Weave along to the Sma' Shot Day

May 29 2009 by Kenneth Speirs, Paisley Daily Express

PAISLEY’S biggest festival of the year, which sees thousands of people flock to the town to join the celebrations, will take place on Saturday, July 4.

Sma’ Shot Day – one of the oldest workers’ festivals in Scotland, originating from the 19th century weaving industry for which the town was famous – is a colourful celebration of a famous victory Victorian workers won over bosses.

Sma’ Shot day came about as a result of a political battle fought between the 19th century weavers of Paisley and their employers.

The Sma’ Shot was a cotton thread that bound all the colourful weft threads into the warps of the famous Paisley shawls.

But the sma’ shot was not visible in the finished garment, so bosses refused to pay weavers for the yarn.

A long fight for payment ensued, and after many years the weavers won a famous victory. And in celebration a traditional July holiday was renamed Sma’ Shot Day.

The event will start at the Dooslan Stane in Brodie Park, and then a parade will make its way down Neilston Road, on to Paisley Cross, and come to a rest at Abbey Close, where there will be speeches and a fair.

The parade always marches to the sound of the Charleston Drum – an instrument that is believed to have rallied workers to union meetings and to summon them to their annual trip doon the watter.

The one used in the parade, and played by council worker Tony Lawler, is a replica, but the original can be seen at Paisley Museum.

Tony is always sure to take a few spare pairs of drumsticks with him as he makes his way through the town because he has broken his sticks on more than one occasion due to his vigorous beating of the drum.

At the head of the procession is the Cork, an effigy of one of the town’s Victorian manufacturers, which to this day is burned at the climax of the re-enactment of the Sma’ Shot Story.

Buddies of all ages, dressed in traditional style follow on. Many will be carrying trade union and other banners, lending a colourful edge to the procession which is watched and followed by hundreds of Buddies as it makes its way to the town centre.

The Sma’ Shot Day fair is one of the big draws of the day, with a number of stalls and attractions at Abbey Close to enjoy.

If you would like to get involved you can e-mail ram.els@renfrewshire.gov.uk or phone 0141 887 1010.