Minutes of Annual General Meeting 9th May 2023 

Welcome: President Trezise gave members and visitors alike a warm welcome, thanking

them for coming along to the first meeting of the 2023/2024 session.

Mobile phone etiquette and safety / emergency procedures were explained.

‘Weather Check’ - Artie reminded everyone to check the club website before heading out

to a meeting if we were experiencing adverse weather conditions.

September Meeting Attendance: There were 72 people in attendance made up of 57

members, the speaker Rafaello Gonella and 14 visitors, some of which were from the

2023 Doors Open event.

Apologies: There were apologies for absence from Peter Mortimer, Ruaraidh Clark.

Minutes: President Trezise asked if everyone has seen a copy of the minutes, either

digitally or in print form and mentioned that there was a misspelling of a name which

would be rectified.

There being no further amendments or matters arising, they were proposed by Robin Muir

and seconded by Glen Collie.

President’s Report: President Trezise reflected on our last talk of the 2022/2023 session,

a fabulous talk on ‘The Barras’ given by former club President and long time supporter of

the club, Peter Mortimer.

Peter also facilitated the club’s annual outing on 3rd June by giving us a pre-opening tour

of the newly renovated Provan Hall, an A listed medieval building in the heart of

Easterhouse dating back to the 1460s. It is run by Provan Hall Community Management

Trust, which the club donated £100 to in thanks.

Artie also thanked Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust and driver for the most enjoyable trip on

a sunny day around the East End of Glasgow aboard a vintage bus. Destinations Provan

Hall and Hogganfield Loch where the picnics were eaten. The £10 charge per person was

given directly to Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust.

He also reflected on the club’s traditional Tappit Hen Bowling Tournament, which took

place at Kelvingrove Bowling Greens on Thursday 18th May. For those that don’t know, it

is a fun tournament that players and non players alike take part in. The prize for the

winning player is a large trophy which is considered lovely by some and a carbuncle by

others. This years lucky winner was Graham Pascall, who has the honour of keeping it for

a whole year.

Artie mentioned two club events/walks that were upcoming and if they were of interest to

let Margaret at the signing in desk know as spaces were limited.

Thursday 5th October - a behind the scene artworks tour at Glasgow Museums Resource

Centre.

Saturday 14th October - Tobacco Lords Merchant City Walk with Kevin Scott.

Members and guests were reminded that Colin, membership secretary, was here tonight

to take the subscriptions, which are £30, and give out the membership cards, along with

the three business cards that let you bring three different guests to any of the ordinary

meetings this session. Although we have a healthy club membership, Artie hoped that

tonight’s visitors would enjoy the talk so much that they might consider joining.

Artie invited club member Steven Mcfarlane, who gave the talk to the club on Sulman’s

Map at the November 2022 meeting to give us information on a Youtube video regarding

a Glasgow map predating Sulman’s map.

Steve informed us that earlier this year, David Pritchard gave a zoom talk for Glasgow City

Heritage Trust on a similar birds eye view of Glasgow that predated Thomas Sulman’s

map by eleven years.

Steve thoroughly recommended watching the Youtube video that they had published

called ‘Many a Chill and Lonely Vigil’ - George McCulloch’s View of Glasgow in 1853 and

has left some leaflets with the information on how to view printed on them.

Artie thanked Steve for the information and invited former club President, Brian D.

Henderson to give a tribute to club member, Maureen Smith.

“Old Glasgow Tribute to the late Maureen Smith, late director and Honorary Treasurer.

President Artie, fellow members and friends, ladies and gentlemen, It is with great

sadness that I must intimate the death of Miss Maureen Smith.

A member since 1975, with service as a director, and treasurer in her time, Maureen

experienced poor health in her later years. I was deeply sorry to receive the news from her

sister, Sheila, with whom she had shared their home until residential care became

necessary.

What can I say about Maureen? A positive character. Together with old friend, and fellow

member, Mary Rodger (who had joined during that same February meeting). A music-hall

comedy double act comes to mind!

The scene: a Summer outing about 20 years ago, or so, down in the Borders, I think. At

the table, club worthy Bob Dunlop with Nancy, my friend James from Edinburgh, and yes,

you have guessed, Maureen and Mary! Two daft sticks! How they kept us in stitches with

jokes and stories, the delivery - excellent! Mirth, never ending.

