December 2009

[TheGorbalsAdmin]

Me again!! Desperate to find more about my great grandparents from the Gorbals...anyone remember a story of a Hannah Wright (nee Devlin) committed suicide in 1945 age 70...her body was found in the Clyde..near St Andrews Bridge????

Submitted by: Janet Parson
Cambridgeshire, England
20/12/09
Email: Janetandandy@aol.com

I was born to Sadie Devine/Jenner - father Leslie - @ 245 Ballater Street, Gorbals, Glasgow. Does anyone out there know the family please e-mail me.

Submitted by: Gerald Jenner
Sydney, Australia
20/12/09
Email: jerrygenner@yahoo.com

Hi, Patrick Gallogly sorry for the delay in replying, trouble with computer, very sorry to hear about Joe, I wasn't there when the roof came down I left to join the navy 1960 and settle in London after leaving. Best wishes for xmas and a great ne-erday Bob.

Submitted by: Bobb Kidd
Bristol, UK
20/12/09
Email: Not Supplied

Thanks to Eddie, Alness. I wasn't sure where Wilson's Zoo was so you've cleared up a mystery for me. Ta

Submitted by: Francie Young
Glasgow, Scotland
19/12/09
Email: Not Supplied

Anyone remember St. Luke's school Ballater Street? Any of my old schoolmates looking in? Rosemary Duffy? Sandra McMahon? (Left around 1960) I've had a good life but I am still a Gorbals girl at heart - and often reflect much of the innocence of those days. I was very protected - and have learned more about what was taking place from this site than when I lived there.

Submitted by: Kathleen Hindle (nee Patterson)
Norfolk, England
19/12/09
Email: owen.m.hindle@btinternet.com

I am writing to anyone who may hav known a John Meighan from the Gorbals. I believe he wos born on 29 September 1961. Sadly John passed away some 4-5 weeks ago. He wos cremated on 8th December 2009 at the Linn Crematorium in Castlemilk. Sadly there were no family members there for reasons unknown but I do believe some family members may not have known of Johns passing. The only information I can give about him and his family is he had a sister maybe of the same name as her mum Janette. I believe John also spent some years down south but did return to Glasgow. Any information would be very much appreciated. I will check site regulary for any info that may be posted.

Submitted by: EM
Glasgow, Scotland
18/12/09
Email: Not Supplied

For Alex Duff. The video is great, I was about 8 when the circus came to perform right outside my close on Thistle Street. It came to give a special performance for the boy up the next close who had lost his leg in some accident. I remember it well the most exciting thing to happen on our street. In regards to being poor,we where very poor in the Gorbals and happy kids as we did not feel we where missing anything as there was no peer preesure at that age , the circus would make anybody happy Thanks for the video

Submitted by: Tommy Taggart
Sebastopol, America
17/12/09
Email: tigobar@aol.com

Can anybody remember the pub situated at the corner of Lawmoor street and Caledonia Road in the 50s and 60s. My grandfather Willie McCallum used it in they days along with Frankie Bagan.

Submitted by: Ian Thomson
Bannockburn, Scotland
17/12/09
Email: thomsonsweep@aol.com

FAO Rita Moffit. Hi Rita, just to let you know I'm still alive & kicking down under. I still scan the postings & see your just as busy reminiscing as ever. I'm still absorbed with my family tree searching, turning up relies from here there and everywhere. I'm sure I told you that our family name used to be McMuldroch & that they originally came from the Dumfries area, stopped off at Kilmarnock for a while until settling in Calton/Bridgeton in 1850 & gradually over 30 years changed the name over to Meldrum. Why the name change, I haven't yet established. I have found another branch of the family in Colmonell that started using the Meldrum name from 1811 but likewise they don't why. If there are any readers out there with a McMuldroch family connection please contact me through the site. A few days ago out of curiosity I did a search of house prices in the Gorbals & was blown away. One that got my eye was a 3 bedroom flat for 165 thousand quid in Ballater Street, advertised with vista views of the clyde & Glasgow Green,it looks like it's situated just across from the old cuddie brae that used to run up Waterside Street to the "White Bridge". I noticed from the photo that the bridge like all of us is beginning to show it's age. Who would have believed 60 years ago that the old Gorbals would now be in such demand. I've sent a Christmas card to your old email address let me know if it arrives, in the meantime here's wishing you & all the readers plus old friends & foes alike a merry Christmas & all the best in 2010. Ronnie Meldrum (formerly of Turnlaw Street). Perth, Australia

