I was in the Calton Heritage Centre in November helping the campaign with its anniversary celebration. (see pic on left) I was born just across the road – the Calton means a lot me. I had the honour of working and performing with Matt McGinn. I loved Matt and that Calton spirit.

The Centre is such a friendly, welcoming place. It is full of character and respectful of its history. As you walk into the building, across from the former Templeton carpet factory, you see on the flagstones the names of the 29 women killed at the factory in 1889. The youngest was just 14 years of age.

Inside the community space is the splendid painting by Andrew Hay, commissioned for the Weavers’ bi-centenary, showing the massacre of the Calton Weavers.  Those six men massacred were part of the first ever strike organised on these islands – two years before the French Revolution took place. 

They fought against the wealth and might of Glasgow’s merchants. That wealth was derived from slavery and its produce.

As well as those six weavers who paid the ultimate price, hundreds more faced hardship and brutality. And yet their spirit was not crushed. Indeed the Weavers played a crucial role in the worldwide movement calling for the abolition of slavery. Across from the Calton Heritage Centre at the junction of Abercromby Street is the neglected Burial Ground where three of the martyred Weavers are buried – it is a disgrace that our forebears lie there unacknowledged by the people who run this city.

That’s why I have been pleased to support the work of the Calton Weavers Commemoration Committee who are busy raising funds to have the Burial Ground upgraded and equally importantly, to keep alive the unquenchable flame of resistance embodied by the Weavers and the people of the Calton.

* David hopes to be able to join this year’s Great May Day Cabaret to help raise funds to support the project h