Fast forward a few years, The Mitchell and another Club stalwart, Liz, almost ejected from

the Glasgow Room, our chat and laughter disturbing the peace! But what a family history

trip! Maureen would revel too in the discovery, wonderful as it was for her, that she was

related to one Mr Rossborough, of the Old Panopticon, Trongate. How totally chuffed she

was.

Yes, quite a character was Maureen. And yet another very sad loss for the Club. But I, for

one, will smile as I remember her. She will never be forgotten.

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you”.

Artie thanked Brian and introduced the first speaker for the new ‘My Glasgow’ part of the

meeting.

My Glasgow: Artie introduced our first speaker in the ‘My Glasgow’ segment, Julie Clark,

a University lecturer in Sociology and Social Policy, with a special interest in the urban

environment and social inclusion.

Julie informed us that it was decidedly not an educational talk about fountains, more

about evocative places and what they mean to you. From an early age Julie’s were

fountains.

The talk starts off with a very young Julie pictured beside a typical Glasgow water pipe.

Slightly older and the first fountain that wowed her was The Cameron Memorial Fountain,

which stands at the junction of Woodside Crescent and Sauchiehall Street. As a child it

appealed because of the jaunty angle it stands at but as she got older she found out it

was built by public subscription for Sir Charles Cameron, local MP of some 21 years,

newspaper editor and a prominent member of the Temperance Movement campaigns.

As Julie’s life moved on we saw photographs of her at fountains all over the city that

meant something to her, The Stewart Memorial Fountain in Kelvingrove Park, the wow of

fountains, The Doulton Fountain at Glasgow Green, Bailie James Martin Memorial

Drinking Fountain in Arcadia Street on the edge of Glasgow Green, The Saracen Fountain

in Alexander Park which is badly needing attention and The Aitken Memorial Fountain at

Govan Cross.

As a small child, Julie’s interest in fountains was based on their appearance and stunning

design but as she got older she was intrigued by the story each fountain could tell and

the symbolism they portrayed. They were dedicated to the city’s reformers, former Lord

Provosts of Glasgow, Industrial innovators and the ordinary people who had an impact on

peoples’ day to day lives. Each fountain has a story to tell.

“There is something thrilling about fountains as a little person, then you realise what they

mean. Beautiful, wonderful and fascinating”

Artie thanked Julie for her superb and knowledgeable talk on Glasgow fountains.

Tonight’s Talk: ‘Tallys’ Cafes and Chippies’ with Raffaello Gonella

Artie introduced tonight’s speaker, Raffaello Gonella, who is happy to be called Ralph. He

studied genealogy at Strathclyde University and was recently awarded the Italian Gold

Medal for his contribution to the Scottish Italian community.

Ralph introduced himself by saying that although it is his talk and his story, it is a story

that most Italians in Scotland have. He was born, raised and educated in Glasgow but

has no Scottish blood.

In 1910 Ralph’s family came to Scotland from Italy, a relatively new country that was

going through a poor economic time, resulting in lots of people leaving the country. Lots

of people were going to the USA, Canada, Argentina and Australia but a lot of Italians

settled in Britain too.

This is where his grandfather, Quinto Santini, chose to come to because a lot of his fellow

Tuscans had settled in and around Glasgow and Edinburgh. He came with his wife and

two young children, with a further five being born in Scotland. Very soon he opened a

cafe with his brother, then another brother joined them from Italy and they opened a fish

and chip shop.

There was what must have seemed like a little Italy happening in the small mining town of

West Calder, with the four Santini brothers having 15 children between them. Eventually

two of the families moved through to Glasgow and two moved back to Italy.

This is also about The Italian Cloister Garden and Arandora Star Memorial situated beside

St Andrew’s Metropolitan Cathedral, 196 Clyde Street, Glasgow G1 4JY. Ralph invited us

to join him for a guided tour on Saturday 16th or Sunday 17th September (10am-3pm) as

part of Glasgow’s Doors Open Festival. There is no need to book and the tour will last

approximately 30 minutes.

The remembrance garden is next to the cathedral. It is not full of flowers as you think of a

garden, it is a remembrance garden dedicated to Italians when Italy declared war in 1940,

when Mussolini sided with Hitler.

The night that changed history for Italian Scots was 10th June 1940, when Italy declared

war on Britain and France and entered the war on the side of Adolf Hitler and Nazi

Germany. The British prime minister, Winston Churchill, and the British war cabinet

immediately ordered the arrest of all Italian males aged between 16-70 to be interred as

enemy aliens. Winston Churchill infamously said “collar the lot”.

