Bo'ness Rebels Literary Society
Bo'ness Rebels Literary Society (known as Bo'ness Rebels Literary Club until they began to publish songbooks in the early 1950s), was a Scottish nationalist organisation, and song collective, operating in Bo'ness, Scotland, between 1948 and 1976, with close links to the Scottish National Party, and its (now defunct) publications department.[1] It was chaired by Mr William Kellock, who was an officer at the bank of Scotland in the town. Following their inaugural event in January 1948, they held events roughly every fews months, which were frequented by many famous Scots associated with the advancement of Scottish independence, the Scottish Renaissance and the Scottish Folk Revival. Namely Thurso Berwick (Morris Blythman), Hamish Henderson, Hugh MacDiarmid, Wendy Wood and Dr. Robert Mcintyre, among others. They continued to publish song books until late 1966.
The earliest record of the society is recorded on the 30 January 1948 in the Bo’ness Journal, which details “Visitors from as far away as Scalpay off Harris, Lochinver and Dornoch were present at the first social function by the newly formed ‘rebels’ Literary club in Bo’ness - a burns supper in the coffee house (a restaurant in the town). William Kellock explained that he had gathered together talent from the four corners of Scotland to honour the national bard and Scotland's cultural heritage before and since his day. The night followed the usual Burns nicht pattern, at the conclusion of which the affiliations of the organisers were made clear. Mr. Clancy, Headmaster at Armadale Academy stated that he had come in loyalty to the Scottish National Party, and had been overwhelmed and delighted with the musical and cultural fare provided."[2] They continued to hold ceilidhs after this, either in the Viewforth hotel on the Wynd, in the Douglas Masonic lodge on Stewart Avenue, or Bo'ness Miners Welfare on Harbour Road, as well as a couple of other places
The preface to ‘The rebels ceilidh song book No. 2’, states that their first publication, 'The rebels Ceilidh song book' was published in 1951/2, however it includes the song ‘Ballad of the Learig bar’, and the Learig bar did not get its license and thus was unable to open until 9/10/1953. It also features songs referencing the postbox bombings in Inch, ‘The ballad of the inch’, ’Sky-High Joe’ and ‘Sky-High pantomime’, which didn't happen until 1953. So their first book must have been published on or after 1953.
There are numerous advertisements in their published works, most of which are related to business' in Bo'ness. Interestingly, it is likely the Bo'ness Rebels Literary Society collected their advertisements from people who were SNP supporters, as is evident through the following examples;
The most apparent of these is the Learig bar of Dean Road to which, a 27 verse poem is dedicated in 'The Rebels Ceilidh Song Book'. By the time of their final publication, the poem had 32 verses.
