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Message to Anna Graham. Your post certainly brought a tear to my eye and the memories came flooding back. I`m sure it was the same for you........thanks for sharing. Alex
Submitted by: Alex Hi to Colin read the book and it was brilliant. Good memories of all the lads you mentioned in the class at Bonnies. I was the guy who came running into the class as you mentioned when one of the lads set himself on fire. Wee Frankie was at the blackboard and just froze probably because of the state I was in. Really enjoyed the humor and felt great that one of the lads had done so well for himself.Somebody mentioned Big Chris Purcell another good man from yesteryear. Alex and Peter as well. Was it wee Peter that had his leg in a sling for years? I can't remember. Whatever happened to Johnny McClafferty? Anyway well done Colin hope you do a follow up. Speak to you later. Mick.
Submitted by: Mick Connolly To Colin McFarlane Don't be bothered by the likes of Tam Craig and all the other soor faces oot there that disnae appreciate a good book full of humour and a true appreciation of what it wis like to be brought up in the Gorbals. Their heids are full of "selective amnesia"- seem to remember whit they want tae remember. Your book is true and will have people enjoying it for its sheer humanity long efter the whingers are all gone. And while I am getting up my steam- who said the Cumbie were Irish? Whit planet are they on? The old cliche of scratch the hand of a Glasgwegian and you'll get Irish blood is a truism. To that extent then, the Cumbie were Irish. In the late 50's early 60's I knew several, of the so called wee hardmen in the Cumbie. I ran about the Clelland Bar and I do not recall WAN MEMBER WITH AN IRISH ACCENT. So go an bile yer heid youse that are green wi envy that someone from the Gorbals can pen such a great book. You should be proud that WAN OF YOUR AIN was talented and brave enough to spend time getting the whole feel of the Gorbals spot on. We don't all have tae work wi were hawns and get durty tae be industrious yi no. Some of us actually have a brain and use it!! I'll be first in line for a ticket to see the Block Buster Movie The Real Gorbals Story. But it is Xmas and I need to be a bit more charitable. So......God Bless you one and all. Merry Xmas EVERYONE! A REAL GORBALS PAL.
Submitted by: A real Gorbals Pal Tommy Boyle I kin put yer mind at rest in part o yer quest u hiv nothing in common except yer name wi that man as u put it BOYLE his oldest brother PAT is now deceased and never had any family yer name sake tommy lives in usa n awe his family are in the states but that is not ti say he hasnt got a few runnin aroon somewhere but they widni hiv his name understand! harry lives in edinburgh he never married as far as a no n the same goes fer him as tommy and is probably younger than you anyway now ther uncle jimmy who is dead wis an sp booky but in london thats no ti say he never ran a book elswere now if you put jimmy boyle inti yer computer yil get a look at him n maybe yil see if u think ther is any resemblance ti yer family n the booky wan looked jist like him in the photo noo the boyles only hid 3 men in that side o the family james john thomas noo john n thomas are oot so maybe if yi kin try a london site yi mite be lucky wi jimmy the booky but ti ma knowledge nea ! chance jimmy the book writter his son got murdered in the oatlands so nea affspring ther the close cousins ther wis billy hung aboot smyths corner but noo nothin ther he went ti the army got married done a lot o wheelin n dealin he widni gie yi the time never mind his name n coold talk his way oot o a time capsule the next wan wis jist known as boyle ran wi the cumbie in the fifties n wid fite wi his shadow n his shadow usually won the next wan wis boaby now he wid give his name ti anyone or anything pure o heart loved awe wimin a jist dont understand how he kid be a rangers man noo here is a chance johnny the henry the 8th o the boyle clan if yiv herd o picadilly jim may i introduce gorbals john o the mile high club aye n even on the runway too ther is that many boyle,s in the gorbals that a man hid ti make sure he wis no commttin incest wi a lassie becuase her name wid sure ti be boyle hope this wee bit helps u tommy lookin at another anecdote of yours the boyles i tell u! about were born in the 20s the the 30s n 40s so dont see any connection there gid luck in yer quest Boyle.
Submitted by: Boyle Trying to trace a John McGill who lived in Southportland Street then Rutherglen Road late 50's he moved to Possilpark he lived with his gran mother we were brought up together but lost touch when he went to Possil would be grateful for any info merry xmas and a happy new year to all Gorbals folk near and far.
Submitted by: Myra I have noticed over the last few weeks there has been a lot of bickering between a lot of the old Gorbalites about who knew this one and that one, who was in the gangs and who was not. I was born and brought up in the Gorbals, and the only people I was scared of was my Mum& Dad, I knew what I would get if I missbehaved, a thick ear.There has always been folks who lived in the Gorbals years ago still live on a wee story about how they were in the best Gangs, knew the big Gangsters, went to school with Jimmy Boyle,they tell everyone,they sat next to him in school, they knew his son, his Mum , his cat and his Dug.Okay some of these people did know people like that, but to my knowledge they don't go about bumming to everyone with there stories, they are the real men.The rest of them are quite sad really.Nothing very exiting must have happened to them in the last 40 years. The real hardmen of old from the Gorbals must have a good laugh at some of the stories from these unkn! own numpties.Anyway laugh and the world laughs with you, talk crap, and everone laughs at you. TA TA Agnes.
Submitted by: Agnes Doris when a wis a kid in lawmoor st i ran aboot wi the darki gang led by the robinsons of kidson st we hung! aboot the caly rd. gravy n years later i wis wi arti n sabu n Sabu fea errol st said come up ti ma cousens wi me n who should it be but a big singlet clad Nigerian guy Robinson eatin a big bone I KID U NOT no meat jist a bone! n he said hiv a bite ten quid [a u thot a wis gonni say "B"i will leave that ti u iv things dont go ti plan the morra ok doris]noo he didni hiv wee bowls or plates he jist hid the bare widden table wi lumps of bony meat n wis gettin stuck inti it so ti no offend him a took aff ma jacket n shirt n got stuck inti it too he said "the gid thing aboot u is yi always make yersel at hame" then the luagh like mer o a scream that hid a gleswegian accent too THAT WIS SUNDAY DINNER GORBALS STYLE a always thot sabu n artie were cousins but then i found out no way sabu cooldni SING!
Submitted by: Ten Quid Hi doris and ten quid enjoy all your wee messages and can relate to all the names that crop up, smudger, smith, dodgy gaitens, scobie, by the way doris did you get the photos i sent to your niece of the old bonnies boys a while ago? Anyway have a great xmas and happy new year and hope you are keeping better t.q. awerabest jack {ben} duffy
Submitted by: Jack Duffy To add to the debate about the best Gorbals books, I teach literature at Glasgow University and in my opinion the top five Gorbals books are: 1.No Mean City - MacArthur 2.The Real Gorbals Story - Macfarlane 3.Growing Up in the Gorbals - Glasser 4.Sense Of Freedom - Boyle 5.The Gorbals an Illustrated History - Eunston
Submitted by: Teacher TO TAM CRAIG I grew up with Colin Macfarlane and we went to the same schools and we played togther for years in the Dilly...to say he is not a genuine Gorbals guy is ridiculous..in the mid 1960s even as a kid he was a well known character in Crown Street as were the other kids like big Chris Purcell, Peter McCluskey, the Shannons, Alex Wilson. Albert McGinty...on the other hand you say you know everyone in the Gorbals...I still live there and everyone I ask has never heard of you! Anyway Merry Xmas and Happy New Year to you and all the real Gorbals people. ps if you bothered to read a recent copy of the Sunday Mail you will see that the Gorbals movie project is true!
Submitted by: Bonny Boy Alex a lived ther from 57- 62 i may hiv known wilkies but one thing a did know wis a guy done a wilkie thru ma windea i lived 321 same side as u , n ther wis a fight up 323 somdi gate crashed a christenin whoops double wilkie rite thru ma windea low doon hoose well a widnea put it past some o them thistle st. guys ti throw him up inti a 3 story windea a gid chance a do know your family but a better chance u know mine as a wis a tough guy used ti walk ma wifes toy poodle up ti the church ti let it do the business nea bother even tho it wis 1am a won some money n bought her an ocelot lamb fur coat n awe the kids wid shout "nea drawers misses" wee "FRS" if they wid hiv caught up wi us ma misses wid hiv set her pet pussy on them a also hid an Armstrong Sydley car that sat outside ma door didni drive it jist sat ther a guy that lived up above the govenhill bar put cement powder doon the radiator so gid fer the goose gid fer the gander a put salt doon his throat then i go! t a white motor bike used ti take it inti ma single end at nite well a couldny afford anymer salt jist in case so ther wis me the wife fur coat poodle n we cooldni leave her pet pussy behind doin the travels n bye the way the guys paid fer the windea wid u no!with apologies too ! when a think aboot it a wid be shyte scared o me too widnea no if a wis charles manson or jist a nutter--same thing--BUT TRUE-- hope no offence usein the WILKIE but i bet yi hiv heard it awe before awera best fer the new year alex n hope ti write ti u again ten quid
Submitted by: TEN QUID I was jist reeding a mail on the page, fay a Dr .T Abu, noo that would be a nice bit of Culture change. Used ti know a lassie that wis merried tae a man of colour African and Tosh he met him when he was selling pictures in all the offices in LA Airport, This man he was in some head Honcho job at the Airport. So Tosh being quite,a talker, they hit it off. So any hoo, they invited us for a African home cooked dinner. So am all excited as in those days I would eat anything that was differant. So sits doon at the table which by the way was set with all the good dishes, and floweres I felt quite honered, next thing this bowl of stew appears, she has a maid, I dont know what got to me the most, a maid or a bowl of stew, which was good just some kind of musky flavour, and you know them wee bowls ah could hiv eat three of them plus the African breed Of course me being who I am I told them, and they thought that it was hilarious And as for all the fancy wines, that was his hobby, After a few sipsof this one and that, ah couldnt tell the viva la differance, they thought that was funny to. I told him George some people laugh at any thing. In all it was a nice evening. Oh And J Paton, I used to hiv inlaws who lived at six the Nuek Wishaw a cul de sac and fields wi coos in the fields, it was great to go there oh and they gave you Stew for breakfast. That was considered a holiday So best o British ti yi awe D A M
Submitted by: Doris Austin aka McIntyre Colin Mac Farlane I do duly apologise you were not born in Fort William that was only meant as a para phrase, but I know you were not born in the Gorbals and I can prove this so be careful about saying your a Gorbals man, yes you did stay there, but thats it. I didnt have the same sleepy life style as you I worked all my life selling briquettes and coal on Saturdays was my first job I lived in 247 Thistle street next door to the bookies and the fruit shop, then I served a five year apprenticeship working hard and at 22 had my own business so you can see I never had that much time to sleep!! My great great grandparents came from the Gorbals and to this day our families are large in numbers from toryglen to tollcross I knew everyone in the Gorbals as did my family and the site is genuinely full of Irish although I dont think you are, read 10 Quids reply to me that might just confirm what i wrote, I have no need to argue any points I witnessed the life in the Gorbals 1st hand, and sorry once again your wrong the cumbie was an irish gang, in my time and in my two older brothers time and in my younger brothers time, ask 10 Quid he knows. It appears your response to me was in deed showing me guilt. Anyway son have a great new year!
