Memorial Plaque Honours Scottish Singer Sydney Devine at Cleland Primary

A memorial plaque honoring Scottish singer Sydney Devine was unveiled at Cleland Primary School, celebrating his seven-decade career and lasting legacy.

Memorial Plaque Unveiled for Sydney Devine

A memorial plaque celebrating the life and legacy of Scottish singer Sydney Devine has been unveiled at Cleland Primary School in North Lanarkshire.

Devine, who sold more than 15 million albums over a career spanning seven decades, passed away in 2021 at the age of 81 following an illness.

Born in the Lanarkshire village of Cleland in 1940, Devine was best known for his rendition of the song "Tiny Bubbles." He was awarded an MBE in 2003 for his contributions.

Sydney Devine smiles at the camera. He wears a kilt with a grey blazer, green tie and white shirt, with tartan wrapped around his shoulder and a red poppy pinned to his chest. He holds his MBE up for the camera. — Sydney Devine received an MBE for his charity work in 2003

Tribute at Cleland Primary School

His former school, Cleland Primary, has installed a plaque in his honour, which was unveiled by his daughter, Karen Devine.

"I can't thank everyone enough for bringing this to fruition," she said. "My dad would have been overjoyed at the final result.

"It's so poignant that a memorial plaque is erected outside Cleland Primary, where my dad spent his happy formative years."

As a mark of remembrance and appreciation for his life and career, Karen Devine laid 18 yellow roses, referencing another of his hit songs.

Following the unveiling on Thursday, pupils from Cleland and St Mary's primary schools performed "Tiny Bubbles" in the school hall and displayed artwork inspired by Devine.

Children in waterproof clothing gather round a black memorial plaque to Sydney Devine MBE. The have tubes of soapy liquid with wands blowing bubbles in the wind — The unveiling was followed by a performance of Tiny Bubbles by Cleland pupils

Early Life and Connection to Lanarkshire

Devine was born in Mayfield Cottage in Bellside and was one of eight children. North Lanarkshire Council noted that the tribute reflects the strong connection he felt to the village.

Councillor Geraldine Woods explained that a fan page administrator contacted the council to propose a commemoration for Devine in the village.

"So, we decided that a memorial plaque should be installed outside the school, funded through our local development programme," she added.

Musical Beginnings and Career Highlights

As a young boy, Devine gained attention for his remarkable ability to imitate bird calls. This talent led Scottish tenor Robert Wilson to invite him to whistle during the recording of the song "Cottage By The Lee."

Wilson, a well-known variety performer and early presenter of the White Heather Club in the 1950s, mentored Devine. Devine spent over a decade performing worldwide with the White Heather Group before transitioning into country music in the 1970s.

He became widely recognized for his lively personality, distinctive singing voice, and sparkling rhinestone-covered stage outfits.

Grainy BBC archive footage of Sydney Devine who is wearing a rhinestone red body suit while strumming an acoustic guitar. A band can be seen in the shadows behind him — The country singer became known for his distinctive singing voice and sparkling outfits

Devine was a regular performer at Glasgow's Pavilion Theatre, attracting fans from around the world.

He is forever associated with songs such as "Legend in My Time," "Scotland Forever," and "Maggie."

At the peak of his career, Devine appeared on the Queen's Jubilee bill alongside Michael Jackson, supported Roy Orbison, and collaborated with country music legends Charlie Pride and Dolly Parton.

He was also a dedicated supporter of the Marie Curie Foundation cancer charity.