to sign and give approval This is where the story begun “Your sister is your mum and you are her BASTARD SON”! These words destroyed me and changed my life.