Submitted by: Tam Craig Nae vernaculer, Great to read all and sundry inputs but being born in a sngle end there and growing up during the 40's / 50's living back there in the 60's it's clear most inputs are from emmirants who have made their wee haven away, personally went through all that £50 assited passage, up a close in W Nile St for S A other places for NZ the States decided if I could'n't make it here bugger it will, The clap about this yin an' that is fact they existed an' that cannot change. Why were they "Bad" there were some hard buggers going about what for drugs ? drink ? power ? lived next door to a big family of gents but were always "Ahem" nae drill nae packdrill salt o' the earth whit the keech they done it for God knows. Same goes for your Boyles did not live to far away above the best Baker ever, Tommy if you read this good luck ol'pal is wee Maguire still alive ? having said all this the place was populated with Teauchters and Paddys forced to seek who else would have moved into the hovels provided, pay the rent go to the "factors" another bliddy joke ask to get the roof fixed or some else not important like an open sewer we made it folks and I hope the aerosoles who gathered their bawbees roast might not be well known but when the tenements were at the end of their lives most properties were given to pennieless dossers along with with a few bob so that the owners did not have to pay for the demolition GROWL GROWL GROWL Still the best folk a ever ! met and wid dae it awe again still got a notion o' that wee ice cream factory on the caley road 'tween Mathie St an' Sandyfaulds where used tae hing about the open door in the summer go the messages for the lassies an' get a banana ice cream take it roon the corner into the top o' Mathie up the hgh back an' watch the men making brushes, enough the noo.
Submitted by: Anon Ten quid and Doris,another one to get your teeth around and you must also say this one fast over and over again...I rattled my bottles in Hollexes yard.Good luck.
Submitted by: Tommy Boyle To Christina and James Philbin I haven't heard anything from you over the last couple of months but I hope you are both hale and hearty. If you can, do a wee posting and let us all know how you are. You have helped me and I guess hundreds of ex Gorbalites with your recollections of times past. Here's wishing you both a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year. The most important of these of course is HEALTH. Love Rita
Submitted by: Rita Moffat Colin Macfarlane's life story The Real Gorbals Story is a welcome addition to all that has been written about the place before. Unlike No Mean City this book is full of humour and wit that captures the optimism of the Gorbals people. I read it on the beach abroad but even reading it there I could feel the atmosphere of the place overcoming me. It's a must buy for all those who have an interest in the neighbourhood and all its good, bad and ugly characters.
Submitted by: Desperate Dan T.Q hope that Betty will keep us informed of your operation, just in case yir no up ti par (grin) I know it is the recovery , and as we MATURE it takes twice as long ti bliddy heal and getting in your case yir savvy back. I wonder what age the webmaster is , just curious. I remember one o the lassies in my class , her name was Kathleen Scanlon, and she was a May Queen, she was one bonnie lass and I think the other girl was Sally Dodds , she took some teasing about her last name , you know dods o this n that,.....well we got oor xmas tree up it looks nice, made me think back on a xmas in snowdon st, We got a wee tree mere like branch , made our own decorations oot o papar squares and tore the edges and bent them to gether and hung them fay the ceiling, and getting back to the tree we had candles but ma Da said to dangerous although wi that condensation running doon the wa nae chance of anything burning in that room. Nae toys or new out fits , a apple n orange and a choclate Santa Clause that you held oot from eating it but not fur long. OOr Bertha she could alwasys last better than me and Arie. We thought that wis a great and first Xmas for us three. Ma Maw she was a baker as alot of wim! min were in those days, and I can always remember coming up the staires , you could smell the cinnamin and spices she would be baking with , and the scullery was nice and warm , and we would get a drink of that real strong ginger beer that was sold at that time . And then the hoose getting all scubbed and wi a bit o luck some new curtains, and watchcloth or linoleum as it is named now fur the flerr, noo that wis Xmas some thing new fur the hoose. And how aboot the men and women who would come and sing in your back yard fur coppers, ma Maw she would give her last , her and Mrs Kelly, two poorest familys up the close maist weans. But noo Nereday that was awhole different ball game big time parties lasted fur days , one would go out two more wid come in. In all oor wee scheme was pretty cool. as always best of health and have a great xmas and new year DAM
Submitted by: Doris Austin aka McIntyre To Tam Craig...I have only ever been in Fort William once on a day trip! As the Real Gorbals Story says I was born and brought up there...to say the people on this site are mostly Irish and the Cumbie were as well is absolutely ludicrous...you certainly didn't live in the same Gorbals as me and if you did you must have been sleeping most of the time! Great, wild people and remarks by you will never ever replace the truth. Merry Christmas to all my real Gorbals pals! Colin
Submitted by: Colin MacFarlane Hi Ten Quid you lived at the top of Thistle St? What years and did you remember any of the Wilkie family? We lived in 345 & 359. Right accross from the old gushet! if you remember any of them please get in touch. My granda was Archie and grannie Agnes. Between the two closes we had five fammilies. Those where the days. Thanks Alex.
Submitted by: Alex I am on Glesgapals board and one of our members is looking for Billy Hamilton. Can any of you help me in this request. Contact me via email if its easier. Bye for now, Norrie I hope you dont mind me bringing this up again but Amanda is looking for her father and I said I would try this site again . All i know so far is he's around 51 or 52ish he was married to Ruth Adams who'd be around 50ish now, they had 2 children Karen and William, they must be late 20's early 30's. they lived in either the gorbals or rutherglen back in 78/79 maybe. Ruth stayed with her sister Brenda Adams (aunt really) in granton ST, billy stayed in Roseberry ST i think that was when thy were at school, marydoll said they all used to go to Wolsley ST Primary then went onto Adelphi Secondary (not the red sandstone 1) it was the white 1 new at the time. Billy was a year above marydoll and Ruth i think. marydoll thought that they were living in govanhill, but then she emailed to say that their now living back in the oatlands or rutherglen, not to sure. Any new info would be gratefully appreciated.x
Submitted by: Norman McNamee Hi to everybody and a very merry Christmas. Can anybody please help me, I am tracing my family tree and my dads family come from Glasgow and the Gorbals, his mother is Mary Ann Kilkie,a very large family in the area and his father was Patrick James Boyle. Addresses I have for them are 4 Roukenburn St Thornliebank Glasgow around 1933, the last one my father remembers was 132 South Portland St Gorbals. I have found that my grandad Patrick James Boyle died at 10 1/2 Eglinton st Gorbals in 1946. As the name Kilkie in Glasgow are all linked can anyone tell me if the names Boyle are all linked please? Yes a little dicky bird has suggested I could be related to that man Boyle but please I am not trying to glorify him as we dont know any of the Boyles. Any info given will be very much apreciated so go on make someones Christmas and help fill in life long gaps.
Submitted by: Tommy Boyle James Haggerty, Jimmy, I have had problems with my PC and have lost your email and home address could you please contact me, thanks Frank
Submitted by: Frank Ford Its amasing what a bottle of whiskey can do Webmaster, but joking aside thanks for printing my point of view, we all have opinions and I am satisfied But I still have a problem how do I get it to you!! Ten Quid mentions Glen Fid he is going over the top, I was thinking more of Teachers ha ha that used to be made in the Gorbals, and I never drank it for numerous reasons Ten Quid would know why, all the best for the new year Big Tam
Submitted by: Tam Craig Doris dea yi know this wan got ti say it fast--IM NOT A PHEASANT PLUCKER--IM ONLY PLUCKING PHEASANTS FOR THE PHEASANT PLUCKER'S SON --AND IM ONLY PLUCKING PHEASANTS TILL THE PHEASANT PLUCKERS COME! noo say it as fast as yi kin over n over a few times gid xmass party wan awera best all ten quid
Submitted by: TEN QUID I am collating stories from anyone interested, about life in the Gorbals around the time of the Queen Elizabeth flats.This is for an exhibition and storytelling session at the Gorbals Library on Monday 14th January 2008. So if you have any stories, ditties or intereating memories from this time and would be happy to share them with me, please let me know; I'd be happy to speak on the phone , meet up in person or e- mail,Kind regards Allison Galbraith. al.story@hotmail.co.uk
Submitted by: Allison Galbraith My father John Brown was born in Hospital St. around 1941. He was the oldest of 5. He has 2 brothers Tony and Manus. 2 sisters Kathleen and Patricia. His mother was Mary (nee Heron) and my grandfather was Mandy Brown. My father worked in a bar at the Eglington Toll and as far as I can remember being told, my grandmother used to have a wee fruit and veg business. Does anyone remember them? My dad now lives in Donegal (Rnafast) with my mother Eileen (O'Donnell). I would love to hear from anyone who remembers them please.
Submitted by: Paul Brown James McAvoy i hear they are looking for a new vehicle for you well wid yi like ti buy a new HYUNDI GETZ am willin ti sell cheap!a need a gallon o petrol fer ma ROLLS! Doris aye remember them well we wull soon be singing F-N- ALL F-N-ALL when wull we get ethenall we cant afford gas -or even pet-ranol so hurry up n give us F-N-ALL or we wull just get back ti the Churchill Prams am ridein yer pushin am mer than 1/2 wi back ti childhood noo a cooldni see over the top wi the hood up noo we get smaller n smaller as wee get aulder n aulder no a bad way ti travel a dummy stuck own a bottle o V,P,WINE as yer a T-TOTLER n am an EMPTY BOTTELER ye canny push yer granny aff the bus HIV A MERRY XMASS U TOSH N AWE THE REST O THE FAMILY am celibri-celebrush-celibrent-ache "F"it nearli drunk hick fea oh am shik noo shen squid
Submitted by: TEN QUID A Dont want ti put a dampner own anyone in perticular but talkin aboot movies WARNERS gave jimmy boyle $2MILLION US as a retainer ti write a book fer them a few years ago hope neabudy takes offense but it came fea the horses mouth so ti say!n a no he gets up at 4 in the mornin ti day his wurk but i wis up at 3 this mornin canni sleep makin the most o it in awe a get is 2 sore legs efter chasein a big spider awe over the house tryin ti hit it wi ma granweans shoe WELL AM NO GETTIN MINE IN A MESS!!a nearly keecked masell when a went ti hit it the first time a fell on ma knees n rolly pollied over didni no were the "FR" wis wits rang wi us when we are weans we kid drap aff high dyks noo we fall on the flair n we are awe but greetin n rubbin awe the sore bits " ACHE F THE SPIDER AM AWE SORE!"