Submitted by: Ron Meldrum
Perth, WA, Australia
17/12/09
Email: Not Supplied

Anybody from Houston St, KP, I went to Crookston St primary, my best pal was Charlie McGlaughan from Argowan St I think,are you still there m8, we went to the Corky p/house. Been in oz since 86, anyone remember?. Have a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year anyway to anyone that recalls the years from school 1954 onwards.

Rita Moffat, Hi, I went to John St too, left in 66, went south to England, A Mr Moore was the h/master, happy days then, lived in Castlemilk. Can't remember many names but we must have been there at the same time.

Submitted by: Tom Colville
Rockingham, Perth, WA, Australia
17/12/09
Email: tommar13@bigpond.com

I would like to wish everyone from the Gorbals site a very MERRY CHRISTMAS, and GOOD HEALTH & HAPPINESS for the coming Christmas and NEW YEAR. Agnes.xx

Submitted by: Agnes Herrity
Glasgow, Scotland
16/12/09
Email: agnesherrity@hotmail.co.uk

Does anyone remember the murder of Jeanie Crawley from Glasgow.

Submitted by: Robby Andrews
Glasgow, Scotland
16/12/09
Email: L-TRAYNOR@sky.com

For Pammy Young. Nice to hear from you but please refresh my memory a little. You can e-mail me direct. Love to hear from you. I was in Glasgow in 2007 and could not find a house I lived in Standing. The Gorbals as we knew it is no longer with Castlemilk following behind it.

Submitted by: Tommy Taggart
Sebastopol, America
16/12/09
Email: Tigobar@aol.com

FAO Pat McCunnie, yes I remember you, but probably you're younger brother if he was born around the same time as me, 1956. I lived in Cally Rd then Pollokshaws Rd. Do you remember going to the Residential holiday school in Midlothian Edinburgh around 67-68' Wee Jonnie Farr teacher from St Francis was also there, happy memories, hope you are keeping well.

Submitted by: Stephen McGuigan
Glasgow, Scotland
16/12/09
Email: Not Supplied

To James Smythe re:Pat Heaney. Pat and Doreen split after a few years. Doreen and the kids went south and as far as I know Pat stayed in Brooklyn. Richard Harmon sent an e-mail got no answer, please drop a note on gorbalslive and I'll try again.

Does anybody remember picking caterpillars off the eight trees at the railway mens club just up from the toilets at the granite city.

Submitted by: Kevin Kilcoyne
Irvine, Scotland
16/12/09
Email: Not Supplied

FAO Arther Jr, I have photos of McKinlay St, contact me via my email address Bye for now, Norrie.

Submitted by: Norman McNamee
Glasgow, Scotland
15/12/09
Email: norman_mcnamee@hotmail.com

Hi everyone, does anyone remember the Birrells from the Gorbals my mum was Margaret, I'm looking for stories about them.

Submitted by: Katrina
Glasgow, Scotland
15/12/09
Email: kcdragon4@hotmail.com

F.A.O. Francis Young just to let you know that Wilsons Zoo was in Oswald Street round the corner from the Heilin Mans Umbrella

Submitted by: Eddie
Alness, Scotland
14/12/09
Email: Not Supplied

Photos of st Johns Portugal St I have sent a few of you shots of this church but sad to say I have lost one of the copies I am looking to replace the shot taken from Norfolk Ct (in colour), if any of you have the photo can you email me it please Bye for now, Norrie

Submitted by: Norman McNamee
Glasgow, Scotland
14/12/09
Email: norman_mcnamee@hotmail.com

