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From "The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald" dated Friday 24th December 1971.
Capt. I. Campbell
Captain Ian D. Campbell died suddenly at his home at 68 Eglinton Road, Ardrossan, on Tuesday morning.
The 69-year old captain who gained fame earlier this year by his courageous voyage with his wife's uncle, 82-year old Mr. Gordon Munro across the Atlantic, had been discharged from hospital last week where he had been confined with a fractured leg following an accident in his home.
Captain Campbell, who belonged to Ardrossan, was well known in the town although he spent most of his career at sea in foreign waters.
He was known also as a poet ; in 1935 he published a book of his verses mostly on local scenes and topics; verses expressive of his lively sense of humour.
In April Ardrossan Town Council held a civic reception in honour of his four month crossing from Gourock to the Bahamas from August, 1970, to February this year, and Captain Campbell was presented with a plaque.
At the end of the epic voyage the captain said that it would be his last one.
Captain Campbell is survived by his wife and daughter.
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I found one of his poems: .....(E)
HAMESEECK
Oh! its nippy doon here at the tail o? the year,
Wae thae humplocks o? seas for a road.
Ay! A silly gowk me tae skedaddle tae sea,
When I micht hae got feed at ?Montfode?
When I micht hae got feed at ?Montfode?
An? had parritch an? dook for ma wame.
But I?m drookit an? soakin?, an retchin? an bockin?,
An? wishin tae Goad I was hame.
I could come tae nae herm on a bonny-like ferm,
An? ye cannae get droont wae a ploo.
Dod the Butter hill?s wee,? by the heicht o? this sea,
But I wish I was up on it noo,
Ay, I wish I was up on it noo.
Wae ma feet on a humplock o? glaur,
But I?m sooth o? Cape Horn on this deevlish morn,
An? I?m thinkin? the sea?s getting waur.
For a guid wheen o? days I?ve been wearin? wat claes,
An? the blankets are wat in ma bunk.
When ye?re herdin? the kye, ye can keep yersel ? dry,
An? a fermyaird?ll never get sunk,
Na! a fermyaird?ll never get sunk
Nor a heystack loup up tae the sky.
But this rusty auld boat gies a dunt an? a stot,
An? she?s leakin? gey badly forbye.
They?ve got nae sails tae set, that I?ve heard tell o? yet,
At ?Whitlees? ? Montfode? or Coalhill;
If I?m spared tae be ta? en tae Ardrossan again,
It?s me for a job at the ?Mill?
Did I say a bit job at the ?Mill??
I?ve ettled tae hae it before,
But I ken geyan weil when I?m twirlin? the wheel,
That I never could settle ashore.
.....................................Ian D Campbell 1935
(EricArdrossanShips)
Ardrossan Lion
THE LION SPEAKS
Tak? notice, a? ye daecent men
Frae Saltcoats tae Montfode road en?,
An a? ye folk that bide roon here
Frae Whitlees tae the Lichthoose Pier,
That I o? noble beasts a scion,
Tae wit, Ardrossan?s Smilin? Lion,
Hae flittit frae my auld location
Tae up forenent the Cale Station.
There?s some folk here hae advocated
That I should be exterminated,
An? ane I ken expressed the view,
No? lang syne up at Kilmahew,
That Skipper Francis o? the tug
Should tak? me like a messan dug
Tae six miles oot frae West Kilbride
An? drap me quately ower the side
Anither man o? high degree
(Convener o? a committee)
Hae said the cooncil wad dae right
Tae dight me quickly oot o? sight.
"Because," said he, "for years its been
On watch, and Guid kens whit it?s seen,
An? tho? it?s just an auld antique
Ae day, it micht think fit tae speak"
They baith maintained my smilin? face
Was ludricrous and oot o? place,
But gin they look aroon? they?ll see
Some lion, faur mair strange, than me.
Just let them haud afore their e?en
A nerarby factory magazine;
The cratur for the cover view
Resembles maist a pooter doo
I will admit that I can smile,
Tho?, faith, its haurdly worth my while
When a? the sensitive elite
Wad raither a lion greet,
I hear them railin? at my smirk
An? sayin?, when they gang tae kirk
"Gin that stane whuppit?s like the lave,
Then Daniel wisnae just sae brave."
But frien?s, I?m safe frae a? that crew;
The precedent?s created noo,
An? tho? they wished me muckle wrang,
They hesitated ower lang.
I?m noo an heirloom constitutit,
A fact nae mair tae be disputit.
Guid luck tae man and wife and wean,
I?ll maybe never speak? again.
Ian Campbell..Ardrossan 1935
Messan = Term of contempt, a lapdog
Flittit = Moved house
Guid kens = God knows
Gin = If
Railin = Jesting, funny remarks.
Maist = Most
Greet = Cry
Pooter = A pigeon |
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