Submitted by: TEN QUID I was just wondering if any body out there knew kevin dooley he has a twin brother brian an about 16 other siblings he spent his childhood in the gorbals some of his other siblings are Jimmy, William, Eileen and Michael most of the afore mentioned live in london now I would be most grateful for any help he saw me through my darkest days I want to thank him
Submitted by: Jane Price To Agnes 8/12 Thanks for your words of encouragement. Ah jist get hacked off with the dramatics of hard men stories etc, etc If thats all there was we wouldn't be alive today. As for being well dressed????????? The clothes we wore were hand me downs or stuff from the Barras and the Bridgegate. But they were washed and ironed and sometimes we felt like toffs if the stuff was good. Sometimes not...the clothes were sometimes too big and we were told "Och ye will grow intae it" Be thankful said my grannie we went tae school with no shoes on. Food, well ah never ever remember going hungry for long as there was always soup on the go with all kinds of bones lurking about it which you sucked the ham or the mutton off. A piece n' dook was a slice of bread dipped in the stew or mince and that was a meal. Friday it was fishsuppers if the men came in with their pay pokes and it wiz up tae Greasy Peter's fur fish and chips. I always got the wee skinny bit of the end of the fish tail. I swore to myself that when I grew up I wid have a whole fish supper all to myself and I did and do-frequently.I haVE THE BUM AND THE BELLY TO PROVE IT! WEE Wummin too
Submitted by: Wee Wummin Too Hi I am trying to find any photo of my grandfather JAMES BOYLE he was a well known bookie in the gorbals and the calton and dropped dead at Ayr racecourse in 1954 where he went by the name of James Scott His famiy were well known in the Gorbals Thanks
Submitted by: George Duncan Doris Austin Oh, but ah enjoy the stuff you put on the site-great imagination and a way with words. You just take me there , loved the bit about the flashback to Lewis's in Argyle Street I would love to be able to take my grand weans there! The grotto seemed to go on for miles with glittery snow, sledges fairies, elves, and piles of MAGIC. The magic is missing don't you think these days? Maybe me getting too old to feel it. Call me VICTORIA MELDREW IF YOU LIKE! I Loved to hear too about the hoat baths. It felt like a beacon walking back from the Gorbals Baths-big bursted red face and legs like corned beef. Full of myself I wiz, dead gallas Gorbals Glamour-a hid a BATH! Aw the best to you and a big GET WELL SOON TO TEN QUID YIR PAL. Wee Wummin Too
Submitted by: Wee Wummin 2 Wee Wummin Ach, am glad you didnae take offence non was intended. Ah jist had wee emotional flare up because of associations with he who shall not be named. I truly think that all of us have a wee bit iron in the blood and don't like being told what to do-that's what makes us strong characters and able to take life's knocks. Never saw the film but went to see the play and David Hayman played the lead. I agree a superb Actor and has been on the tele a lot in some excellent dramas. The play was on in Glasgow -oh maybe, 15 plus years ago. The thing that sticks in my mind was how the theatre was packed with middle class liberals going on about the deeper meaning of the sculpture produced by you know who. SH--- I would dearly love to take them back in time to a day in the life of a Gorbalite particularly one of the women who had been threated with a beating for not paying up to the "money lender" Enough about that. If you like books that give a good story and a good fright try Stephen King if you have not already done so.Guaranteed it will have you looking under the bed at night before you turn in for the night! I am not looking for another argument but if Colin wants to push his own barrow don't you think he is entitled to?Good on him I hope the film plays it true-the humour as well as the bad stuff. Anyway enjoy your Xmas and Ne'rday-will have a large drink in my hand on the stroke of midnight to toast you and all the good people that populate this site. Wee Wummin2
Submitted by: Wee Wummin 2 Looking for anyone connected to these families, Reid, Treacy, Greer, Kennedy,McGovern, McKenna. They lived mostly in the Kinning Park area, married in St John's Church Portugal St. My Granny worked in Miss Baird's Tea rooms for many years if that means anything to anyone? Cheers- Jan
Submitted by: Jan Reid Another Wee Wumin, i was not taking offense life is too short just making a statement of fact i love reading true fiction as most of the books that are read are just that! that book real gorbals was too tame for a hardened reader now come on who is kidding who here making it into a movie i think colin is pushing his own barrow here! putting your obvious hatred of boyle to one side for the moment the movie is a must see film the acting of David Haymen was first class especially the prison sequences a great actor making the film a must see love him or hate him !so we shall just agree to disagree ok all the best for xmass and a happy new year wee wumin
Submitted by: Wee Wumin ten quid you made me laugh honest i never done a maltesers only a we dribble now and again i was only five i wont eat maltesers again after that story good luck at hospital
Submitted by: wet wet wet I remember the Churchill Prams , they were very classic. And dont they have a Pram shop on Sauchihall St , mind you that was many years ago, it was with a lot of pride if you could afford one, and those beautiful summer canopies that went with them... Hey T Q remember this wee ditty we used tae sing walking ti the ducksie. And we would do all the actions of bowing and curtising, ready now . Oh and PULEEZE nae body take offence it is only a old song. OH PLEASE DO KEEP OFF THE GRASS TO LET THE LADIES PASS HERE COMES THE CUNTSTABLE SLIDING ON HIS ASK NO QUESTIONS TELL NO LIES SHUT YOUR MOUTH AND YOU WILL CATCH NO FLIES BUT did change it to Police man for the kids its a haund me doon , I have them all singing about Skinny malinkie long legs,I belong to Glasgow and a couple of others. Still hoping to hear any info of the Blacks Weirs and Lennons all from Oregan St and Erole St..And if any one has any Pictures of my sister Bertha sure would love to have them for my niece Yasmin her daughter thank you Doris. As always best o health Dam
Submitted by: Doris Austin aka McIntyre Doris am no bad the hospital sent fer me n on a went 200kilo.roon trip got ther n they said u didny hiv ti come up here we hiv awe yer info this is the 6th time u no!"F" SAKE am a bit stooopid jist like ti pay $1-40 litre fer petrol get corns in ma erse probably got cought wi a speed camera over takin a truck in the rain eyes sore from peerin thru the windscreen no ti mention ma nose gettin rubbed aff wi the same screen ma spinal fusion playin hell wi ma BACK n LEGS as a take ma feet aff the excelarater it floats up on ti the dashboard as i hiv nea control over it the leg has gone ti sleep "FN" aotomatics then THE DOC tells me "u no this is a very dangerouse op u are gettin on the 21-12-07 at 8-30 in the mornin" a said "wull yi waken me up ti put me ti sleep fer the op?"are yi sure thers nea auld body parts like erse holes n blood n guts yi would like me ti take doon ti the incinerator afore a throw masel in i mite hiv better luck ther GUESS WHAT! on the way home we c! alled into the casino n won $150 on roulette ache things are not awe that bad it mite pay fer a few gallons o petrol OCHE WHEN ARE WE GETTIN ELECTRIC CARS? HIV A GID N HAPPY XMASS DORIS from EBINEEZAR SCROOGE
Submitted by: TEN QUID TO Wee Wummin 1 Don't be so offended I wiznae telling ye whit ye should read or no read.I was jist making 2 points 1.The Author of A Sense of Freedom in my estimation is a despicable character and blighted the life of many a decent person in the Gorbals. HIS STORY WAS PAINTED IN A WAY TO CAUSE A SENSATION. SMALL MAN WITH A BIG BIG EGO. BUT HIS STORY WAS NOT TYPICAL OF THE EXPERIENCE OF THOUSANDS OF US.2. As has been pointed out before on numerous occaisons we all had hard and difficult, lives living in the Gorbals but it did not make us into ANIMALS. Now if you like a gory story that is your choice and your own money that buys the books you like. Good on you. Just don't expect the rest of us to agree that man was a hero or a real man. WEE WUMMIN 2
Submitted by: Another Wee Wummin when i wis a wee boy i got hit by the proverbial MILANDA bread van u see this wee dug took a liken ti ma leg n i kicked him were the sun dont shine n he chased me into n out of an air aid shelter in lawmoor st smack inti the van fracturing ma skull after hospitalization n gettin holes drilled in ma heid (now thers an openin fer somedi)i came home but wisni allowed oot-sooo! ma da n his pals who hid a band came ti ma street climb up on the same shelter n played jazz wi 2 Charlie Chaplin imitators tap dancers i wis sat on a chair at the windea n they played not only fer me but fer everyone who cared ti listen THER WIS HUNERS O FOLKS Hingin oot the windeas sittin roon the shelter n aye even dancin in the street in 1944 ther wis a war on but that day wis fer fun n wan thing the gorbals folk coold do wis enjoy life poor n awe as it wis n BIG TAM yer rite a wis fea irish stock noo how coold yi guess that as most folk who came from the gorbals were of irish origin mines hundred or mer years ago baith fea SLIGO orange n green a mixed up marriage but know somethin fer awe ther troubles wi me included they stuck tigether ti the end ma da said yi dont need religin as long as u support the celtic!maw always said "he is daft thers only wan team the BULLY WEE" clyde to those who dont know! n TAM a never bashed any ma family or stole anythin i wis a wurker a never killed anywan althow a wanted ti n i nearly did some guys jist give yi the shytes n as fer irish BASED gangs WIT!Thats a first! noo if yi want ti talk SRA aye another time!did yi mean u owe me or the webmaster a bottle o the gid stuff? Mc Farlane like us awe if yi lived in the gorbals long enuff yer a gorbalonian if u read Alex Bowie of paisley anecdote 2-11-07 he sums us awe up beautifully n BIG TAM hiv a gid yin n awera best ten quid
Submitted by: TEN QUID Och , ti awe you folks that used ti go ti the Ducksie and the sonny pond , and we actually swum in that mud hole and as soon as some one spotted a big turd every one was oot the pond till they caught a couple of them big turds And as fur the swimming costumes as we callled them in those days , man they were made oot o wool and when you would cum oot thw watter the weight o them bliddy thing the croch wis doon ti tir Roae Maries (knees) and gaves yi scurves while I am oan a roll how aboot them public baths in Roseberry street , thrupence and a big jaggy towel tae dry yi aff. Mind yi if ah rember right the watter wis so hoat by the time yi goat yir bum in she would be rattling oan the door right, you lot nooo times up , shut yir face ,you would hear ah hivnae even got ma wullie in yet, now I know why aah cannie eat Lobster thats how it must feel getting boiled alive oh jist scunners me at the thought. then yi would walk hame , hoping that all yir pals could see yi not that you would be missed as yir bliddy legs were red from the boiling watter and then they knew yi hid a bath did feel clean though by time you got in the bath after easing in wi yir toes first , it took a bit of time Ha Ha , next thin! g the doors were alll getting opend right ,thats it yi hiv been in long enough nae pleasure of playing it like you used to see in them daft American films were every one hid baths and wee duckies . As always good health ti ane n awe D A
Submitted by: Austin aka McIntyre I have read the real gorbals story i did not like it, the cumby i am fed up hearing about i felt i had read this book before but i realized it was like me and my pals sitting talking about the gorbals. We lived there so we knew all this the gorbals when i was young had a lot of good people a lot more good than bad if the neighbours had a quarel it was soon made up if that person needed help to hell with the gangs we tried our best to ignore them our circumstances were not perfect but we enjoyed living in the gorbals.
Submitted by: Sonny Wee Wumin good on you read what you like i hiv awe the books u hiv mentioned and went ti school wi brady but the one of manual i hiv not seen or heard of would like to get ma hons on him never mind the book. He murdered a good pal o the wifes n she gave the photos to the media n we didnt know who the killer was, but we hunted for ever it seemed i had a very sharp knife for him n i made ma girlfriend at the time keep one in her bag i wis dancing wi Anne knielands jist a month or so (before she got murdered) her works dance gymozas in howard st in the plaza n still hiv a photo o her n the wife she lived in bellshill in a converted farm house n manual lived out that way too we hiv never had closure on that as he got found not proven but we heard he admitted to a total o 15 murders as he was getting hanged "WHO DONT BELIEVE IN THE DEATH PENALTY?" noo Brady ache another time! the folk who condem u dont know the consequences o book burnin!
Submitted by: Ten Quid Tam Craig Meet Branigan, Flannigan, Milligan, Gilligan, Duffy, McGuffy, Malachy, Malone Rafferty, Lafferty, Donnely, Connely, Dooley, O'Hooley, Muldowney, Mahone, Madigan, Cadigan, Lanahan, Flanahan, Hagen, O'Fagan, O'Houlihan, Flynn, Shanahan, Manahan, Hogarty, Fogarty, Kelly, O'Kelly, McGuinness, MaGinn Clancy Boyle Doyle Coyle thet will do ti begin noo fer the jewish lutherainians poles n tuchters ache yi owe the webmaster a bottle o glenfidiech pay up tam craig noo that sounds SCOTCH!
Submitted by: Ten Quid I would like to wish everybody on the gorbals site a very merry Christmas, and a great 2008. Agnes herrity.
