Glasgow Gallivanting: June 2017

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Another fabulously busy month! My summer programme of guided walks continues (I’ve led, or co-led, four in June) with a couple of twists. The Women’s Library is reprinting its walk leaflets, so John and I went on a reconnaissance mission to the Necropolis to check the route directions and take some new photographs. Not relevant to a women’s history walk, but something we hadn’t noticed before, was this monument to William Wallace (of Braveheart fame). And I couldn’t resist including my favourite angel as the post header.

William Wallace memorial
William Wallace memorial

I also went on someone else’s walk! The Royal College of Nursing guided a walk from the medieval cathedral to the Clyde looking at public health through the ages. I learned, amongst other things, that some of the tenements I pass often were built by Glasgow’s City Improvement Trust in the late 19th century – an early form of social housing to replace squalid slums. From now on I’ll be looking upwards even more than I do normally to spot their banner.

City Improvement Trust Tenements
City Improvement Trust Tenements

Happy 75th Billy Connolly

Glaswegian comedian Billy Connolly (or Sir William Connolly, CBE, to give him his full title) turns 75 this year. To celebrate, his home city has commissioned a set of three murals by Rachel Maclean, Jack Vettriano and John Byrne. As a result of my guided walks in the city I’ve now spotted all three.

By Rachel Maclean
By Jack Vettriano
By John Byrne

As well as the murals and his knighthood, Billy recently received an honorary degree from Strathclyde University. I watched a clip of him in his robes, and he asked “I wonder if they know something I don’t? When you start getting the lifetime achievement awards……”, and his voice tailed off. I know his health isn’t good, but I hope he has many more years to come.

The Great Get Together

On 16th June 2016, during the EU Referendum campaign, Jo Cox MP was murdered by a fanatical white supremacist. One year later, thousands of events up and down the country took place under the banner of The Great Get Together to commemorate Jo and celebrate the phrase she used in her maiden speech to Parliament “We have more in common than that which divides us”. I attended an event at Glasgow Women’s Library at which the guest of honour was Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon. I expected to encounter some extra security given recent terrorist attacks – but no. I walked into the library as usual, Nicola arrived, gave a moving speech, then moved round each table talking to everyone and posing for selfies as requested. Spot the fan girl!

Jo Cox
Nicola Sturgeon speaks
Nicola and guests
Selfie with First Minister
Nicola pours tea
Jo Cox on the shelf

I’m proud to live in a country where politicians can still do this, where we don’t react to terrorism by shutting them away from the people they were elected to represent, and I’m proud to have a First Minister who can speak so well on the platform and also come across as friendly and approachable in person.

South Rotunda

South Rotunda

Rotundas on either side of the River Clyde mark each end of the Harbour Tunnel, built in the 1890s and long since fallen into disuse. A year ago, I wrote a post about an urban walk along the river in which I lamented that, although the North Rotunda had been a restaurant for as long as I can remember, the South Rotunda was boarded up. I didn’t know that renovation was well under way and it is now home to the Malin Group which offers services to the marine industry. Recently, they held open days in aid of the Ethiopia Medical Project, a charity run by two Glasgow women to assist the Buccama Clinic in its work healing thousands of mothers suffering from uterine prolapse.

I was expecting a simple tour of the building. However, we were entertained by actors playing “Willie”, one of the workmen who built the tunnels, and the shell-suited “Steph” who worked at the South Rotunda during the 1988 Garden Festival when it served as Nardini’s Ice Cream Parlour. Great fun, tea and cakes at the end, and all in a very worthy cause.

With Finnieston Crane
“Willie”
“Willie”
Dome
View to North Rotunda
Office space
“Steph”
Ethiopia Medical Project

Paisley buddies

Mum with “Superbia”
“Superbia”

Pride of Paisley was a public art trail of lion sculptures last year – one of them, “Superbia”, has now returned permanently. Wasn’t my mum clever to wear such a perfectly matching cardigan?

The last bit

I could tell you about theatres, art exhibitions and gardens visited, but this post is getting too long so let’s skip to the last bit in which I teach you a new Scottish word. Some politicians have told us that we are scunnered (annoyed) with voting. True, since 2014 in Scotland we have had two referendums, two general elections and elections for local councils – but am I scunnered? I am not. People fought and died for my right to vote and I always do so with a lump in my throat, especially at the latest election which was held on the anniversary of the death of Emily Wilding Davison (the suffragette who threw herself in front of the King’s horse at Epsom). But as for the result and events since – now that’s what I call a scunner!

And finally, a bit of nostalgia. Who could this romantic young couple be? No prizes! I’ve been scanning old (and sadly faded) pictures again. This is us on holiday in Germany in 1985.

