BIG WILLIE
His real name is William Laing, known affectionally
by everyone in athletics as Big Willie. He has been a lifelong member
of Shettleston Harriers and has officiated all over the country at different
events. His speciality was the field events.
Willie was one the main officials at Glasgow Marathon
for several years and if you spoke to him in passing you would find yourself
doing some sort of job for him.
As a result I worked on the Funnels for quite a while
and my two daughters worked as Time Recorders.
One-day whilst working in the garden, Willie approached
me and asked me to do him a favour. He informed me a few of the judges
would be unable to attend as they had been at Braemar (or some other gathering)
and were under the weather. So, after a short while I was on the road
to Peebles.
Willie informed me he would give me a quick crash course
on how to judge one of the Field events, so he decided I should do the
Peebles Stane, which was throwing the stane over this high bar. So there
I was, judging men in kilts. It felt like everyone was seven feet tall.
In payment, I was rewarded with a couple of pies and and a few wee goldies.
A special award was presented to Willie in the Marriot
Hotel for sixty years service to athletics, in the form of a sword. This
was fully engraved on both sides. |
AUNTIE CATHIE
Lizzie’s Auntie Cathie lived in the same close as us
in Carntyne Road at Duke St. Cathie was a wonderful neighbour and she
became friendly with my wife Chrissie.
Cathie often babysat, looking after my daughter Kathleen
who was the only baby in the close. It was a labour of love for Cathie
and our Kathleen just adored her.
Ten years later our daughter Tracy was born and Cathie
couldn’t wait to babysit her. I used to decorate for Cathie and did quite
a few jobs about her house.
Cathie could walk for Britain and often walked the girls
to Cranhill. Cathie is now in her eightes and with the help of Liz she
is doing fine |
Chris
Thirty years ago today
Our hearts were filled with bliss
T’was there in Calton Old Parish Church
I wed my sweetheart Chris
For us they were such happy days indeed the days of plenty
I was only eighteen and Chris a lass of twenty
Our honeymoon was very short in fact just two days old
When I returned to Germany my duties to uphold
The years have passed one score and ten
I love her as before,
She was everything in life to me
and then a little more
We now have three fine daughters each one like the others
The highest praise they’ll ever receive is to be likened to their mother
She was only small in stature with virtues quite untold
The memories she's left us with are all of solid gold
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Local History of Shettleston
I heard about a history course in the Eastbank Centre
(Next to Wheatley College)
I thought that I should go along
And gain a little knowledge!
Our tutors there to help us
Namely Gordon and Lisa
They couldn’t do enough for us
And always tried to please you!
We thought a lot ‘bout Shettleston
And things we didn’t know
We brought in books and photographs
And travelled to and fro’
We found there were five cinemas
Most people could name but four
If you’d like to know the other one
Please come and join our course!
Some famous names from Shettleston
Of which there’s quite a few
‘Lord Wheatley, Professor Anderson, Cliff Hanley
And the rest can join the queue!
Two names from the clergy, Mr Tuton and Father Lyne
Although not born here for Shettleston, they did fine!
The first name it was Schedneston
From a charter granted by King Alexander II in October 1226
Followed by the name Sheddilstonn
On the 26th August
Under the great seal of King James II
In the year 1591
That brings us up to date
With the place now Shettleston
We enjoyed our learning
It’s been a lot of fun! |
A Tale of the European Cup
I moved into Ardgay Street in 1968. My future son-in-law
lived across the road at 332 Ardgay Street. Later on, when he and my daughter
were married, we were discussing the European Cup when he informed me
that The Cup had been displayed from the window of my house by the then
Celtic Chairman Mr Bob Kelly, later to become Sir Robert Kelly.
Seemingly, Mr Kelly’s wife went to the lady who lived
at 337 Ardgay Street before I moved in. She was a seamstress who made
all Mrs Kelly’s dresses.
He promised this lady that if Celtic won the cup he
would bring it up to her house to show her!
Unsurprisingly, the sight of the European Cup being
carried into this lady’s house caused a bit of a stir in the street. So
to keep everyone happy, the trophy was displayed at the window of living
room window of the house so everyone could get a good view of the silverware.
Being a Celtic supporter, my son-in-law was delighted
to tell me this - I am, of course, a Rangers fan!
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Victory in Europe Celebrations
The V.E. celebrations in George Square in 1946 seemed
to involve every town and village in Scotland.
As a 14 year old I thought the whole of the world had
come to Glasgow. My pals and I climbed trees, walls and lamposts just
to get a better view. Nobody pulled us down as everybody was in a state
of euphoria. The police were quite happy as long as you didn't put anyone
in danger or did any damage.
Every street in Glasgow had its own "Welcome Home"
party and all the streets were bedecked with bunting and flags of every
nation. Food was supplied and, where possible, the adults may have got
a drink.
There was usually a street dance, known as a "clabber"
that usually finished about 11 o'clock.
The friendship between families was tremendous. I remember
in Lilybank, when there was an air-raid, we all went into Val-de-Travers
underground shelter. Our neighbour Mrs McLaughlin blessed veryone with
holy water irrespective of their religion.
The photo on the right shows the march past in George
Square. My friend Billy Laing was a veteran of Normandy, through the Italian
campaign into Germany. Billy was in the Black Watch and in the march past
he was on the left flank in the rear. Billy is from Ardgay Street.
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