While I was idly scrolling through 2007 Anecdotes I came upon a once familiar name, ie Tommy Taggart. I don't remember you from the sooside Tommy but I certainly do from Castlemilk. I am still in Castlemilk, by the way,"nae time aff for good behaviour". As you know Castlemilk was built so that places like the Gorbals could be demolished, unfortunately in their haste to get the slums pulled down they also pulled down some really good buildings as well, I'm thinking of parts of Crown St and Cumberland St. It was only after the damage was done that they realised that conservation and renovation would have been the better option. However, how are you Tommy? I'm prattling on here and it's just struck me, you might not even remember me. yours sincerely wee Pammy Young

Submitted by: Pammy Young
Glasgow, Scotland
14/12/09
Email: Not Supplied

Hello everyone and Merry Christmas, This is for all that are talking about the indoor zoo, it was Wilson's zoo and it was on Oswald street.

Submitted by: Jimmy
Ontario, COUNTRY
14/12/09
Email: jgallacher@andersonwebb.com

All Hail ye Gorbalites of the past and present; Ronnie Meldrum; Amelia; Michael McGrory; Ten Quid et al. A very merry xmas and a Happy and healthy New year to you all. The site becomming a wee bit boring as many of the used to be regular subscribers don't post very often. Please my friends make your New year resolution to post something now and again- we miss you and it keeps the Gorbals spirit alive! All the best to you and yours. Rita

Submitted by: Rita Moffat
Glasgow, Scotland
13/12/09
Email: Not Supplied

Hi folks, I dont know whats going on here, I did not post this item Norrie Phil Mack I used to drink regularly in the Moulin Rouge, wee Johnny was the bartender for years during the 1960s but the pub was not in Crown st it was in Egliton street just before the Bedford picture house it had a lounge upstairs.

Submitted by: Norman McNamee
Rutherglen, Scotland
13/12/09
Email: norman_mcnamee@hotmail.com

Ten Quid would like to thank everyone for the good wishes he can assure you all he is well on the way to recovery and will soon be back on this site as for Matt McGinn of 8 Ross Street I lived in number 15 next to the woman moddel and his mother used to make the jumpers for all us Smith kids for school although born in 71 Florence Street Gorbals we moved to the Calton because of the barras we knew the McGinns well I use to go the messages for Maggie McIvor as for tha pend we know ran from Sandifauld Street to McNiel Street we kept the horse and our cart in one of the stables and an old man lived in one of the places with a solid floor tenquid as a kid used to clean out the stables we never knew each other at the time used to queue up for hot rolls out the Cumberland Street end of the pend wee Betty

Submitted by: Wee Betty
Oz
13/12/09
Email: Not Supplied

A family member of mine in Ireland remembers that her family had contact with a Katy Hayes (son John) who lived on Carfin St., Govanhill, in Glasgow. I cannot provide a date right now...but this family member wrote in her letter that they hadn't had contact in "years and years". This Katy Hayes could be Catherine Cassells, who married Henry Hayes on 22 Sept 1932. An Alex Hayes was a witness to that marriage. (Catherine Cassells was my grandfather's sister; the spellings "Castles" and "Cassells" were used interchangeably in my family). I found this site after I searched Katy Hayes' address on Google. I am tracing my family tree and posted this in the hope that perhaps someone on this site might remember her and her son. I hope I may be able to find her descendants through any leads I may get here.

Submitted by: Michael Castles
Connecticut, USA
13/12/09
Email: mjcastles@snet.net

I am trying to find anything on my great grandparents Hannah Devlin and William Douglas. I cant find that they ever married, I know they had one son born in 1905 at 197 Caledonia Road (my grandfather) he ran away to England when he was 14. Hannah Devlin was born in 1874 in Main Street Gorbals. Can anyone help?

Submitted by: Janet Parsons
Cambridgeshire, England
12/12/09
Email: janetandandy@aol.com

Norman McNamee is mistaken the Moulin Rouge was definitely in Crown St. I'm sure I remember a painting or mural above the pub name of a can-can dancer. I think it was the last pub in Crown St before you crossed the Albert Bridge.

