A Wee Coak Sparrah - Duncan MacRae

 

From 1959 onwards, MacRae's recitation of "The Wee Coak Sparrah" was a core ingredient of Scotland's televised New Year celebrations. Duncan MacRae was born on 20 August 1905 at 118 Kirkland Street, Maryhill, Glasgow. He grew up in a strict Presbyterian background, rooted in the highland traditions of his grandparents, but in his later years religion only figured peripherally. MacRae's strikingly tall, lean figure, angular face, and voice bearing traces of his Gaelic ancestry matched a singular if eccentric personality. He figured significantly in the history of Scottish theatre, championing the national drama cause, improving the profession's working conditions, and fearlessly challenging the establishment. He was appointed first chairman of Scottish Equity in 1953, a position he held until his death. He wrote many articles and was in constant demand as a speaker. Although lacking in technical training, his instinctive acting, coupled with an acknowledged genius for comedy, produced a provocative but mesmeric style that influenced a generation of actors. Duncan MacRae - Scottish Archive Network http://catalogue.nrscotland.gov.uk/scancatalogue/person.aspx?code=NA9272&st=1&tc=y&tl=n&tn=y&tp=n&k=duncan+macrae&ko=p&r=&ro=s&