Who is Archie Potts?

Dec 29 2008 By Patricia Lewis

A POEM dating back more than 50 years has been discovered written on a wall inside a derelict booth at Palmerston Park.

The mysterious literature was discovered by a Lanarkshire man who was working in the park laying a new phone cable.

While he was hard at work he came across the pencil etched poem by chance.

Jock Hainey from Lanark said: “I just found it when I was going about my work. It is handwritten in pencil on the wooden wall and clearly dated 1957.”

Jock contacted the Standard after he discovered the curious well-concealed poem to see if anyone could help uncover who it belonged too.

The signed work belongs to a Mr Archie Potts, who is believed to be a local champion bowler by the same name.

Bill Goldie, press officer at the grounds said: “He was this good bowler at Maxwelltown Bowling Club. I believe he was a champion bowler there. When I worked at the local paper his picture was always in it.” 

Unfortunately the late Archie Potts past away several years ago.

Jock said it would be nice if his creative work could be preserved at Queen of the South’s home turf.

He said: “It was good to see something like it. It really brightens up your day.”

Archie’s poem reads:

Archie Potts is my name

Scotland is my nation

Dumfries is my dwelling place

Home and habitation

When I'm dead and in my grave

And all my bones are rotten

These few lines will remind you

A hero not forgotten

1957