There followed a period of uncertainty, terror and fear, with thousands of Italian men,

some having been born in the U.K, being arrested from their homes and places of work in

a haphazard manner and held in a variety of makeshift temporary prisons unfit for

purpose.

There are stories that have emerged from this time, some nice, some not so nice. Italian

cafes and chip shops were looted and vandalised by angry mobs, the very same people

who had been in a few days earlier to buy their chips but some were also protected from

vandalism by fellow Scots.

Ralph’s Nono, his maternal Grandfather, Quinto Santini, aged 59, was arrested and held

at Maryhill Barracks overnight. He was then taken to Woodhouse near Edinburgh, a

makeshift tented camp which was patrolled by armed guards. A week later he was

transported to Warth Mills near Bury in Lancaster, an unfit for habitation, damp, derelict

former cotton mill that was rat infested.

The U.K. Government had decided to send all those classed as enemy aliens to Canada

and Australia. On the 1st July, they were moved from Warth Mills by train to the port of

Liverpool, straight to the docks and the first 734 men were put onboard the Arandora

Star.

The Arandora Star was a cruise liner owned by the Blue Star Line, which had started out

as a cargo ship. Think 20 years more modern and luxurious than the Titanic, which only

took first class passengers. It was the pinnacle of luxury when it had been fitted out at

Fairfield Shipbuilding, Glasgow in 1929.

This, however, was not the same ship that was tasked with deporting the interned men

and prisoners of war to Canada, this ship had been stripped of every last element of

luxury, with only the mirrors remaining. These men did not not know where they were

being taken to.

The ship wasn’t displaying the International Red Cross symbol to signify that there were

civilians on board and was sailing without an escort, with access to lifeboats being

obstructed by heavy wire mesh.

The unaccompanied Arandora Star sailed up the Irish Sea to the the top of Ireland, where

it was spotted by a German U Boat around 6.45am. It was torpedoed by the German

U-47, captained by Captain Gunther Prien and tragically sunk with the loss of 805 men

about 75 miles off the coast of Ireland.

The dead were Captain Edgar Moulton, 12 officers and 42 crew (55 of the 174 crew

onboard), 37 of the 200 military guard, 243 of the 479 German, Austrian and Jewish

Internees and 470 of the Italian Internees, with Ralph’s Grandfather, Quinto, being one of

them.

The bodies of the men were washed up along some 600 miles of coast from the Western

Isles of Scotland to the shores of Ireland for months after the event. The men were

recovered from the sea by locals and buried in cemeteries up and down the West Coast,

some in marked graves and some in unmarked graves.

The Canadian destroyer HMCS St Laurent arrived and rescued the 868 survivors, of

whom 586 were detainees. They were taken to Greenock where the uninjured were

promptly returned to Liverpool and placed on the SS Dunera for transportation to camps

in Australia, where they would remain for the rest of the war.

Ralph’s father, Renato Gonnella, was arrested aged 22 and initially held in Paisley jail

before he too was transported in the same route as Quinto to Liverpool docks. He was

transported aboard the SS Ettrick to Canada on the 3rd July, although this ship had an

escort.

There were 407 Italians onboard the Ettrick. They were treated badly, herded into the

lower hold of the ship and kept mainly below deck for the voyage in overcrowded and

inhumane conditions, receiving only meagre rations and water.

It was a horrendous 10 day voyage to the city of Quebec where they were met by armed

and hostile guards. They were issued with numbered uniforms and taken by train to

Montreal before being bused to the île Sainte-Hélène on the St Lawrence River. The

conditions in the camp were harsh, with the men being forced to carry out hard labour.

This is where Renato would spend most of the next 4 years before being allowed back to

Scotland.

For some 83 years most families of the victims have had no bodies or papers as the men

were classed as enemy aliens. Ralph went on to say that there were lots of tragedies of

war, that being the nature of war but the Italian one was a forgotten tragedy that the

Scottish Italian community wanted to commemorate.

When St Andrew’s Metropolitan Cathedral was being renovated from 2009-2011, the

Italian community asked Archbishop Mario Conti for a piece of land where they could

build a garden of remembrance and memorial. This request was granted and land

adjacent to the Cathedral was made available.

The Scots-Italian community generously donated money and architects were asked to

submit their designs for this garden and memorial that would remember the loss, recall

events and help heal memories.

