New book about Finlaystone artistocrat turned socialist

Robert Cunninghame Graham, who was a co-founder of the Scottish Labour Party, had an idyllic childhood at the family's country home at the Langbank estate in the 1850s.

His descendant James Jauncey has now penned a book - Don Roberto: The Adventure Of Being Cunninghame Graham - telling the story of the left-wing aristocrat's exploits.

James told the Telegraph: "He was my great, great uncle and I had grown up with stories about him from my mother, who had met him when she was a little girl.

"Finlaystone was in the family through the Glencairns, the Cunninghame Graham side of the family. The house was let for a long time.

"Robert was born in London but spent time at Finlaystone in the 1850s and they were there for a while before his grandfather sold it."

Robert, who was born in 1852 and passed away in 1936, once wrote about his time spent at Finlaystone.

He wrote: "I remembered the old house…perched on a rock above the Clyde, and set about with trees, the avenue winding through woods and crossing a little stream on bridges…I saw the yew trees under which John Knox is said to have preached and dealt with heresy and superstition…the tulip tree, the yellow chestnut, and the laurels tall as houses, the little garden with its curious stone vases and the tall hollyhocks. I saw the river with steamers passing between the fairway marks, saw Dumbarton Castle."

The family later moved to Gartmore in Stirlingshire but Graham retired to Ardoch in Argyll & Bute, across the water from Finlaystone.

James revealed how Robert met the legendary Keir Hardie on the campaign trial in Coatbridge, where both men were appalled by people's dire working and living conditions.

He said: "At that time he was the Liberal MP for North West Lanarkshire and Keir Hardie was a journalist covering the campaign.

"They met in Coatbridge, which was an awful place back then with the iron foundries, and people lived and worked in terrible conditions.

"They met first of all in the Scottish Home Rule Association, which Robert founded, the earliest independence movement.

"He and Keir Hardie founded the Scottish Labour Party together to improve the working conditions of people in the west of Scotland.

"He fought for the eight-hour day, so that if the working hours were restricted people had more time for leisure and to educate themselves, and through education represent themselves in parliament.

"He was an extraordinary character and a real pioneer. In the 1880s they called for the abolition of the House of Lords, the eight-hour day, votes for women, free school meals and nationalisation of land, mines and other industries.

"These issues are still all relevant today."

Robert became the first socialist MP in Britain in 1888, and later founded National Party of Scotland in 1928 and was the first president of the Scottish National Party in 1934.

James also recounted how his charismatic ancestor headed out to Argentina in a bid to try to recoup a family fortune. He said that he rode with the gauchos (cowboys) in the pampas of South America and was dubbed 'Don Roberto' for his work in recording their ancient way of life.

During his own eventful life he also travelled to the deserts of North Africa and while serving on the benches on the House of Commons he was locked up in Pentonville jail for leading a political riot in in Trafalgar Square.

Writer James, 75, from Dunkeld, says his book about his ancestor has been a labour of love.

He said: "It's been a wonderful experience. My mum had told me lots of stories, but you don't listen when you are a child.

"I started getting interested in 2014, with the independence referendum, with Robert's connections with Scottish independence, being the first president of the SNP.

"As a humanitarian and fighter for social justice, he was far ahead of his time.

"Almost everything he stood for rings more loudly today than ever.”

The book, published by Scotland Street Press, is on sale now.