Submitted by: Agnes Here it is a dumpling cake 2cups water 1lb raisins 1/tspoon nutmeg 1/4 tspoon ginger 3//4 cups sugar 1/4 cup o butter or Maggie ann 1 t/spoon cinnamon 1/2 t/ spoon cloves, then put all the ingredients in to pot bile fur 5mins let it cool I normaly stick it into the fridge tae cool. Then add 3cups o flour 1teaspoon baking soda then 2 eggs mix it well put into a greased bundt pan and bake for 1/half hours 375 deg it is sooooo gooood, ma grand kids we make at least ten for friends and who ever even donated a couple to the good will it seems to go doon well. si you can toast a slice in the frying pan just ti broon it or with, hhhmmmm jummmers, Birds eye custard or ice cream hid tae laugh at wee wummins tale of well dressed kids in the gorbals when we got oor claithes fi the parish if you were lucky you got to wear it but mostly ended up in the pawn she must hiv been one o the lucky wans. I wish people would not take offence at what I rabbit oan aboot it is not meant for any one to feel slighted and we all have our own versions of life in the Gorbals ACTUALLY I lived in ha ha in the oatlands and some folks thought we were well aff because we hid a Corpoation hoose 2 Snowden St. Always clean windaes and sterrs but not to much oan the inside as who hid the money fur fine clothes and furniture lucky jist ti get a square meal and a lot of weans didnae get that. Ma Maw always hid a peece fur any one might jist be a bit o margerine or jam but it was better than nowt.O here is a ? fur yi in the forties is it true that the Docks wis awe proddies and freemasons and caflicks couldnae get a job. Tosh said as soon as you gave tour address they knew if yi wir a caflic or a dan or a old tin can. As fur me I never noticed as the factories were always hiring. I worked in Twomax I was an overlocker, then a couple of other wee jobs then off ti Templeton carpet factory, piece work I still hiv the scars oan ma fingers fae the bliddy machine but it wis considered good money in them days oh and it wis ayways waaaarm inside. So I hope some of you will try the dumpling cake and let me know how it fares. Best to every one merry Xmas and a great Nereday. TQ whits happening wi yi Tony he is a cousin o Tosh and from the Garn Gad went to see John and he said he cant talk but is aware of everything that is going oan I wull hiftae get his address, he was always wan o ma favourites so again be happy and as healthy as ye cin be DAM
Submitted by: Doris Austin (aka McIntyre) JUST SPOTTED THIS ON-LINE! Scots Star Lines Up Gorbals: The Movie 2007-10-07 By NORMAN SILVESTER ATONEMENT star James McAvoy is being lined up to play a young man growing up in one of Scotland's most notorious slums. Movie bosses have approached bestselling author Colin MacFarlane about his book, The Real Gorbals Story. And they want McAvoy, who recently starred in the Idi Amin drama The Last King of Scotland, to play MacFarlane, whose book is based on his life in the Glasgow slum in the 50s and 60s. MacFarlane, a former journalist who has also written a successful biography of Tom Jones, says he was contacted by Columbia Tri-Star last week. He said: "McAvoy is one of the biggest things in Hollywood and they are looking for a new vehicle for him. There was an article about my book in the Hollywood Reporter and they are talking about using McAvoy as the star reflecting on his life in a seriesof flashbacks. "They want me to go over and discuss a screenplay based on the book. They are also talking about getting Ewan McGregor and Robert Carlyle on board. "Their idea is that it would be a movie similar in style and budget to Trainspotting or Neighbourhood Saints." McAvoy, 28, of Drumchapel, Glasgow is being tipped for an Oscar nomination for World War II drama Atonement. The BAFTA-winning actor, who got his break in TV's Shameless, is shooting Wanted with Angelina Jolie. He has also been tipped to play the part of engineer Scottie in a new Star Trek movie. MacFarlane, 52, now works as a property developer in Pontypridd in Wales. He was born in Crown Street, the same road that was home to the fictional Johnny Stark in the classic book No Mean City. The Real Gorbals Story details the poverty, violence and humour of life in the community.
Submitted by: Larry MaCoy Hi everyone, i hope you all have a lovely chrismas and a great new year, i will be in glasgow for new year i just love it, not the same as years ago but i still love being there. Jackie turnbull, fran sanny, s duff, i wish you all the very best for 2008, and hope to hear from you all in the new year. I will have a drink for you all at the new year haha, can't wait to hear all the great storys on the site, and i bet there will be a few haha, have a great time, love pat davis
Submitted by: Pat Davis I am trying to contact Peter Glendinning Gibb. I believe we are related and I have information to share. Please write to me at the e-mail address below.
Submitted by: Nancy Hi writing to see if anyone knows or was friends with my parents HARRY FARREN he lived in 186 hospital street and has brothers Charlie Farren, Pat Farren and Bridie Farren, was at St Johns primary and was also at Our Lady St Margret's secondary. My mother ROSALINE FARREN (WARD) lived in 27 Caledonia street and went to St Francis primary and Holyrood secondary. Winnie Ward and Charlie Ward are her borther and sister. Would be great to hear from anyone who knew them and my parents would love to hear from old friends.
Submitted by: Harry Farren & Rosaline Farren (Ward) Hello all, jist went intae the big hardware store, and I swear on ma maws grave, ah got the biggest flashback of the xmas grotto in the big Store named Lewis's right on Argyle St. As always us urchins waited in line, rings roon oor necks, as it was to cauld ti waaash nae instnat hoat watter in them days. But let me tell ya I had the biggest smile oan ma face, as we went there fur the heat and of course dae the nasty. But just going up and doon in the Elevator and walking though all the beautiful stuff, and jist lookin That wis considered a day oot, and if wi a bit o luck if ane us had a broon copper we would buy the chipped fruit, that the man used ti sell oot side the front door, boy we thought we hid died and went ti heavan. Oh and the first time Artie n me and a couple of his pals plus Julia Murray went as teenagers ti buy ane o them yankee ice creams a Knicker bocker Glory, felt like we were real grown ups, and hing oot and listen ti the music. We were the first anes oan! the street ti get a radiogram. Sister irene she goat it oan tick fae Clydsdales, buggered aff ti new york, brother Lenoard he got stuck wi the payments, he buggers aff ti new York, oh so did Kathleen as well. You know ti this day ah dont know if it ever git payd fur. But we hid sum grate paties in that hoose especially when all the Austin mob cousins oan the Austin side, and awe Edwards pals they would awe cum oan leave at the same time. Anyhoo the noo being it is around Xmas I have one of the well in ma opinion a great receipe fur a dumpling cake. And being that this wee note is so long will put in another note Awe ru best DAM
Submitted by: Doris Austin (aka McIntyre) Friends from Gorbals, join us to celebrate Jesus at the center on the 23 December 2007 in St. Francis Centre Starting from 1.00pm. There will be a variety of food for all. You will have an opportuinity to taste African dishes. Join us 10am every sunday for worship. Gorbals is a very friendly community. The Community spirit is very high. We have enjoyed this for the past several months of using St.Francis centre. The people of Gorbals are very nice people. This is our thank you for creating such a friendly atmosphere. Keep up the good work. A warm welcome awaits you. See ya.
Submitted by: Dr T.Abu Has anyone heard of sheru ram who set up a small cash and carry in the gorbals in the sixties and seventies selling school wear and clothing? He passed away in the eighties at a good age possibly 75yrs old, all information would be appreciated.
Submitted by: Raymond Does anyone remember the Taggart family of 5 thistle street (the pen) from 1947 (when I was born) to 1954. We moved up to the end of thistle street across from the fruit and vegetable store run by the Mcnaughtons. Then to Ardencraig quad in Castlemilk in the late fifties. Went to Gorbals and then Strathbungo. Love the site.
Submitted by: Tommy Taggart Vantas dead right an the ice lollies were worserer Paragon? naebody paid to get in whit way the stick door, the finger door, the hard door be sittin there wi yir jersey oan an cummin oot wi a jumper an wan o the doors wid burst open an wee shadows wid be skitin aw ower the place by the way if ye mind drap onything on the flair leave it whit ye might pick up wisnae whit ye drapped as ye say wanse boredum set in... wan o' the favourites wis "Whit's the password" nae prize fur guessin an it wis usually whit wis on the flair if ye wur daft enough tae rummage about there, the Bees wis a different Camlachie bouncers awe ower the place wis watchin the Dolly Sisters wan Seturday waitin fur the three Stooges or somethin comin oan we wur aw fed up an smert erse blaws up ma tottie crisp bag bursts it seconds later wis oot oan the pavement nae messin Yir joggin ma memory too much Mr
Submitted by: Anonymous To all glaswegians and folk from the gorbals.. have a great christmas and a fantastic new year. awe the best maria
Submitted by: Maria Welsh Another wee GLASGOW WUMMIN sorry but i will read what i like and i read that sorry name for a book the real gorbals on my flight to new zealand what a boring flight my friend gave me A SENSE OF FREEDOM to read on my way home and i was hoping my flight would just keep going now you will say i should not have read hindley and brady or peter manual i have read both also hitler-stalin-polpot-and edi amin to name a few it is our right to understand people and the world and not bury our heads in the sand to pretend it never happened like the church wanted us to do and never learn to read or write or understand yes i have read the bible too. now i want to read the karan! back from my holiday in NZ to the land of free speech and thank goodness they dont burn books! Wee Wumin
Submitted by: Wee Wumin FAO: The other wee glesga wummin. Congratulations on your very straight talking e-mail about the people who only talk about the gorbals in a way that would make people who have never lived in the Gorbals think we were all nutcases with knifes & guns, and gangsters, most of the ones who talk like that should take there blinkers off and talk about the Gorbals as a great place to live, with good family's working Mum's & Dad's, well dressed children, happy times, with lots of laughter, and fun, good neigbours helping each other. Yes a lot of times the Gorbals got a bad name for the right reasons, but it was not the way everone lived. Thanks again other wee glessga wummin. Agnes.
Submitted by: Agnes To Ten Quid, are you Irish or come from an Irish family, cause I have tried to write several articles but they all get passed on to the the bin, I genuinely think this site is for all the Irish who lived in the Gorbals, this will not be printed either I know this because scottish people are not welcome on this site only the would be gangsters of yesterday how can grown men still talk about the cumbie an irish based gang who terrorised their own families, thieves and murders who brought shame on the Gorbals and the guy Mc Farlane didnt come from the Gorbals but Fort William and he writes a load of crap sorry but that was a book not about the real Gorbals I was born in Thistle Street as was my great great grandparents all scottish and real Gorbals people if this gets printed I will give you a bottle of whiskey Big Tam.
Webmaster Note - This website is intended for everyone with relations or an interest in the Gorbals. Any anecdotes that could cause offence will not be printed. So, I'll be expecting that bottle of whisky!
Submitted by: Tam Craig RE: THE REAL GORBALS STORY Hey i was around the Gorbals at he same time as Macfarlane and i remember him well. He was a bit of a wildman and after reading his book I can tell he still is. Macfarlane like myself was a member of the local Cumbie gang and I can remember him in his Levi Sta Press trousers and hand made Arthur Black shirt. He was always well dressed and had a good line in patter. He was quite bright at school and recognised as a good story teller. I was going to write a book about the Gorbals but there is no way I could match this as it is a real page turner. Well done Colin you have come a long way from the wild streets of the Gorbals. I remember you once quoting to me the line,"Men who are not mean have got to walk these mean streets."...and you were absolutely right. The streets of the Gorbals were wild yet exciting places for every one of us.
