Wishaw Community Priorities highlights 25/26

Our Community Partnership team was approached by Sydney Devine’s family and fan base, who had been appealing for a memorial tribute for Sydney since his passing in 2021. 

The Community Partnership Officer (CPO) met with a representative to discuss options that could be achieved through the Local Development Programme. They were delighted that we agreed to support the funding and production of a plaque.

Project details:  

• A relevant site location was agreed, selecting the grounds next to Cleland Primary School where Sydney had attended as a boy.
• Through close engagement and consultation with the family and fans, the details of the plaque were finalised.   
• Engagement delivered by the CPO with children and staff at Cleland and St Mary’s Primary Schools throughout the process. Learning of Sydney's life and achievements.
• The CPO developed an event plan to co-ordinate the running order of the day. 

On 12 March 2026, the unveiling of the Sydney Devine memorial plaque, designed and created by the Community Partnership Team, took place. 

This event was the culmination of months of planning and co-ordination between the Community Partnership Officer, Project Officer, fans and family representatives and Cleland Primary School.

The plaque was unveiled by Sydney’s daughter. School children also gathered blowing bubbles in reference to the famous song Tiny Bubbles, as photographs were captured. 

Following the unveiling, a fantastic performance ceremony celebrating Sydney's life took place within Cleland Primary School where children from both Cleland and St Mary’s Primary Schools performed 18 Yellow Roses, school musicians performed Tiny Bubbles, a group of children delivered a script of Sydney’s life, completed by a performance of Tiny Bubbles. 

The schoolboy who now lives in the cottage where Sydney was born and lived was presented with the Lion Rampant flag that Sydney himself used to fly at his concerts, and Sydney’s daughter and the fan representative were presented with 18 yellow roses each by the school. 

Press were present from the Scottish Sun and the Herald to report on this community event, and the event was attended by the Depute Leader, Depute Provost, Convener of Communities, community council members along with Community Partnership Managers. 

The whole event was emotional and celebratory, demonstrating community engagement at its best. The plaque will stand in pride of place as a special tribute to a schoolboy from Cleland who became a household name and best selling performer.