Headstone marks Ally Bally Bee writer's grave

The gravestone features a few lines from the famous children's rhyme

A headstone to mark the final resting place of the sweet salesman who wrote the children's rhyme Ally Bally Bee has been put in place in the Borders.

Robert Coltart was buried at the Eastlands Cemetery in Galashiels in 1880 in an unmarked grave.

A successful campaign has raised the necessary funds for the memorial to the weaver turned confectioner.

It comes after plans were revealed last year for a museum to honour the writer of the song, also known as Coulter's Candy.

A statue of Coltart already stands in Galashiels

Coltart was well-known in his native Galashiels and across the Borders in the late 19th Century for selling his boiled sweets at fairs and festivals.

He dressed in a variety of colourful clothes and sung his "much loved lullaby" to help advertise his products.

The memorial project was launched at the start of the year by MSP Christine Grahame, councillor Fay Sinclair, local historian Graeme McIver and funeral director Awdri Doyle.

More than £1,500 was raised through donations, with Mr Doyle completing the funding package.

The new gravestone includes a verse of Ally Bally Bee as well as sketches which were used by artist Angela Hunter for her sculptures of Coltart which already stand in Galashiels.

Councillor Fay Sinclair was part of the team that campaigned to raise funds for the headstone

Ms Sinclair said the memorial covered two plots where Coltart and other members of his family were buried.

"The graves were unmarked simply because the family could not afford a headstone at the time," she explained.

"We only found out this detail last year so decided at that time we’d do something about it and finally get a memorial stone in place."

She said the 144th anniversary of his death was a "very fitting time" to announce that a headstone was in place.

“Coulter’s Candy is sung around the world and we wanted to make sure people know it was here in Gala that Coltart made his sweets and wrote the song," she said.

“I want to say a massive thank you all those who donated to the Crowdfunder, including Energise Galashiels for their contribution, and particular thanks to Awdri Doyle for match-funding local donations and commissioning the stone itself."

A memorial ceremony will be held at a later date.