Submitted by: Francie Young
Glasgow, Scotland
12/12/09
Email: Not Supplied

FAO Alec Rowan who posted the comment ie the Gorbals pub. Are you related to any of the Rowans that came from Gorbals/Oatlands/Castlemilk?? Just because its an unsual name cheers

Submitted by: Anonymous
Glasgow, Scotland
11/12/09
Email: Not Supplied

Does anybody have any pictures of McKinlay Street or anybody remember Arthur and Jessie Logan(my mother & father) we lived at No18.(1960-65). Any help or info wud be brilliant..Aw Ra Best for Xmas & the New Year...

Submitted by: Arthur Jnr
Liverpool, England
11/12/09
Email: Not Supplied

FAO Joe Toehill, I was delighted to get your reply. I never knew about your fight with John, but I remember Ella Watson, she used to watch us when my ma started work in Beattie's Crisp work. I asked an older soosider about the zoo, apparently it was in Jamaica St. You must have had to carry me or give me a 'shoodery'. As you said oor John was crazy about Louis Armstrong, so much so he actually bought a second hand trumpet and ended up giving himself a strained lung trying to play it. Keep in touch Joe I love talking about Lawmmoor St yours Francie Young

Submitted by: Francie Young
Glasgow, Scotland
11/12/09
Email: Not Supplied

I am wondering if Mary McGowan of the Clyde Valley Stompers is still alive I think she went to Canada to live but I am not too sure

Submitted by: Lily Scott
Newcastle, Australia
11/12/09
Email: lilly65@aapt.net.au

My name is Patrick McCunnie. I was born in 1955. I lived in 220 Thistle St. I went to St Francis Primary School (the old and new buildings). I went to Holyrood Senior Secondary. I have a brother Stephen and sisters Donna and Lorraine. Does anybody out there remember me?

Submitted by: Patrick McCunnie
Melbourne, Australia
11/12/09
Email: psmccunnie@optusnet.com.au

To Anne in Canada, thank you so much for your post! My sister and I were reminiscing and she remembered the doughnuts and how good they tasted. We have Dunkin Donuts here and they taste like clabber. Don't you love that great Glasgow word and now I remember the meat and butter place next door and the co-operative shop near Portugal St. where we lived, and Lena's grocery across the street and Finnegan's. My brother Billy died this past year, so all my Glasgow family are gone. My folks are all in the States now. Nieces, nephews and my one remaining sister. But we often think of Glasgow. I wonder if Fr. Rowan of St. John's in Portugal st. is still alive. We used to correspond but I lost touch with him and hope he is well. Thanks again Anne for your thoughts. I remember two people in the bakery. A man and a young woman/girl..it was probably you. I can still smell those scones..mmm.

Submitted by: Mona
USA
10/12/09
Email: Not Supplied

Hi am looking for my gran Nohra Kelly lived in the Gorbals had children to Robert Maguire (magwa) oldest child Susan youngest Robert. She now lives in London she may still be working as a nurse. Please contact me if anyone has info thanks.

Submitted by: Sarah Maguire Cordiner
Glasgow, Scotland
10/12/09
Email: sarahcordiner@yahoo.co.uk

Anyone on here that used to work in Montieth's Slipper Factory. They made all the Tartan slippers and Dolls. It was located across the railroad tracks off Devon St and Eglington St. I worked there from late 1963 until 1965. Started out in the Cutting room where all the men cut out the patterns for the slippers. Then moved into the sewing department. Good old days working in a factory. We did not get paid much, but we did make the most of it and had a lot of laughs.

Submitted by: Maggie Boyett
Florida, USA
10/12/09
Email: mikeboyett@hotmail.com

FAO Norman McNamee the pub before the Bedford with the lounge upstairs was the George Bar.

Submitted by: Alec Rowan
Glasgow, Scotland
10/12/09
Email: Not Supplied

Does any one know where Moira McAndrews lives. She lived at Kinross Ave in Port Glasgow Scotland in 1964

Submitted by: Gerald Watson
Jacksonville Beach, Scotland
09/12/09
Email: Wmlw1877@aol.com

Re. T auld buddy I was indeed one of the large family of Donachy's from Rosyth St at the last count I think there was 300 and 7 of us thank god my dad dropped dead of exhaustion. That single end was getting busy.

