November 2006

[TheGorbalsAdmin]

Does anyone know Joe McConnel from the gorbals who was friend of father gowans. Tony joyce st pats bg

Submitted by: Tony Joyce
Invercargill, New Zealand
30/11/06
Email: thomasg.joyce@xtra.co.nz
_______________________________________________________________________________________

Just read about the McGee family when i was in my teens a group of us used to hang about at night at the corner under the McGees windows. We were not noisy we enjoyed a good laugh this was 1947/50, one by one we were called up for national service a lot of good times are remembered from that time!

Submitted by: Norrie McDonald
Cumbernauld, Scotland
30/11/06
Email: norman.mcdonald2@tesco.net
_______________________________________________________________________________________

Hi to Duncan of Manchester. Your entry was posted on 09/11/2000, but I've just discovered the site. I was born at 15A Abbotsford place in August 1954, father and mother were John and Mary Gartlan.

Submitted by: Michael Gartlan
Glasgow, Scotland
30/11/06
Email: mikgartlan@msn.com
_______________________________________________________________________________________

Does anyone remember Pearson's stores at Eglinton toll, also the Websters in Hospital street?

Submitted by: Margaret
Melbourne, Australia
30/11/06
Email: k_lawson@iprimus.com.au
_______________________________________________________________________________________

Hi, I was raised in 209 Camden Street Gorbals, I was the 2nd youngest of a family of 10 we lived in a room and kitchen above Burnets shop. Whilst our close was in Camden Street our kitchen window looking into Kidston Street -smack into the Sally Army building-.... I was friends with Betty McDermott tap dancer of our tenemant or three up. I have managed to contact Betty and had the pleasure of meeting up her Mum Jennie who sadly passed away a month ago... I also met Betty's sister Jean and had a magic time catching up with the old days. My family are Jimmy McGhee (Plumber) my father who did call-outs within our area..Jessie McGhee Mother. Then in order of age... Jim McGhee Helen McGhee May McGhee Hugh McGhee David McGhee Brian McGhee Isobel McGhee Frank McGhee (GEE-GEE) Gene McGhee Ann McGhee. We all went to Camden Street primary School then on to Adlephi Secondary or Strathbungo Senior.... Many many memories are invoked in this site. Too many to reply to in one posting... enough to say I have a sore neck reading all the postings... I married a fella fray the Gorbals although we met up in Househillwood after both our families had left the Gorbals.... William Bigger Smith was my husband's name known as Billy or 'Fingers' anyway it is his family I am interested at this moment> I am doing geneaolofy and although I still need info on my McGhees I need more on the Smiths... Billy (my husband's) Dad was known as 'Dancer' and his Mum Grannie Smith was a hawker. Grannie Smith ended up living in Parnie Street close to the Briggitt. I go into the Briggitt once a month just to feel the flavour and smell the smells of old Glasgow... I will send on more info.... Gene McGhee.......

Submitted by: Gene McGhee
Glasgow, Scotland
24/11/06
Email: jeansmith3012@hotmail.com
_______________________________________________________________________________________

For David Forbes re attending Laurieston/Renwick Church in Cumberland St. My Dad was the Church Officer around the dates you mentioned. Perhaps our families knew each other? I would be at Abbotsford Primary School then. Tried to email you but page was not available. Would be glad to hear from you, or anyone else who has memories of attending this church in 60/70's. With thanks. Mary Gargrave Living in exile in Edinburgh

Submitted by: Mary Gargrave
Edinburgh, Scotland
19/11/06
Email: mrgargrave@blueyonder.co.uk
_______________________________________________________________________________________

Does anybody out there remember the Norfolk restaurant on Norfolk st, across the road from the Garryowen bar? It was owned by Isobel and Graham White, they had a son Bobby and a daughter Margaret, they lived in Uddingston. My mum worked for them 60's 70's, she would like to meet them again. Can anyone help, her name is Mary o'Hagan?