Submitted by: Bonniesboy I have just read Colin Macfarlane's The Real Gorbals Story amd it really is a great read. I notice people are now raving about it worldwide. Here is a review I saw today on Amazon...this book has certainly got people talking again about the old Gorbals AMAZON REVIEW....DEC 6 2007 This biography by a real Gorbals boy is by far the best ever written about the old Gorbals. Colin Macfarlane grew up there as a street kid in the 1960s and he describes all the drunks, the hardcases, the gangs and gang members,the back street singers, the jakes, the crumbling tenements, the boozers, the flymen, and the honest working people who made up the community. This tome beats other books on the old Gorbals by a million miles. Macfarlane's story is full of twists and turns that have you turning each page with great expectations. He also, for the first time, captures the magnificent sense of humour and patter that existed and it is hard not to have a good old fashioned belly laugh at the patter and goings on. Macfarlane, although explaining in the book that he left school at 15 with a limited education, is also a great writer and compelling storyteller. This stupendous unique biography really is a must for anyone who grew up in the area or for those who have wondered wh! at it was really like to live in the notorious Gorbals. THE REAL GORBALS STORY is an instant classic of our times, the best book about the Gorbals ever! Every house in Glasgow should have one.
Submitted by: June Casey Hi there WEE Wummin 3/12/07 Gonnie gies a break! That book and and the subsequent play had nothing to do with real men more with real cowards. Don't forget his reputation was built on frightening the life out of women and men who couldn't pay back the money that was loaned to them at high rates of interest. Please stop going on about the so called hard men, gangs etc etc Lets instead, celebrate the fun and laughter and most of all the hardworking decent folk who strived to give their children a decent upbringing in very difficult circumstances. Most, against all the odds were highly successful. Forget the rest of the trash. Can't for the life of me understand why anyone thinks a "hardman" is someone who done time at the taxpayers cost. Enough makes me sick to my stomach when I think of all the deserving Gorbalites who died without owning there bolthole in the sun. Anyway on a lighter note A most heartfelt Merry Xmas and good Gorbals New Year to you all. WEE WUMMIN 2
Submitted by: Another wee GLASGOW WUMMIN Wet Wet Wet - hi ther u remind me of my class at camden st school we hid ian sloane BRADY the moors murderer in oor class always a weirdo but the guy who sat next too me wis the splitten image o oor wullie in the beano wi big thick glasses we both sat at the front becuase i hid bad eyesite too n widni wear ma specs wire wans i wis sure they wur barbed wire aff wi them thru them ti the shyte hoose noo this is were wee wullie should hiv been many a time as ther wis this awefull smell n i felt guilty! wis never sure if it wis me or him then wan day a caught him oot - he stons up leans on the desk n we didni know wit underpants were in them days a no a didni he looks at me wi his teeth clamped tight n doon his legs they rolled 3 malteasers well thats wit they looked like n a dont think we hid them in those days! "yu dirty bas.!" a yelled ! like u he got sympathy n i got ti sit up the back row wi fanny o herren snottery nose lassie n awe she wanted ti do wis play doctors! the teacher didni believe in corporal punishment jist sit yi doon wi a python veteranian!!
Submitted by: Ten Quid Hi Bridget, sorry I lost your email address, been a lot happening, my sister Margaret died, I've been away on holiday for 3 weeks. Glad you enjoyed your trip to Las Vegas, great place to go, hoping to back next year myself. Do you ever see anyone from the Gorbals? Great memories, how is Ann and the rest of your family ? keep in touch.
Submitted by: J McDonough Was surfin' today and canme across this great site. as born 1946 in 16 Mathieson Street. Noticed an entry (2005) from Edward Healy who lived next close. Shall try and contact him but he may have changed his email address by this time. Would love to hear from anyone who knew us. Our extended family all from Gorbals Patons, Farrells, Rileys, Smiths and McGhees.
Submitted by: Don Paton Hi, it is still good to read all your stories, i have had some nice e-mail from people who knew my family, and i have sent e-mails back to them, so if there is anyone out there that knows my family it would be great to hear from you. My dads name is Davis Barney, lived in portugual st, luv pat davis
Submitted by: Pat Davis FAO: Rose - u said it beautifully n truthfully but some o these guys were o a religion that did not allow them to jump aff at the red lite or so drunk they didnt feel it cummin! ma mither in law hid 14 n her man wisni a drinker well no when a knew him! n they didni awe live as wis the case wi many a family but wumins lib changed awe that n ther is mer divorces noo than ever in history n am no blamin wan or the other but iv been merried 50yrs n a widni change a thing. ma wumin says am the boss as long as i do as am told!
Submitted by: Ten Quid FAO: Wee wumin new zealand. I maria here i see you came from hospital st, I came from 122 hospital st. I would love to read the book i will try and find here in shops. Arrived in nz on 5th feb 1975. Hope to hear from you kind regards Maria
Submitted by: Maria Welsh (Eadie) Hi again. I am trying to find any information or anybody that remembers my grandad Patrick James Boyle known as Paddy born 1908. He married Mary Ann Kilkie at st francis church Gorbals in 1935 but died in 1946 at 10 1/2 Eglinton st. My gran Mary Kilkie was of a big family around Glasgow and The Gorbals but i found she died around the year 2000 but we never knew any of them. I am finding it very very hard to find any information on Patrick so i would love to hear from anybody who might be old enough to remember him or anybody by the name of Boyle who might be related, i refuse to except that a family can totally dissapear, is somebody hiding something?
Submitted by: Tommy Boyle Hi Ten Quid and Doris. Have enjoyed reading all your emails. But especially the one you wrote about the men walking to work and the woman charging to the steamie. I thought that once about my wee Da as I watched him getting ready to walk through the a blizzaed to get to work at Yarrows. That was quite a walk from the Gorbals. He did itevery winter whatever the weather. I remember thinking one morning, "noo that's a real hard man. He told me he went into the Broo one morning to sign on and the guy behind the counter told him he was called up to the army and ended up in North Africa. Survived that and a prisoner of war camp. Somebody told me he ran aboot wi a team called the Hatchet but he never mentioned that to any of us. We knew he had done a bit in his time with my uncle Danny McCauley (Stick) but then he married and grew up as you say. My Da never missed a days work in his life fought for his country and never asked anybody for anything. He died skint like most then in the Gorbals but a few people knew he had been here. So keep the stories coming almost all of us enjoy them and awra best. Mick.
Submitted by: Mick Anonymous hi there aye a remember Jimmy Nisbet n alot mer as a KID i used to follow the crowd to the malsie as we called it to watch the hard men fight for money awe the guys formed a big circle n placed ther bets- 2 guys wid strip too the waist n on it went boots heed n fists none stop till one o them couldy get up then fer "F" sake the winner would shake hands wi the loser n even buy him a drink n no a PENNY VANTAS either did yi like them? watered doon water wi coloring in them!-some o the HARD MEN then i remember are awe deed like dan cronin, paddy slowie, dan o neil n a few a hiv fergot noo the RITZ wis better than the paragon u git splitters in yer erse ther the ritz u could sometimes find a seat wi nea springs pokin yer erse n yi could buy a watery orange drink now the paragon cost nothin as wee barny knew ma family well! n the drinks were free as long as u kin climb up the pipe ti the cistern! imagine the weans deain that noo wan thing a miss wis the patter fea ! the audiance in a love scene some brite spark wid scream out as the scene dimmed in a kissen bit "shes gettin her h---!" wit a place! the hall wid burst inti laffter! awera best
Submitted by: Ten Quid Looking for any details/memories/photos of "Nancys Restaurant" in Cumberland Street (Eglinton Street end)...for the owners grandaughter..Carol Nouillan..thanks!
Submitted by: Colin Mackie Sorry Doris and Ten Q. I have to somewhat agree with some of the things said by Graham for one thing you said some working to feed their families. Would not sound too bad if they did not have 10 to 15 kids living in a 2 room place. Father coming home drunko. Ok for the men to talk when half the wifes life was lying on her back for a drunk on payday after boozing half the pay away.
Submitted by: Rose I went to abbostford school 1950 to 1956 miss buchanan was my teacher i loved her i used to wet myself and she would take me in behind the piano and dry my pants on the hot pipes. Now a teacher would be scared to do that, i was also jealous of a girl called carol in my class she always had a tin of zubes and a fancy hanky a tof ha ha and all I had was a red face!
Submitted by: Wet Wet Wet Anyone have memories of my publican father, John Adams, who owned The Tavern in Ballater Street before opening the Riverside Tavern in Waddell Court? Sadly, he died four years ago in Inverness after returning to Scotland from Spain. Thanks to this website, I stumbled across this link to my Dad and the Riverside Tavern itself. http://www.oldglasgowpubs.co.uk/riversidetavern.html Best regards. Tony
Submitted by: Tony Adams Anyone know of Margaret McCusker, Frances, Hughie and Edward Bonnar? Went to school with Margaret McCusker to John St. Sec. in Tullis St. Bridgeton. Lived in Gorbals from 1936-1951
Submitted by: Jean Gartely (Nee Fairie) TOO all you folks who like too have a good read about the gorbals read the true story of jimmy boyle it will shock the living daylights out of you the first part all about the south side and bonnies school and the thieving the cumbie too, the different prisons in scotland he was in and the folk around him NOW thats a real mans book! and im a wee wumin but i came from hospital st 50yrs ago so i got the video, my that was frightening but i prefer reading like a james gagney type of gangster book! cheerio
Submitted by: Wee Wumin Alex Bowie I'm Jean Mclaren's cousin what you said about that family is so true her girls are a credit to her, her youngest daughter had the piper play flower of scotland up her road in devon at the head of her cortege the same piper who played for when we celebrated hi life.
Submitted by: Anna Graham TEN QUID howdi folks see some mer yanki patter on the site "if a canny join them attack them "WHERE did i say i wis a hard man am no any harder than any man or woman hoo wis born n bred in the gorbals all of us in the 30s ti early 60s and before who came thru rationing war that we could feel not see on telly work a 3 day week n feed a family, get up at 5 n the mornin n walk ti the shipyerds or get on the back of a truck wi the cuald wind makin yer face faw aff wonderin if ye still hid a nose n ears goin ti work in the NEW house ESTATES hivin ti travel ti motherwell to serve yer apprenticeship. the HARDMEN doon the pits n workin DIXON BLAZES n walkin awe these places in the freezin black ice n the wumin carryin big bundles on ther backs ti the steamy or stonin in the saltmarket sellin ther wares ti feed the weans not once hiv i said we were hard men, idiots yes n DORIS went ti USA as a BRAVE young lassie n wurked hard fer her bucks never ever did she say artie wis a hard man or me for that matter he wis an entertainer n good company for a sing song. doris gives us her exploits in life for others ti read noo u hiv got yer bit in aboot yer slasher basher cousin in a suppose yill be wantin ti say some mer well go fer it but try n tell wee entertainin anecdotes insults jist put u in the same catagory as that other person she keeps changin her name thers a gid boy noo lets here somethin constructive u only live once whoever yer god maybe n if u dont like it jist like the song says "JIST WALK ON BYE-I-I JIST WALK ON BYE"
Submitted by: Ten Quid Anyone know the whereabouts of the Bailey family who used to live at 47 or 27 Naburn Street? Also, I used to pal around with some boys (many years ago) known as "BIG" John Enright- and Frank McLintock and some other boys who used to attend St. Thomas Club in Riddire - they were all from the Gorbals. Those were great years - funny - we had a ball.
Submitted by: Emily M Young (nee Rigley) F.A.O Ronnie Meldrum. Hello Ronnie. I too had a problem. But Finally made it thanks to someone at the Adelphi Centre. I've given them my email which, they say will be passed onto you, as soon as they have yours, then hopefully we can get together. Margaret and i were sorry that you had lost Betty. On your last visit you Mentioned looking out your bedroom window in Turnlaw St, where the tenements used to be. My 2 box apartments didnt include a bedroom (You lucky sod) depending on the size of the families. There could be 3 or 4 in a recess bed (A hole in the wall). Well i hope you get this. And so keep in touch. All the best Billy
Submitted by: Bill McTear Hi, jackie turnbull i got your e-mail and have e-mail you back hope you get that one, and if fran is reading this did you get my e-mail? i don't know what i am doing wrong, hope to hear from anyone that remembers my dad barney davis or my mum mary connelly, please jackie and fran if you don't get my e-mails please let me know and i will find other way to answer yours many thanks keep in touch i love this site all the best love pat
Submitted by: Pat Davis Graham - Bunny Slowly was the guy that caused a riot at shawfield greyhounds caught him!