To John Stark: I am glad to hear your are well I heard you had past away but you know what gossip goes round.I was the other party at the barra's that day and I have been racked with guilt ever since. You were just a fresh faced uni student who new nothing of the local gang culture.It was just bravado on our part we should have been nowhere near the barra's on a Saturday afternoon coming from the southside and we knew we where walking into trouble it was just bravado from a couple of stupid boys we almost had our throats cut but unfortunately you had your face sliced open by some anonymous coward.I would like to apologise from the bottom of my heart for my part in this escapade.I hope you can forgive me.May god bless you and yours.Most sincere seasons greetings.Stevie

Submitted by: Stevie Donachy
Glasgow, Scotland
08/12/09
Email: steviedonachy@hotmail.co.uk

Phil Mack I used to drink regularly in the Moulin Rouge, wee Johnny was the bartender for years during the 1960s but the pub was not in Crown st it was in Egliton street just before the Bedford picture house it had a lounge upstairs

Submitted by: Norman McNamee
Glasgow, Scotland
06/12/09
Email: Not Supplied

FAO Phil Mack, I had the same experience back in the 60s, a pal of mine was home on holiday from Australia,(George O'Brien) and we went into the "Clock Bar" in Bedford Street, and I asked for two whisky's. The barman smiled and said, sorry boy's, we're a wine shop.

Submitted by: Owen Dougan
Glasgow, Scotland
06/12/09
Email: g132yn@bushinternet.com

FAO Francie Young. Hi Francie its Joe Toehill here. It was good to see a familiar name. I remember well taking you to the ducksie and the zoo. I remember only too well the smell of Wilsons zoo and I remember well aggravating a chimp with a sweet and it reached through the bars and grabbed my hair. I had a bald patch for ages. I was sorry to hear about John. I remember me and him fighting in the back court because he had said something to Ella Watson(my heart throb) I had a sling on at the time and was fighting with one arm. Your mother came out and gave him a doing "your 2 years older than Joe you should know better" However I was never so glad to see anybody as the day my mother took me to Gorbals Cross to be picked up to go to the holiday home at Clynder and John was standing there with his case as well. We had a great time. The thing I remember most about John is that he was crazy about Louis Armstrong. My family always laugh at the photo we have of me as a wean and my mother has written on the back "Wee Joe in the back court outside Mrs Youngs window. Its a pity because the day I saw your message I had just got back from a couple of days in Glasgow something I get to do very rarely.

Submitted by: Joe Toehill
Yorkshire, England
06/12/09
Email: Not Supplied

To Frances Young, My Father used to take me to an inside zoo and I think it was in Hope St along from the Broomalaw.

Submitted by: Ann Docherty
Canada
04/12/09
Email: Not Supplied

Does anyone remember my dad Alec he stayed 128 Florence Street he tells me about his boyhood days in the Gorbals and how they where.

Submitted by: Alec Burns
Glasgow, Scotland
04/12/09
Email: a.burns@ntlworld.com

I looked up the Matt Mcginn video and my hubbys grannie Jessie and his uncle Peter Sloan and his father big Joe Gallagher was on it you could tell his da right away with his stick swinging his leg. He lost his leg at 17 an accident in railway

Submitted by: May
Glasgow, Scotland
04/12/09
Email: Not Supplied

Does anyone have good pics of St. John's chapel Portugal St. inside or out thanks Peter

Submitted by: Peter Diver
Ontario, Canada
03/12/09
Email: peterdiver@rogers.com

To Mona USA I worked in Patterson's bakery in Norfolk st. Gorbals when I was 15, it was next door to the Irish House shop which sold big Ham Houghs, fresh butter Etc. I remember on a Saturday morning people from as far away as Pollok, Priesthill, for all the fresh baked pies, scones and especially the doughnuts, which I used to make myself, Mr. Patterson told me that if any of them were mishaped I couldn't put them on the shelf, so I used to pull them into oblong shapes on purpose before dipping them into the big fat fryer, so I had eat them myself, LOL those were the days. Cheers Anne

Submitted by: Anne
Whitby, Canada
03/12/09
Email: Not Supplied

The Moulin Rouge pub was at the bottom of Crown Street near the Clyde, it had a neon sign outside of a can-can dancer, I went in sometime in 1960 and ordered a whisky, I got a 2 minute silence from all in the pub as it was a wine shop and the bartender had to wash the glass as the wine stuck to the glass.