Roman architect, Giulia Chiarini’s very modern design was chosen on the day she

presented it. It was a very emotional presentation where she showed the monumental

mirrored plinths with inscriptions from the Gospel and the Italian poets, which she

paraphrased as exaggerated gravestones. This would be the focal point, a monument

commemorating the Arandora Star tragedy.

The only luxury that had been left in place on the Arandora Star were the mirrors, the

gorgeous luxurious mirrors that Giulia thought would have made such a noise, the

smashing of glass would have been one of the last sounds that they would have heard on

the ship.The planned long water feature was to represent the torpedo going through the

water.

When completed the garden has at its focal point the monument commemorating the

Arandora Star tragedy and a century old olive tree called Olivia that was gifted by the

people of Tuscany as a sign of peace and reconciliation. Around the walls, marble

plaques tell the story of the Cathedral, the Catholic revival in Scotland and the Arandora

Star tragedy. The names of the every one of the Scots-Italians who perished on the ship

have been carved on the central plinth.

The St Andrew’s Cathedral Italian Cloister Garden which took 18 months of work was

officially opened on 16th May 2011 with a grand concert in the cathedral given by

musicians flown in from Milan.

Present at the opening were Archbishop Mario Conti, First Minister Alex Salmond, the

Lady Provost of Glasgow and Mr Rando Bertoia, the 91 year old who was the only living

survivor of the tragedy. Also present were the architect Giulia Chiarini, the representatives

from the towns that most Scots Italians come from, Barga and Pistoia in Tuscany and

Filignano in Lazio.

There are plaques and memorials to the Arandora Star tragedy all around the country and

in Barga, Tuscany but the Cloister Garden is the largest permanent monument to the

disaster anywhere in the world.

After the war all these detained Italians were released. They were coming home to

businesses that had folded and properties that weren’t there anymore. The Italian women

had been put under enormous pressure trying to keep businesses running as best they

could with food rationing in force. There was no cafe for Ralph’s Dad to come back to so

he got a job in Saltcoats with a distant cousin.

The late 40s, 50s and 60s were the boom years for the Italian Cafes and Chip Shops.

Everyone, regardless of religion, got or shared a fish supper, with Fair Friday being the

busiest night of the year.

They were so busy, they were a place you could safely go to that wasn’t a pub and

Italians don’t take it as detrimental that they were called Tallys since it was used as a term

of endearment. Ralph recalls that he never got discrimination from other people in the

area, just his teachers. Every teacher would ask at his first registration whether his family

were cafe or chip shop, something that has stuck with him over the years.

Ralph finished his talk by fast forwarding to the 1970s when Italians went to University etc

and started moving away from the family owned chippies and cafes. The families have

moved on and into the 2000s and are totally integrated into all parts of Scottish life.

Artie thanked Ralph for his impassioned and informative talk and invited the audience to

ask any relevant questions or comments.

Crawford recalled that his mother told the story about his father who was a special

constable in 1940 who had been put on duty that particular night at the Lyceum Cafe to

protect it from looting. His Mum got a lovely box of chocolates from the owners.

Q Ralph was asked how many generations his family went back in Scotland.

A Ralph said that his family were phase one of immigration to Scotland, which was pre

WW1.

Q Was there any recognition or apology from the UK government given at any time?

A Ralph said that he did not want an apology from people who were third generation

removed and were not responsible for what happened. You also have to put yourself

In that place and what was happening at the time. He said that his Dad didn’t speak

English, so he would have been suspicious too.

Ralph mentions that he and Michael Donnelly were working on a publication with a

photograph and biography of all 94 Scots Italians who had died. When Michael started

investigating one of the names on the list, Francesco D’Inverno, he found out that he had

a death certificate because he had been washed up on Irvine beach.

When Michael called up the death record it revealed that he wasn’t Scottish at all and his

last known address was London. It also showed that he had been found drowned at

Lendalfoot.

Further investigation found details of a burial in common ground, potentially with other

people. This is where Ritchie and Lorna Conaghan of the Girvan and District Great War

Project came in. They were able to pinpoint the location of the grave and establish that

Francesco had been buried on his own, meaning he could get a gravestone.

Mary Smith in Ayr knew the boy who had been 9, now 94, who had found Francesco’s

body. He was an evacuee from Rutherglen who had been on the beach with his fishing

rod looking for ‘luckies’ when he found the body.

