Star of Tay Road Bridge tribute song flattered by recognition

New record release is an affectionate look at the city of Dundee

A former Dundee student who made history by becoming the first member of the public to cross the Tay Road Bridge when it opened in 1966 has been immortalised in song by an awardwinning Tayside song writer.

Perth-born Eddie Cairney, who now lives in Arbroath, has released an album called Tay Road Bridge which features a song dedicated to Welshman Hugh Pincott, now of Plymouth.

The song, A dragon ow’r the Tay, tells how Hugh, then a chemistry student at Queen’s College, Dundee, draped a Welsh dragon flag over his car when he made the crossing from Dundee to Fife on the day of the bridge’s official opening on August 18 1966.

Eddie, who was inspired by Hugh’s visit to Dundee during the Tay Road Bridge’s 50th anniversary celebrations last summer, said: “When I read the story of Hugh being the first person over the bridge, I thought it was a great subject for a song. “

Hugh, who was awarded the first Phd from the new Dundee University, which also celebrates its 50th birthday this August, said of the song: “It’s unbelievable. I feel both humbled and honoured to be featured in verse and music by such a talented, well-known Scots artiste like Eddie. I am already collecting his albums!”

Eddie, 64, says his Tay Road Bridge album should have been out “ages ago”.

But he is no stranger to music and song influenced by Dundee and wider Scottish history.

Last year he featured in The Courier for his efforts to put the complete works of Robert Burns to music.

With a piano style influenced by Albert Ammons, Champion Jack Dupree and Memphis Slim, and a songwriting style influenced by Matt McGinn, Michael Marra and Randy Newman, the former Perth High School pupil, who wrote the 1984 New Zealand Olympic anthem, has organised a number of projects over the years including the McGonagall Centenary Festival for Dundee City Council in 2002.

Other songs on Eddie’s Tay Road Bridge album include: A’ doonhill tae Dundee – a comical look at the outcome of Tay FM’s poll to find a slogan to promote Dundee in 2002. It refers to the slope of the bridge from the Fife to Dundee side; A right royal landfill – which takes a swipe at the decision of the city fathers to destroy the city’s famous Royal Arch; Beautiful road bridge of the River Tay – pays tribute to William Topaz McGonagall and speculates that if he had still been around in 1966, he wouldn’t have missed a trick; Fifies – a nostalgic look at the former Tay ferries, and Hanfaes o’ notes – which is all about the alleged corruption at Dundee city council in the 1970s.

The songs are available via iTunes https://soundcloud.com/albdemec/sets/ tay-road-bridge or via Eddie’s website www.eddiecairney.com

I feel both humbled and honoured to be featured in verse and music by such a talented, well-known Scots artiste like Eddie

Hugh Pincott on a return visit to Dundee, Eddie Cairney in full voice, top right, and Hugh driving across the bridge in 1966.