Submitted by: Ten Quid Oh here we go again, to Graham, we are not talking hard men, just folks that we grew up with. And i have to agree people who need gangs are just like I said before a bunch of stooopid men just waiting to grow up. And if you knew Artie, John and the rest of them you would know they two in fact were the shyest boys, so I cant argue with you, but one thing is none of them were cowards, and they all paid for whatever crimes they commited. And in time turned out well, they just wanted like the rest of us a better life so they became business men in their own fashion and please I dont want to hear anymore slagging, just trying to get through life laughing not pissing and moaning like some folks. TQ we have handicapped plates also for Tosh, and everytime ah git oot the motor I feel like I have to limp or something, cause ah no people look at you to see what kind of handicap you have (grin) Do you live in a wee tooon? we do, population 6000 it is a tourist town, and in! the summer a mad house all the tourist biggest ice cream in one hand and then the largest drink you could buyi n the other. A lot of fat people in America but such is life, some hae meat, and boy do they eat and some hiv nane and waaaant it. We are expecting some friends of ours they are from west kilbride, but get this they are yanks lived in Scotland for the last twenty years but are now coming home, had enough of the rain and cauld. Well as always hope everyone is hale n hearty and have great Xmas and Nereday DAM
Submitted by: Doris Austin (aka McIntyre) Ten Quid been followin' your blethers wi wan an all an trin tae pit a haunl on yi reckon you can gie me 3 or 4 years a wis born in Sandyfaulds St an flitted 1952 across the Molls Myre many memories good an bad folk yi couldna beat but the thought o' that singl en spewing drains stairheid lavy naw then yi hid Ol Charlie wi the club fit in the stables Jimmy Nisbets tottie scones Esmas vantases Tommy Orrs LG the Paragon the Bees the Ritz? geez how the hell did it ever get that name if that was ritzy oor singl en wis Buck hoose a went tae Oatlands school kin well mind o a Miss Hogg she wis a stoater an ol Mr Scott travelled every day from Ayr got aff the train Eglinton Street an walked the hale length o Cumberland St thro the pen tae work then backthe same wey at night an he wis nae chicken noo a days a wean wid boke at that aye happy days mibbe
Submitted by: Anonymous Looking for Janet Barcus (Gray) last known address Dndasvale Court House 93 Glasgow.
Submitted by: Susan (Gray) Coler Message for Alex Bowie. This is susan mclaren, that was lovely what you wrote about my mum and dad, i spoke to your sisters and dad the day my mum died, hope you are well
Submitted by: Susan Holland Hi everyone, hope it in not to cold fur yi yet. i always hated the rain and if it was windy. So i was thinking about how we used to winch in the closes, and try and get the dunnie before someone else. So were dae they dae thir winching noo? I remember ma feet wid be frozen, and as soon as ah went intae the hoose I would run intae the scullery and put ma feet in the back to back oven as they would be numb. Then when we got galis enough we would staun in ma close, and if ma Da hid a bevy in him, he would shout "hey ackie ya prodestant B------ goat any fags if no then git oan yir bike. Then artie and a couple of the boys would slag you when they went intae the hoose T Q you said that i would know a lot of Hard Men, the people we are refering to were just a bunch of daft boys to me rember ah wis a year older, and when I say anythig am talking jist up ti wur teens then it was ofsky fur me. But the young mind is like a sponge soaks up everything. I was to busy going to the dancing, never noticed a lot going on around me like a lot of just learning about life teenager. In fact got two teenagers who at that know it all stage ah want tay guzzle them. Remember the men who stood under the bridges wi the rain coats on what was that all about dirty swine. Many a one would get belted wi staines and called some terrible names and one wid get blootered once in a while is that all in Colins new book which seems to be well favoured by a lot of folk? Wonder what kind of treatment they will come up for you for the cancer, ma sister she says she feels good tired but good. So Ah hope it keeps her healthy. Oh and one more remember the mooon dancers ha now that is a good one Terry Kerr, Scobie Sloan, sludger Smith, Dodgy Gaitens he was not a dance fan Cathy Mitchell but all soo side Marion Munro her sister Rita it is funny the names you remember and I know that they did not all leave Scotland. I heard that they changed the Corporation houses wonder what they changed the scullery and some decent heat in the rooms ah hope. Fur aew ma auld neebors, remember when sister irene used to bring her american husband home, we would all get bundeld into the big room and they would get as we used to call it the honey moon suite the wee room were the condensation would run doon the wos, you could never keep wall paper oan as it wid jist peel aff. As when ever some one got married they stied there ti they goat thir ain place a room or whatever. any way he always fur years he thoat that we had another room aff i that one as we all used to sleep in the same room till he left talk about keeping up wi the Jones. And he was the first person that we hid ever seen that took jam wi his eggs and toast. Ah think everyone in the neeberhood got tapped as ma Maw used to try and put on a decent spread for him, thank goodness he didnae sti to long. So hope every one stays warm and healthy all the best DAM
Submitted by: Doris Austin (Aka McIntyr) Seen the names Grace McCluskey and also Betty Lee would love to get in touch as i went to school with betty and grace lived in the next close from me in thistle street there is no email address given hence i need help.
Submitted by: Myra Please in response to Louise Comerford - i tried to get you but cant. I grew up with your ma she was my best pal so was your gran they lived on cumberland st up pawn close ive tried to get her and here you are her daughter thats weird you ask her of me we went all through school loved hugh and john. I cant wait to see how she is, so if you get this please get back to me i'll watch every day love anne.
Submitted by: Anne O'Neill Hi, i got two lovely e-mails from a jackie turnball and a fran, i did e-mail back two them but i have't heard from them, did you's get my e-mails? cause it was really nice of both of you to e-mail me. Hello to mr tenQ and doris, and sanny, take care pat
Submitted by: Patricia Davis DORIS hi ther this is the monday efter i wis in the lock up i took the mrs too the shops n as i wis drivein into the undergrun car park this big guy in his 70s i guess as straight as a poker think somedi hid shoved an iron bar up his jacksi face oan him like a soor grapefruit yi no a pride masel on readin people n a wis rite wi this yin parked ma moter in the disabled space n over he marched said ti the wife "here comes a bampot" n he sterted "u souldnt be parkin ther thats fer disabled people so move" "well a parked up ther n a hit a car n a wee dwarf came oot n said am no happy" n i said "which wan are u then?" obviously he hid never herd o the 7 dwarfs his soor face turnin ti pickles ma wife told him a hid a sticker n the BAS! WENT N HID A LOOK !did that no get ma gander up the mrs went ti the shops n a said ti soor face is that yer scooter?" "none o your business!" ther he wis wi a big helmet awe the leather gear jackboots n stonin beside a 50cc scooter a said "yi n! o folks who hiv disabilities r no awe on wheel chairs or crutches some o us r blind "as i reversed inti his wee scooter! ache well i must be in ma second childhood! ten quid
Submitted by: Ten Quid Hi I am an architectural student at the Strathclyde university and for my dissertation I am studying the regeneration of the Gorbals. I would really appreciated to hear from the local community with regards to community participation with the regeneration work, how much has the community been involved with the whole process? Is the regeneration of the Gorbals for the locals or is it for outsiders to cash in on. Do the locals find the 3rd regeneration successful reasons/comments would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Submitted by: Julie Cabrey DORIS hi jist a wee note put this site on n get all the news of scotland n glesca quite good www.stv.tv ten quid
Submitted by: Ten Quid Doris here is a thing aboot e-mails sometimes u hivti print the e-mail address in n it will work! mines is all small case letters n .au =oz at the end so if u kin see it awe try that if no i will send it via yasmine no result fea the doc yet aboot the asbestos it will come soon the guy who has been leadin the charge for asbestos sufferers is at deaths door now! very brave man! we hiv a new government here now LABOR here hopein our medical system improves we hid a 200 kilometer roon trip a wis knackered oor appointments were 4 hoors apart betty wis at the heart doc who comes doon fea brisbane once a month n ti kill time we went ti the casino played roulette on a machine like a slot machine type so here we r enjoyin oorsels but betty isni winnin or loosein i hid a look she wis bettin ODDS-EVENS or RED-BLACK i said "u cant win doin that" she said "n a canny lose either!" typical gorbals wumin just hivin a laff awera best ten quid
Submitted by: Ten Quid Does anyone know what ever happened to Teresa Gibb? We used to play in the swing park in Hutcheson Square off Cumberland Street around 1960.
Submitted by: D.T.M FAO: Caroline Walker. I was also born and bred in the gorbals, and I went to Abbotsford school between 1953 till 1961. I was wondering if you went at the same time, I have been looking for school photos from they times, could you help me caroline. All the best. Agnes.
Submitted by: Agnes Herrity (Kerr) I was looking through an old book and came across this story, does anyone know anymore about her. THE NAME OF THE GORBALS IN GLASGOW IS KNOWN WORLDWIDE. BUT PERHAPS NOT SO WELL IS THE FACT THAT SOME FORTY YEARS AGO, IN THE SAME DISTRICT OF GLASGOW LIVED A WOMAN WHO WAS KNOWN LOCALLY AS; THE ANGEL OF THE GORBALS; HAVING HERSELF ONCE BEEN CRIPPLED, BEFORE FAITH-HEALING MIRACULOUSLY CURED HER. MARGARET GILMOUR THEN SPENT SIX YEARS OF HER LIFE AS A DEVOTED FRIEND TO THE ELDERLY, DISABLED, AND HOUSEBOUND. MANY A LONELY PERSON HAD CAUSE TO BE GRATEFUL FOR GIFTS AND, ABOVE ALL, THE HAND OF FRIENDSHIP. I would love to find out if anybody remembers her. Thank you Agnes.
Submitted by: Agnes Herrity (Kerr) Ten Q you and Doris talk about all the hard men of the Gorbals. Let me tell you, back in the 50 and 60 there was only one, that was bunny slowly. The rest were a buch of would be's. big men if they had there gang behind them or a weapon. like big artie who i went to school with he would run from his shadow if it was one one one just like the rest of them. i know because one of my relations was the first sent up by lord carmont. for razor slashing. Just another fool like the rest of you. So give the people a break on this board with all the rubbish the two of you write.
Submitted by: Grayham I was wondering what to get my folks back home in Glasgow and here in Australia for Christmas...and having bought Macfarlane's book The Real Gorbals Story...i will be buying everyone I know from the old Gorbals a copy. It's a great piece of writing and had me laughing so much at one stage I had tears coming down my cheeks...but it also has its serious moments and Macfarlane captures the old characters and places absolutely beautifully. My man Reg (he and I are both from Hospital Street) said he couldn't put the book down and even took a day off (on the sick!) so he could read it all in one go! A great present for anyone...well done colin you have put the old gorbals back on the map forever...even in 100 years people will be enthralled by your book. And many thanks to the Gorbals Live site who made me aware of it in the first place. agnes
Submitted by: Agnes MacKenna DORIS hi again talkin aboot the pool a built wan masel dug a hole lined it wi plastic made up a pump n filter system lasted 15 yrs noo we were jist here n a hid a good back then n we done plenty skinny dippen n MORE we used ti sneek up the back yerd in the dark hot nites like u said drap the towel n in we went the greatest feelin in the world the pool wis next ti ma mother in laws wee hoose a built n she would shout leave ma wee lassie alain yu dirty bugger ! a rite gorbals wumin! wan o the original dirty dozen fea sandyfualds st. when a first got the big C a said i want ti swim wi a dolphine WISH GRANTED well talk aboot skinny dippen wi the wife a dolphine feels the same way when you cudle it like a peeled hard boiled EGG no kidden smooth n slippy noo we would feel like a scrambled egg ! sloppy n mushy ! ache well thats life yi end up the wi ye begin gummsie fatty n wearin a nappy awera best ti all ten quid
Submitted by: TEN QUID Hi All does anyone from Gorbals know of any Logan family Elizabeth ( mother ) 3 sons.. Ronald, William, David thanks
Submitted by: Steven Born & bred in the Gorbals still live there went to Abbotsford Primary school then Adelphi Secondry, head teacher then was Mr Baxter.