Submitted by: Pat O'Hagan
Glasgow, Scotland
14/11/06
Email: pat.ohagan@blueyonder.co.uk
_______________________________________________________________________________________

In reply to Gerry Dwyer asking for people who lived at the top end of Moffat Street. Our family lived there from 1952 until we left for Canada in 1963. I knew an Anne McAteer who lived up the back pen close. That family moved to Arden in the late 50's I think. I also knew the Carrols and the Wyllies who lived at 400A Moffat Street. The Wyllies moved to Castlemilk aslo in the late 50's. Sorry but I do not remember your family hope there are others out there who can remember you. There used to be a bakers on Moffat Street who had a back door in your back yard and as kids we would watch the baker make his pies and goodies. I also remember there being a sweetie shop at the corner of the Pen close. The best tablet we ever tasted came from Ellen Reeds, the newsagent's store. Lots of little memories that come back every time I connect with this site. I remember a bookie who was across the street from the Pen but no one actually standing in the pen. We used to get our fish and chips at the chippy near where the bookies was. It was shortly after our family moved to Canada that they started to clear out the last of the people to send them to the ovespill towns. Unfortunately I lost contact with most of our neighbours but I'm sure they went on to bigger and better lives. Hope you get in touch with the people you are looking for. Eileen

Submitted by: Eileen Wilson (nee McCubbin)
Strathroy, Canada
05/11/06
Email: eileen.wilson@sympatico.ca
_______________________________________________________________________________________

One of the many things i can remember about the gorbals of the 1960s was all the great music going around. At the clelland bar there was a singer called jamie barnes who drove all the mini skirted girls crazy with his rampant act...there was the portland dance hall where if you did not bother to dance you usually got beat up... there were the juke boxes in the cafes ..there were the back court singers, singing for wallies...there were the drunks coming out of pubs wailing "i belong tae glesga"...wee wummen sang as they cleaned the tenement stairs...men played mouth organs on the street corners (my father used to play red river valley on his)...and one elderly guy said to me one day after hearing someone having a go at the bagpipes: "Son, dae yee know the definition of a scottish gentleman?" I replied no. And he said, "It's someone who can play the bagpipes...but disnae!" colin

Submitted by: Colin MacFarlane
Pontypridd, UK
05/11/06
Email: colinmacuk@yahoo.com
_______________________________________________________________________________________

Does anyone remember Cal Stoddard he used to jive at the lecarno dance hall and people would love watching him he worked at a small factory up a close in gorbals cross, I used to watch him dance around from my window he was great. Later he worked on the buses more pay I guess would love to hear from anyone that knew him.

Submitted by: Pat Lynch
Gorbals, Glasgow
05/11/06
Email: Glasgopati@aol.com
_______________________________________________________________________________________

The Plaza is now pulled down what a waste. I'm sure someone with plenty of money could have opened it and done something with it instead of leaving it lying in disrepair all these years. I'm sure lots of young ones would have used it instead of going into the town to dance. An end to another era in the Gorbals, I wonder what building will be next and I wonder who gets the money for the land as houses are to be built on it. The facade was taken down bit by bit and it is supposed to be built back onto the entrance of the houses.

Submitted by: Amelia
Glasgow, Scotland
05/11/06
Email: ameliamckinlay@msn.com
_______________________________________________________________________________________

Does anyone know my grandfather willie cammpbell? He married my grandma sara maguigan they had one son tommy (ma da) and daughters Margaret and May. They lived in the gorbals in the 30's & 40's then they move to the calton, London rd. Please feel free to contact me, trying to find out a wee bit about them to finish my book.

Submitted by: Stephen Campbell
Miami Beach, USA
05/11/06
Email: stevieirish@hotmail.com
_______________________________________________________________________________________

I was born in waddell st & went to hayfield school & adelphi secondary, anyone remember me?

Submitted by: Caroline Rae
05/11/06
Email: carolecopping@btinternet.com
_______________________________________________________________________________________

Hi does anyone know of Grace and Peter Jackson they lived at 120 Portugal Street? Grace died in 1956 not sure when uncle Peter died, they raised my dad after his mother died. Does anyone remember him, his name was Ramsay MacDonald, any help however small will be greatly recieved, thanks Jean

Submitted by: Jean
Lincolnshire
05/11/06
Email: jgcolli@aol.com
_______________________________________________________________________________________