A GOUROCK man whose grandfather was killed in the Great War will pay tribute to him by taking part in a musical about the conflict.

The show about World War One is coming to Greenock next month, and Gordon McKenzie is one of two local singers who will take part in it.

‘Far, Far from Ypres’ has played to sell-out audiences at Glasgow’s Concert Hall and at the Edinburgh Festival, and arrives at the Beacon on 5 October.

Gordon will sing ‘The Green Fields of France’ in tribute to his grandfather, Alexander Couper Reid, who was in his 20s when he died at the Battle of Gallipoli in 1915.

Gordon said: “I still have my grandfather’s medals, cigarette case and other items.

“I’m very pleased to get the chance to pay tribute to him in this way.” The show has been brought to Greenock by Neil Lochiel of regeneration company Riverside Inverclyde, who are funding it.

It is part of Inverclyde’s ‘Scottish Folk and Roots Festival’, which runs from 5 October to 15 November at the Beacon, and is written and directed by legendary folk singer Ian McCalman.

Neil, RI’s enterprise and corporate development officer, said: “Ian is so keen for this story to be available that he actually offers the script free to schools, colleges and arts institutions, and he’s even happy for them to edit it according to the history of the local area.

“I’ve achieved this by inviting two local singers to take part.” Also singing will be Davy Nicol of Gourock, who will perform his own song about WW1 soldiers.

Davy said: “My song is called ‘We Will Fight’ and is about soldiers who trained at Battery Park before heading for the trenches.” Ian McCalman says he hopes that many Inverclyde people will go along to see the show.

He said: “It is narrated by BBC presenter Iain Anderson and features 30 folk stars, including Siobhan Miller and Mairi McInnes.

“The show has had fantastic reviews and is being supported by all of the parties at the Scottish Parliament.

“It’s a labour of love for the performers and the songs give a vivid insight into the attitudes and concerns of the troops in the trenches.

“They survived on bitter humour.

“They just had to grin and bear it.”