Submitted by: CAROLINE WALKER Just like to clear a few things up that I read on the website - F.A.O.HADGY my mum Rosemary Douglas did not have any children to someone called Joe. Think I would know. And to the others who go on about my Uncle Hughie being a mad person with a reputation that they are still talking about to this day - complete slander - stop writing crap about folk. Thank you. Feel free to reply.
Submitted by: Louise Comerford hi doris,i have been reading your notes and i really enjoy them the sames as mr tenQ, do you know my dad barney davis? i think he knew your brother,i am sure i have heard him say his name in the past, my dad died in 1989,his brothers and sisters were liz sadie, mick and john davis, liz is the only one left now,my dad could tell a great story ha,he lived in london for years that's were we were born my 2 sisters and brother, but i do go to scotland alot i love it,and i love to hear all the old story's and look at all the photo's,if you do remember my dad i would love to hear from you,oh yes my mum's name was mary connelly, do you know her, my mum died 1998,she came from the gorbals,she had two brothers tommy & willie and my nans name was sarah, hope to hear from you love pat
Submitted by: pat davis Hi -Rosemary Douglas here, trying to get in touch with Anne O'Neill but my emails keep getting returned. Anne if you read this please drop me a line and catch up. cheers
Submitted by: Rosemary Douglas DORIS i did hiv trouble wi ma e-mails but i hiv fixed it noo so try again just say hello see if it comes back if not bingo i will answere as soon as i get oot the lock up friday 23/11/07 only in fer the day mer tests fer the asbestos ache shyte a thot a wis sendin u an e-mail insted of the gorbals site oche jist leave it let u see how doty am gettin awera best ten quid
Submitted by: TEN QUID Sanny hi ther sorry i couldn't help Pat but i dont know IF I DID KNOW any of the davis clan name does ring a bell but really dumb one at that i dont know jim steen but knew acky artie who would forget him but now you hiv ma juices flowin i would like to hear more about them who knows maybe u will jog my memory i may hiv met jim but he was a merchant seaman just like my brother in law who lived in brighton before comein ti oz jim smith alot depends on the exact area n era of time n who u hung around with so interested to hear more awera best sanny ten quid
DORIS aye deep n wide remember them days well sometimes the only way ti get a feed! a wis born in GRANTON ST in the oatlands as soon as a wis born granny stuck a nappy own me n said "F" AFF TI YER KAFLIK DA" mixed marriages in them days were a BIG NO NO! wit did a do merrit a wee kaflik as u no awe ma family r tims even the GREENS from mathison st r cousens u mentioned 1 in u post jimmy wis he from ther? n i loved gon ti chapel the wee jb fea sandifualds st. wid nick the conels n eat them!a went ti boys guild in ERROL ST fer years then that SWEENEY guy "yes father yes father"the dober fer the priests wid chase me oot u r no wan o us u r wan o them ! frightened to say prody in case he got struck doon!so a just sat on the step n when he wisney ther i went defiantly back in ma knees shakin in case a got struck doon! some good entertainment sittin ther the hibs hall across the st.wan nite an IRISH guy wis gettin the shyte belted out of him from a guy wi a bike chain he ke! pt walkin forward sayin "now stop doin that!" the blood pourin from him then he grabbed the chain n really punched the guy ti a pulp till he collapsed PADDY turned roon in walked back in the hall THAT WIS ENTERTAINMENT! WIT WIS RANG WI US!WITS RANG WI THE SYSTEM! from ma own life i feared the DEATH PENALTY hid nitemers aboot it now its gon the nite i put "shadrack" in intensive care in a gang fight the corner of florance st jimmy lynch helpin me [hid reputation leader o the cumbie]got slashed this wis over nothin then LORD CARMON made it 7 years for carryin a razor shyte am no gone inti the holiday camp so we hid the tools in false ceilins in the low down toilets then i met a nice lassie n we hiv been merrit fer 50yrs [get less fer murder]so ti awe u young guys that r locked in yer own wee patch THERS A BIG WONDERFULL WORLD OOT HERE JUST WAITIN FOR YOU TO ENJOY GIVE UP THE HARD MAN STUFF THATS AWE IT DOES TO U IS STUFF U UP!u know the wonder of it all is, that world may onl! y be the next suburb next close or street if u hiv no been in prison go n stand outside one even that mite shake u up its easy ti be a follower its a bas. bein a leader some dark nite somedi will get yi!i know a couple o millioners who came from places like the gorbals left school wi nothin n then seen the lite n started ti study or -work- DONT LET THAT WORD FRIGHTIN U it can be very rewardin ask DORIS she came fi the gorbals n knew some hard cases im sure o this awe the hard cases a knew r deed n am still livin then a wis a nutcase too soft fer a hard case! ten quid
Submitted by: TEN QUID Hi sanny @ brighton, it was good to hear that someone remember my dad barney, like you said he could tell a great story what was your dad's name? as you can see we live in london i still go to scotland i just love it, did you know that john davis died last year there is only my aunt liz left now. Where did you live if you don't mind saying, i still see my sisters in glasgow, do you remember them? Sandra died 5 years ago that was very sad, my uncle mick died two weeks before, anyway as mr tenQ said we have great memory and that i have, i think this site is great, there is so much that you want to ask. Anyway hope to here from you again luv pat. PS me and my sisters joan, sandra and brother john were born here in london we are my dad's second family haha, as you would know he had 4 childern in glasgow then us 4 in london want a family haha but i love them.
Submitted by: Pat Davis To all of the Gorbals live Fans. The new book by Colin MacFarlane is pure dead brilliant. What a great story teller he is. The Real Gorbals Story is one of the best books I have ever read. The wee twists and turns of the story line pull at your emotions. What is so great about it is the creation of the "feel" of the old Gorbals. There is no book on the subject that can touch it by a million miles. Do yourself a favour and go and buy as many as you can afford. One for yourself to keep-you can dip into it whenever you feel that longing to be in that magical place in your imagination,for a good old therapeutic belly laugh or wee greet for absent friends. Then give one to each of the people you like/love the most. I guarantee it will be the best Xmas present you can give-even if they never experienced the magic of the place the work stands up on its own as a bloody good tale. Only one fault that I could find is that Colin mentions that the Steamie and the bagwash were one and the same thing. NOT SO! The bagwash I remember was in Waddell St and owned by a big Polish man. The stuff he put in to clean the clothes bleached them to an unrecognisable colour and rotted the fabric. Anyone remember this? Cheers Rita
Submitted by: Rita Moffat Hi Pat Roberts 3/11/07 I am wondering if I know you/your family? I worked in the Pig and Whistle in the rearly-mid 60's with Rose and Jimmy and I knew a Mrs Roberts then who had a boy and a girl-can't tell by your name if you are male and female! I remember Mrs Roberts had a sister who lived in Hayfield St. You might know my sons Jim and Paul Higgins we lived in Moffat st then moved to a brand new house in Myrtle Park. My cousin Billy Hawkins and his wife Miriam still go to the Piggie every weekend-that would bore the life out of me, same folk same talk. A wee occasional visit though is brilliant and you can catch up with all the gossip. Take care, Rita
Submitted by: Rita Moffat FAO Patrcia Davis I am very suprised you didnt get a bigger response like myself a lot of gorbals guys read the letters but dont respond I thought everybody from the gorbals knew davis and lyons clans. Your dad was a good friend of my dad and your uncle john davis was known by all who came from the gorbals he could tell more and better stories than ten quid i am suprised he wasnt sure about them or doris her brother artie and the steens would have told her about the davis clan and the good people they were. I'm sure others reading gorbals anecdotes would tell you the same but like myself (this one exception) dont get round to it and maybe we all should.
Submitted by: Sanny FAO Rita Cambell in oz. Is that the same Rita who used to stay at gorbals cross and hang oot her window every friday waiting for her wee man wullie to come oot the pub I was in melbourne a couple of times and was going to try and look wullie up and have a drink with him but I remembered your famous saying to me when I used to come up for wullie to go for a pint(the next time your passing just pass)anyhow it was nice seeing your post and it brought back a few good memories well rita tell wullie i was asking for him and i hope you wullie and your two daughters are in good health
Submitted by: Ekky Just getting things ready for Thanks giving big family holiday when we say thank you for all our blessings and the Menu is always Turkey and a ham. the story is when the pilgrims came to escape British rule or some thing like that, anyway we are led to believe, that everyone was the best o pals with the american Indians (aye right) first yi gies yir meat, then we eat say ta, cheerio and come back to push them off their own land and fight for years ti take over, does it ever change? Any way on a cheerier note it is always a nice family dinner with all the trimmings. T Q ah remember when we lived in Manhattan Bch, and we had a pool put in, I used to just float there efter wurk, and made me feel like a movies star jist thinking how good does it get and no to shabby fur a couple of uneducated people and a lot of other Scots as well all seemed to get oan.. Ane time me and Tosh decided efter the weans wur doon, ti gi skinny dipping, now that was a great feeling! felt like a mermaid withoot the tail and long herr, till we heard the giggles oh mum daaad we cin see your bums, yir supposed ti be sleeping ya bunch of wee gets ..Another time me and all the wimmin wer hivin a womens night, a few drinks some meat balls the usual grubstakes, when we all decided to go skinny dipping and at the count of three we awe jump in, right. ANE, TWO, THREE TOWELS ALL DRAPPED EVERY ONE IS STARK BONKERS AND ME AM WEARING A TWO PIECE AND RUN FOR MA LIFE TO SHY. It was a lot of good memories and fun to have. My kids had a ball with it plus all the neices and nephews all from Scotland to, all my American friends couldnae get rid o them as they jist loved ti hear the kids speak real thick brouges, till they went to school and got Americanized, it was funny hearing oor weans trying to speak Glaswiegin. wis jimmy green no merrit tae ane of the Giblins and got drowned in New Jersey? he stayed wi me and Ackie when he first came over, seems when yir an immigrint yi always ur putting some body up for a couple of weeks ti they get a joab and a couple of bucks, never hid a rich ane yet awe poor souls like we were in the beginning. A remember a American saying to me, Doris were does one get the courage to leave their own country to come here and not know what is in front of you when your family and friends are all in Scotland, never gave it a second thought jist did it. Like everything else took it all in stride, and man it has been some life cannie believe hauf o the daft stuff that ah hiv done but it is all about making what we think is the best choice at the moment, and ah have done some brammers such is life. So to all health and good life enjoy it DAM
Submitted by: Doris Austin (aka McIntyr) FAO Rita Cambell in oz. Is that the same Rita who used to stay at gorbals cross and hang oot her window every friday waiting for her wee man wullie to come oot the pub I was in melbourne a couple of times and was going to try and look wullie up and have a drink with him but I remembered your famous saying to me when I used to come up for wullie to go for a pint (the next time your passing just pass) anyhow it was nice seeing your post and it brought back a few good memories well rita tell wullie i was asking for him and i hope you, wullie and your two daughters are in good health.