Submitted by: Phil Mack
East Renfrewshire, Scotland
03/12/09
Email: philipmack@hotmail.com

To Bob Kidd great to hear from you Bob remember most things about the Bedford can you remember what happened to the roof in the balcony always think about your obsession with Elvis and mine for Hank Williams got in contact with Joe Ferries daughter Caroline unfortunately Joe died of cancer some time ago keep in touch Pat

Submitted by: Patrick Gallogly
Peterborough, England
02/12/09
Email: patrickgallogly@myguide.net

will the name Waddell mean anything to any one....

Submitted by: Eric
Montrose, Scotland
02/12/09
Email: ericwaddell@msn.com

Does any-one know Charlie Foy from Crown Street- he was an evacuee and went to Ayrshire to live with the Hodge family in Drumley?

Submitted by: John Findlay (Canada)
Hamilton Ont., Canada
02/12/09
Email: john.findlay@wolseleyinc.ca

Hi there if you you tube Matt McGinn singing jeely piece song, there are some great pictures of Thistle St and the circus coming to town , you might see yourself there so have a look, always reading about how poor the weans where then, they dont look poor to me just happy ordinary kids.

Submitted by: Alex Duff
Glasgow, Scotland
02/12/09
Email: alexanderduff@msn.com

To Patrick Gallogly of Peterborough yes I did work at the Bedford nice to hear from you brings back a lot of memories when I used to borrow your bike and listening to Jim Clark singing a broken hearty pancake, if you scroll through you will come across a message from Joe Ferry, be in touch regards Bob.

Submitted by: Bob Kidd
Bristol, UK
02/12/09
Email: Not Supplied

The information I require is going back to the early 1940s. Is there anyone out there who knows someone who may remember an Elizabeth Ferries who came from Aberdeen and worked in a munition factory possibly the royal ordanance. It would be a question for a great or grandparent, who lived near 13 Thistle Street which is where Elizabeth stayed. I need to know if anyone has information on her then boyfriend Robert MacFarlane with whom she had a baby boy in 1943. Please can anyone remember anything.

Submitted by: Jackie
Aberdeen, Scotland
01/12/09
Email: jackiemclaughlan@hotmail.com

Wee Betty, I too enjoyed reading your letter hope your husband is recovering well. Perhaps you can answer a question for me. I was going through Mathieson Lane with my mother and one of the Cryans (think it was the wulk man) was putting his barrow away my Mother spoke to him for a little while then she told me people used to live in those little places although it was earth floors I am talking about 70 years ago so, am I right or am I mistaken you should be the one person who would know.

Submitted by: Christina Philbin
London, England
01/12/09
Email: Not Supplied

When I was looking through anecdotes a name jumped out from my dim and distant past. It was Joe Toehill. I lived at 109 Lawmoor St and remember Joe and his mother and father well. Joe used to take me with him sometimes. I remember going to an indoor zoo with him and seeing a rather flea bitten lion in a cage. Do you remember Joe? Was the zoo round about Eglinton St or is my memory playing tricks? Do you remember my big brother John? Sadly John died in 1992 at the age of 53, wasn't much of a go was it? I also have a young sister Mary who now lives in Kings Park, I don't mean actually in the park I mean the district ha ha. I would love to hear from you and talk about Lawmoor St which as I'm getting older frequently comes into my head. Cheerio

Submitted by: Francie Young
Glasgow, Scotland
01/12/09
Email: Not Supplied

Hi Billy Malcolm, sorry I dont know Jack Keith, he got my name from this forum and contacted me. I have copied and pasted some of your replies and emailed them to him, I have no idea why he is not back on the forum. I doubt I am known to any of you on here I only worked in Gorbals from 1994 to 2006, my interest comes from working in Gorbals. I was brought up on the North side of Glasgow. Bye for now, Norrie

Submitted by: Norman McNamee
Rutherglen, Scotland
1/12/09
Email: norman_mcnamee@hotmail.com