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Post by pwm437 on Oct 15, 2007 20:27:41 GMT 1
Prowling again among my Glasgow books, I re-discovered the gem that is 'Glaswegiana' by Willie Barr. The articles that appear in the book began life as essays for a magazine called 'Recreation Round Up' for the Glasgow Telephones Recreation Club. It is simply, and beautifully written, and taps into a variety of historical topics.
As an acknowledgement to Mr. Barr, I will revisit some of his essays on this board over the next few months.
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Post by pwm437 on Oct 23, 2007 19:36:10 GMT 1
Willie Barr in his book has a look at some worthies who hailed from the Gorbals (my ain hame toon !), and all in all it makes a quite impressive list :
1) Allan Pinkeron : born at Muirhead Street which no longer exists, as it is coverd by the site of the Mosque at Gorbals Cross. Pinkerton was born in 1819. He became a cooper by trade and active in the Chartist movement. He emigrated to America and settled in Chicago. He established the Pinkerton Detective Agency, and foiled a plot to assassinate Abraham Lincoln. Pinkerton died in 1884 and the business was carried on by his two sons.
2) Thomas Lipton : Born in 1848 os Scots-Ulster parents. Went to St Andrew's Parish Scool, before becoming a cabin boy at sea. In 1870 he opened his first shop at Stobcross Street and his grocery empire grew rapidly. He expanded , opening shops all over the city, and he became quite wealthy. He has a passion for sailing yachts and competed for the Americas Cup, but without success. He died in 1931 and is buried in the Southern Necropolis.
3) Benny Lynch : Born in 1913 Benny took up boxing initially in the carnival boxing booths. He turned professional and in 1934 he won the World Flyweight Championship of the World. In his career he fought 102 bouts, winning 77, losing 10 and drawing the rest. After he left the ring, Benny succumbed to alcohol abuse, and sadly died at the young age of 33 in 1946. Buiried at Lambhill.
4) John & Robert Dick : The Dick brothers grew up in Crown Street, the family originally hailing from Kilmarnock. They established a business manufacturing balata driving belts for industrial machinery, and used guttapercha, which was a rubber sap extract (hence the name gutties for sandshoes). They had a works at James Street in Bridgeton, and also mass produced shoes and footwear.
5) Kennedy Jones : Lived up the same close in Crown Street as the Dick brothers, Kennedy Jones became a newspaper magnate in Australia. He died in 1921.
6) Pat Crerand : Footballer, signed for Celtic before joining Manchester United, with whom he won a European Cup Winners Medal in 1968. Later became a tv pundit. Lived on Crown Street.
7) John & Matthew Bell : Brothers who founded the Glasgow Pottery.
8) Jimmy Stokes : Born in Commercial Road in 1916, Jimmy joined the King's Shropshire Light Infantry during WW2. In March 1941 Jimmy's batallion was involved in some very heavy fighting at Kervenheim on the Rhineland. He dispalyed courage above and beyond the call of duty, but sadly died in the action. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. A memorial to Jimmy was unveiled at the Rose Gardens on Rutherglen Road a couple of years ago.
The above is by no means a comprehensive list, but more a sample of the diversity and notable careers of a few 'Gorbals Sons'
God bless them all.
5)
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Post by Waverley on Oct 25, 2007 13:56:29 GMT 1
I have had the privilege to visit the grave of James Stokes VC several times in the Reichswald Forest Cememtery in Germany. He is remembered in Glasgow by a Celtic Supporters bus which operates from the Brazen Head pub in the Gorbals. I was responsible about 15 years ago for organising a trip to his grave for his niece and her husband plus I made arrangements for a most beautiful memorial wreath to be transported to his grave from the Supporters Club which carries his name. I always make a point of visiting his grave and leaving a small poppy cross in his memory whenever I am in that specific part of Germany.
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Post by holywell37 on Apr 3, 2008 16:23:45 GMT 1
I went to hear willie barr give a talk at st mungos academy one night and not only was the talk very interesting but he gave us a song as well.
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