German holiday 1985
German holiday 1985

So that was my June. How was yours?

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65 Comments »

  1. So many great things here, I don’t know where to start. I’ll start at the end with the adorable photos of you and John in 1985. I love seeing those youthful photos; I should add to my very long list of things to do the scanning of old photos! Scunnered! Love it, and no, we should never become scunnered with voting. I blame many people for the election of our current president, including people who actually voted for him, people who voted for 3rd party candidates (who had no chance of winning and thus contributed to his win), and people who didn’t vote at all! It is a right so many people have fought for and shouldn’t be taken lightly. I vaguely remember hearing about the murder of Jo Cox, and I love her words; these words are often cited by the resistance here in America. I love the paisley lion and your mom’s matching cardigan. She looks great! 🙂

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    • One of the nice things about getting comments from your catch up is that I often can’t remember exactly what was in the post and have to go back and look! Both our countries are in a political mess, and in each case many of the people who voted for it are sticking rigidly to their choices. I thought there would have been a major backlash against Trump by now.

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      • That’s for sure about the political situation, Anabel. I’m sickened every day by what is happening in our country and by the people who elected our Autocrat-in-Chief into office. I don’t know why there isn’t more of a backlash either. Everything about him infuriates me. In Virginia, we have two Democratic senators and a Democrat for governor, but we have an election for governor in early November. I’m going out to vote for the Anti-Trump candidate, Northam, and I hope he wins as a referendum against Trumpism. I do have one representative who is Republican in Fairfax County, so I write to her mostly to express my views. Writing to the others doesn’t do any good as they’re already against the Trump agenda.

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        • I’m the same, my representatives at every level are SNP so there’s little point writing to them on UK stuff because they’re anti just about everything the current govt stands for, as am I, but we’re still stuck with them. So frustrating.

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  2. Anabel, seriously I don’t know how you survived such a busy June!
    Love the old picture of yours 😉

    You know, I think the same as you: voting is a right, but it’s also a duty, in my opinion. We should never take it for granted. In fact, for a long time it wasn’t… and it still isn’t in too many countries. I will never be annoyed by the possibility to vote.

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  3. What a full month you’ve had! I always love guided walks in a new place – you find out so much more than just reading guide books. Great quote from the late Jo Cox – such a tragedy she sounded such an inspirational person. Lovely photo of you back in the day!

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  5. Despite spending the first 8 years of my life not far from the Necropolis, I have never visited it. Recently when I did a lot of visiting at the Royal Infirmary, I got view of it from my parking spot, and as I walked up the stairs to the ward, and said to myself ‘I really must go and have a look round’. One day I will…
    I saw the documentary about Billy Connolly and the paintings – did you? It was very interesting.
    Paisley Buddies reminds me of another documentary that was on recently, about Paisley and the importance of the thread mills. It was fascinating.
    My June started with a wonderful visit to Barcelona, continued with normal ‘stuff’ and ended in Glasgow.

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  7. Hi Anabel – gosh lots going on … and what a fascinating post. Loved reading all the things you’ve been doing and are able to show us … Yes the Jo Cox words ring very true … “We have more in common than that which divides us” … and if some real leaders to take responsibility for things … I hope the next 30 years will bring the world together … cheers Hilary

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  8. Thanks for sharing your month, Anabel. I was especially interested to read about the Great Get Together. I heard about it in other parts of UK so lovely to hear about a Scottish event. Such a great idea and positive memorial to Jo Cox.

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  10. You have had an eventful month! I love your old pictures when you were just together and walking everywhere…nothing much has changed which is nice to see. I’m glad they did something with the other rotunda and they are holding n to the ones unlike here.

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  13. What great post Anabel, it sounds like a great month of walks and discoveries. I love the murals of Sir Billy and the angel shot. The history is amazing and I particularly like the photo of you both in 1985 where you are both turned towards the camera. It exudes a lovely innocence and adventurous spirit. As to what I’ve been doing in June – well I have a post planned for a sentence a day covering the month of June coming out later this week.

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  14. I don’t do enough organised talks though we did two recently – a street art and a lost rivers walk. They teach us so much. I remember the rotundas from when i was there fr the Commonwealth games in 2014 – we have similar buildings by the greenwich and woolwich foot tunnels. As for June, pretty good all round though Dog has been injured so the longer walks have slipped. Maybe tomorrow!

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  17. I thoroughly enjoyed the diversity of your June gallivanting.
    Neither am I scunnered by voting, though this time ’round I’m totally scunnered by how too many other people voted. My fondest wishes are for impeachments and resignations through the top three in line of succession or maybe down all 17 levels.