Submitted by: Ekky FAO: Bill McTear. Hi Billy, I did try contacting you through the Moderator asking if he could pass on to you my email address but he said you had not informed them of yours. I did send a reply to you but either I hit the wrong button or it's lost somewhere in cyberspace. I was begginning to think I was ready for the starring role in the "Last of the Mohicans" but's it's nice to know somebody from the old gang is still out there. Betty & I as you probably know got hitched in 61, her proposals finally wore me down, which wasn't too bad since we had been going to-gether 5 years. We settled in East Kilbride, had 2 kids than left on a work contract to Zambia in 69. My last visit home was in 73 where we stopped at my folk's place in Turnlaw Street. My old bedroom had now vista views as most of the surrounding tenements were gone. I caught up with some of our old sparring partners from the top floor of Hayfied at a dance we went to at St Mungo Halls. They stopped at our table when they recognised me & offered to buy us a drink. My mother thought it hilarious when they told her I hadn't changed, still had my "Roy Rogers" face but they knew that underneath I was a hard little B-----. I remember thinking there but for the grace etc etc. From Africa we moved on in 75 to OZ where we eventually settled in Perth. I brought my folks out to stay a few years later and they took to it like ducks to water. My mother always was a bit of a sun worshiper from her days at the Sawnee pond & Ducksie & the old man despite his love affair (Tragic at times) with the Bully Wee Clyde soon found himself a local library to amuse himself. Both Betty & the folks have since moved on, hopefully not to a "Hotter" place but I know they still keep an eye on me. Glad to hear my touching on our mispent youth brought back some memories. The jive club was Thomson's and it "was" records at Lombardo's. The other brother's name was Mario. They were pretty good letting us sit in there for hours with just a hot orange drink on a Sunday night with probably only a couple of bob between 5 of us, Oh the good old days!!!!! Get back to me via the Moderator with your email address if you can as I'd like to keep in touch. Ronnie Meldrum
Submitted by: Ron Meldrum I am on Glesgapals board and one of our member is looking for Billy Hamilton. Can any of you help me in this request. Contact me via email if its easier. Bye for now, Norrie All i know so far is he's around 51 or 52ish he was married to Ruth Adams who'd be around 50ish now, they had 2 children Karen and William, they must be late 20's early 30's. they lived in either the gorbals or rutherglen back in 78/79 maybe. Ruth stayed with her sister Brenda Adams (aunt really) in granton ST, billy stayed in Roseberry ST i think that was when thy were at school, marydoll said they all used to go to Wolsley ST Primary then went onto Adelphi Secondary (not the red sandstone 1) it was the white 1 new at the time. Billy was a year above marydoll and Ruth i think. marydoll thought that they were living in govanhill, but then she emailed to say that their now living back in the oatlands or rutherglen, not to sure. Any new info would be gratefully appreciated.x
Submitted by: Norman McNamee T Q hiv tried ti take yir e-mail aff the letter wi the picture of you and betty, that yi sent via yasmine but it keeps coming back as not legit? as yi know cannie say a lot of stuff on the Gorbals live, some folks wid jist love ti terr it apart jist because they didnae hiv the some rerring up as we did. Geting back yi yu being a proddy dog at least yi didnae hiv tae go ti the Pinapple every sunday hail rain or snow and of course who could understaun as it was done in Latin the only good thing was yi could nick a few coppers fae the plate aye sum cafilic we were, liked going tae the tent hall at least it wis waaarm and yi got a paris bun and a drink not all serious like the St Francis Chapel man made every one feel guilty of no matter what. Hauf the time we got slung oot as we never had the right claithes to present oor sulfs wi, always the poor souls. remember the song deep and wide deep an wide my cup full and runeth over, and the lord sed ti me be as happy is yi cin be my cup full and running over I know it went some thing like that. Never bliddy knew what it meant but at least it was warm and fun. Oh wit ah wid gie fur a cream bun and a real pie wi the grease running doon ma chin, now they taste like sawdust must get the stuff oot the sooside sawmills ti fill the hoat pie wi. its funny when yi go back fur the furs time yi cannie wait ti go and buy a lot of things that yi thoat yi missed but nothing is ever the same is it, except a loat o the people. Gled ti hear that they are tearing doon a lot of them ugly building and making wee hooses fur people I mean come on that many people living in one o them places we had whit six up a close. Me n Ackie we bought oor first hoose at 45 Roseberry st then sold it to his brother Jun who then sold it ti a auld pal o mine Vera McKinnon lost touch wi her also. In fact ah wis cleaning oot a lot of shyte when ah came across me n Ackie oor wedding pictures the two Da's they were steam boats and if ah hidnae been sitting there wi a white dress oan it looks like the last supper I kid you not. St Mungo hall Ackie he paid for it all and all the guys aff the ships were there so you cin imagin but it wis a rerr terr cannie even tell you who wis all there, mosly all the punters you know who, so they were all happy hinging oot wi the big bohys. Any hoo the noo every one stay healthy and lang mi yir lums reek DAm
Submitted by: Doris Austin (aka MyIntyr) Doris i used ti live in thistle st. near the gushet one day ma big bro. came in "hiv ye got any buckets n empty bottles?" "aye here!"off he went ti the wagons remember the days they hid wooden floors well he had a braise n bit n went n drilled thru the floor n the wooden casks of whiskey filled the buckets him n his pals hid gathered then the bottles talk aboot whisky galore that wis WHISKY THRU THE FLOOR!NOO WULKS ther no grose a used ti go ti helensburgh on ma bike ti get them when a wis a wean then when a come here a seen these spanish folk gather HUGE white wans size o a weans fist so i gathered a bag full n ate them couldni eat the heed bit too tuff a wee bit sick efter just too greedy-- we were on holidays ther wis awe these oysters on planks of wood when the tide went oot so i half filled a heshin bag up n carried them to the caravan this wumin came up ti us n said see all them oysters !" "whit r they?" lookin like an idiot that wis easy to do!"they belong to ! the oyster farmers so do not touch them" "aye ok missus a widni dream o it!" she's gone "well folks we cant put them back ther awe deed so we better do the right thing n EAT THEM!"I really believed anything from the sea wis fair game not like noo hiv ti hiv a license for everythin ache well us humans r the greediest thing on this planet well doris a think i wull sign aff noo n go down ti the creek n see if ther r still any crayfish left! ten quid
Submitted by: Ten Quid I lived in thistle st my first job was as a hairdresser in Norfork St its was called Harry Freed it was near Gary Owen pub and our rivils was Gordons in Rutherglen Rd. I used to go to cafe in gorbals st called gordons most of people were of Irish decent, we also went the dancing in South Portland St the Portland.
Submitted by: Grace McCluskey Hello you lot just found this site and think it's great I came from Thistle St Tap end, moved to Castlemilk 1959 lived doon the valley, came to Canada 1974. Keep it comin TQ
Submitted by: Jimmy G See you at xmas will have a rare tear!
Submitted by: Irene DORIS haloha we hiv got a dry day at last n wit will a do get wet am goin swimmin in ma pool WHEN IT HEATS UP! goat the hay fever n the best thing fer that is salt water so am a wee bit far from the sea but ma pool is salt chlorinated next best thing a heat it by solar the noo it is only 25c a need 30c before a put ma toe in COWARD sure am! [wheesht a canni swim a jist float n paddle noo!] When we first got here in oz we hid a liquor of allsorts of friends ma wife took a German lady to the butchers [she was off scots parents] n she wanted a pigs head --in those days they thru awful away so here she is her heed in her honds goin grunt grunt ma misses peein herself sayin "she wants a pigs heed" n he said "i understand the grunt grunt better than i can understand your lingo" noddin ti the wife now u hiv ti pay for liver kidneys changed days! i wis here 18 months n i moved into my own home i got paid 10 pounds for playin fitba ma job paid 21pounds+bonus n overtime a didny need ti work as i got clocked off ti train n play got paid for coachin too i used to coach the daily record team when i lived in the gorbals our manager wis a midget who played shows in the Alhambra then they gave us the ass too many gorbals boys in the team n most games we finnished wi 10 if no 9 men n we were a very good team in the glasgow league. i dont think the record wanted the publicity we could give them! the good jags gave us the strips could always back PARTICK THISTLE ti back loosers i played for kings park in the scottish league we got a new manager i wis celtic daft n he rangers within a month he got rid of me he thot a wis kaflick instead a wis a mixed family prodi a few years pass n kings park r no the club they were n playin in the glesca league n we met them in a cup tie! game abandoned! we finnish wi 10 men they finnish wi 7 one sent off for us 4 carried off for them aye that wis a great day! u hiv been aroon that place called AMERICA thats wit life is awe aboot! DORIS AWERA BEST TEN QUID
Submitted by: Ten Quid Agnes Herrity i hiv no idea wit HE, SHE wis raving aboot but this am bloody sure "IT IS THE SAME PERSON AS USUAL" people who dont underston words shouldny read they only get confused! stick ti comics wi pictures N AGNES ONLY A FOOL KIN BE FOOLED! ten quid
Submitted by: Ten Quid T.Q that was some feedback that wee wummin gote, man you hiv bin oan the board a long time magic. Di yi remember running effter the coal trains, we waited in oor berrys so we could climb oan ti the train faster better grip. Then if we got lucky we could let the back doon and start chucking coal oot the train and their wis always a crowd, but some times it wid jist be dross, so that git dumped to but wis a mess and we wid be like pickaninnies, (nea offence) and we thout that wis a great night only could do it at night. Talk aboot being poor we did not know anything else and some were worse off than we were. ah remember the neighbours always knew when someone got a few extra shillings and mostly everyone borrowed aff each other. Oh and how aboot the Glesga Green the shows hiv tae laugh at that worked them stalls a couple of times but everyone wis it the nick and couldnae tell them to push aff, as you knew maist o them (grin) I loved New York city and we had such great times there, the first Easter parade never saw anything like it, it was so happpy and colourlurful, hmmmmmn seem ti be stuttering there, and the St Paddys Parade now that was a sight ti see all them bagpipes not that ah wis a fan, but the colours of the tartans, pure magic. Yi hiv ti remember this wis awe in the late fifties and the Americans do it alll in a big way. Jist thoat ti share that wee memory. First time ah took ma daughter back ti Glesga and I took her ti the barrows fur sum wulks, she puked right oan the street at the thoat o eating something so gross. But she did love what she saw and the people. So T Q hope Betty will keep us up ti date when yi go intae the hospital, yi know jist so we can keep an eye oan yi. And to all you other special folk stay healthy and enjoy yir memories am still making mine best ti awe DAM
Submitted by: Doris Austin (aka McIntyr) Hi ten Q, it was great to hear from you, my family lived at king'cross my dad said it was like being back home more scot's in the cross, than the gorbals ha. I love glasgow i have been going from a tiny baby, i think my dad lived @ 32 portgual street, and he did live in crown st. My grandad had the same name as my dad, my nans name was sarah but she died young 45 so my aunt liz had to bring up sadie mick and john, my dad was about 21 then, he would get himself in touble ha i think he was alot of times in touble ha. He did have 4 girls in glasgow to a lady called jean lloyns, but i do see my sisters, we have got over the bad bite, so there is no bad feelings now, which i am glad of, but i still love to hear all the old story's and when i go to glasgow i still look at all the old photo's, my cousie tommy smith is great at drawing, and he know's all the history of the gorbals, anyway it was great to hear from you, i will look out for your e-mails and hope you can remember my family! take care mr tQ,love patx
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