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  19. Just a quickie to say that I envy you having Nicola Sturgeon to fight for you. What an amazing woman she is. I can’t type much because I have a serious eye problem at the moment but I start treatment this coming Thursday, so hopefully …………… no more double vision.

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    • Oh, sorry to hear that and best of luck with the treatment. I think Nicola Sturgeon is one of the few politicians who answers questions, makes plans and tells it as it is. I agree, she’s amazing.

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  20. You certainly had a busy and diversified month. I also agree with you that going to vote should be something we don’t get annoyed with. It is what a democracy is all about and I truly don’t understand those who don’t vote and then complain of the results…(Suzanne)

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  21. Sounds like you got to do lots of fantastic stuff this month! The public health walk in particular sounds right up my alley, and that William Wallace monument is pretty cool too. I pass the plaque marking his execution site in Smithfield every so often, and someone has always laid flowers by it. Love the old photos of you and John!

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    • My favourite angel normally has a pink flower but she was looking neglected this time. Glad you like the old photos – I find it hard to believe that’s us!

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  22. Wow, Anabel. You didn’t just have a busy June, but an informative and rewarding one as well. Looks like you’ve been a traveler your whole life!

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  25. Interesting and varied post. I was around the Barras area recently looking at the new murals there. Didn’t know anything about the Lion sculpture trail but maybe inspired by the cat trail in Kingussie which has been popular with tourists for some years now. I was thinking the same thing as B.C. when I heard that about his cluster of recent L.A.A’s. :o)

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  26. Cemeteries are always a favourite of mine and I do hope to come and do your walk one day.
    Billy Connolly is always a favourite of mine and I do hope he lives for ever. None of us can, of course, but in some ways he will. I wouldn’t like to cause offence to anyone so won’t repeat one of my favourite lines here.
    Despite being half a world away I listen to a lot of BBC radio and I clearly remember hearing about Jo Cox’s murder. She sounded so genuine. A real representative of the people. Such a sad loss.
    But May? Best forgotten at our place. Dad was ill and I travelled south to see him. But hardly did because our daughter, then our grandson, then me were all sick too. Came home and gave it to my hubby.
    Healthy now and planning to stay that way.
    Thanks for your lovely post.

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    • The murals are great, and the original paintings (or photograph in the case of Rachel Maclean’s) are now in the People’s Palace so I’ll need to get along to see those. I liked Rachel’s the best – she made all the items on his costume which reference Billy Connolly jokes and sketches. E.g. the epaulettes are mini-bikes parked in two bum cheeks!

      Sorry to hear about all the illness and glad things are improving.

      >

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  27. What a fabulous month you’ve had. I love the Billy Connolly murals and am slightly envious of your selfie with Nicola Sturgeon. Even from this distance she comes across as a pretty amazing woman. Like you, I take my right to vote seriously — an obligation in fact — but I’m increasingly concerned that our September election will not change the government and give our self-serving, snout-in-the-trough leaders another three years to bleed us dry. An outcome that would leave me totally scunnered.

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    • Well – you never know: look what happened here, a 20 point lead at the beginning of the short campaign collapsing to loss of majority. Mind you, that only led to the DUP so you need to have something better waiting in the wings, but you have longer for things to change. Trying to be positive!

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      • Thanks. I am too, but we seem to be another nation of turkeys who vote for Christmas. We have the MMP electoral system, so there is almost never a clear “winner” and lots of horse-trading with the smaller parties. There is a clause in the system that allows parties who win one electoral MP to have power that is disproportionate to their overall share of the vote. The ruling party has used that to keep itself in power by sacrificing one of their own MPs in electorates where right-wing “partners” can win, and therefore bring in extra stooge MPs to prop the whole system up. We now have a bunch of useless charter schools (academies in the UK I think) as a consequence of this (amongst other things).

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        • Ugh! We are protected to some extent in Scotland – no academies here for example (well, except that secondary schools are often called academies anyway) and the govt spends millions each year mitigating some U.K. benefit cuts, but there’s a limit to what can be done.

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  28. A big chunk of my May was taken up with getting ready for a conference at Mount Gambier; traveling the 1000 kilometers to Mount Gambier; three days there then drive back the 1000 klms. to home. It wasn’t wet but it was cold and after a long drive I was glad to get home. At home a good part of the month was taken up with finishing part of the garden. Once winter is over and we move into spring I’ll start on the next part. Also our Grandson was born – probably the one and only.

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  29. What an eventful month you’ve had, Anabel! I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially those walks. The public health walk sounds fascinating – I enjoy taking walks organized around a theme like that, as I always learn new things.

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