For 83 years the boy hadn’t known what had happened to the body and was so relieved

to know that they able to give him a name, some background information and tell him

where he was buried.

They also managed to get in touch with Francesco’s family and spoke to them last night.

The family had never known what had happened to the body and thought Francesco had

been buried at sea or elsewhere.

The story will be broadcast on BBC radio at the weekend.

Vote of Thanks: Tonight’s vote of thanks was given by club director, Robin Muir, who

thanked Ralph for his unbelievable story which was about family, recovery, finding the

positive and forgiving when it could have been so different.

Quiz: Tonight’s question was ‘The Lobbey Dosser statue on Woodlands Road is

dedicated to…..? a) El Fidelo b) Bud Neil c) Rank Bajin d) Neil Budd’. The answer was

Neil Budd and the correct entry was pulled out of the hat by Ken Benjamin was Anna

Forrest.

AOCB: None

Close: Artie thanked everyone for attending the talk tonight and hoped that some would

be able to make it back for the 12th October meeting, ‘Glasgow’s Motorway System’,

with speakers Stuart Baird and John Hassall.

Shona Crozer

Recording Secretary

TOP OF PAGE

Welcome: President Trezise welcomed everyone to our October meeting and reminded us

of the safety exits etc in the unlikely event of an emergency.

Also, could we please ensure mobile phones are switched off or on silent mode.

* Please check the website for possible cancellations of meetings in the event of

bad weather.

Apologies for Absence: Apologies were given by Gavin McNae, Shona Crozer,

Brian D. Henderson, Crawford Cassidy, Anna Forrest, Gaynor MacKinnon, Stuart McIntosh

Sallie Marshall and Margaret McCormack.

Minutes: President Trezise asked if everyone had seen a copy of the Minutes of the

September 2023 meeting, either by email or printed copy, and asked if there were any

amendments or matters arising.

There being none, the minutes were then passed on a proposal by Margaret Thom and

seconded by Ken Benjamin.

President’s Report: President Trezise recalled our successful September meeting,

appealed for speakers at forthcoming meetings, also recorded the visit to the Resource

Centre of Glasgow Museums, hosted by Jo Meacock, which contained over one million

artefacts. Several works of art were also shown to our members and friends.

My Street: Fraser Spiers had prepared his talk on Springburn but was unfortunately not

able to be here in person.

President Trezise read out his talk to accompany some views of Springburn on the screen.

Mr Spiers began at the beginning in 1949 and recounted his school days at Hyde Park

Primary School from 1954. He remembers air raid shelters, where fun and games could be

had before they were demolished, playing “marbles”, going to the pictures at the Princess

in Gourlay Street, the Kinema in the High Road, and the Wellfield. Shopping was catered

by the Cowlairs Co-op, Hoyeys and Selyns.

Tonight’s Talk: Stuart Baird and John Hassall on ‘Glasgow’s Motorway System’

President Trezise introduced our speakers who are Civil Engineers, and have spent many

years researching and recording the Glasgow Motorway network from its earliest

conception up to the present day.

First proposals were included in the 1945 Bruce Report, Clyde Valley Plan 1949 (New

Towns) and Glasgow Corporation Structure Plan of the 1950s, which included 29

Comprehensive Development Areas (CDAs). These CDA were an opportunity to

incorporate new road schemes whilst clearing inner city slums in the process.

75% of traffic went through the city centre, such was the nature of the road system at the

time. The resulting congestion on local roads such as Alexandra Parade, Great Western

Road, and Eglington Street was increasing rapidly.

Because of this an inner ring road was proposed in 1962 and work commenced in 1965.

By removing the Monkland Canal (water going into pipes), space was gained to build a

new east bound motorway M8 towards Ballieston and connect with a complete circle of

motorways and high speed roads surrounding the city centre.

As we know now, only the north and west flanks were eventually built and completed by

1972 at a cost of £25 million. 95% of sub-standard houses were demolished but 85% of

the new roads were built on under developed or empty land. However, efforts were made

to mitigate the effect of these roads by careful townscaping and safer routes for

pedestrians etc.

Stuart and John commented on the more unusual aspects of our motorway network, such

as entry and exit slip roads on the right-hand lanes, an American feature, the design of

overhead gantries and a signalling system which was a first for an urban motorway in the

U.K.

By the beginning of the 21st Century, motorways had extended well in to the suburbs and

beyond.

Both speakers happily answered some very interesting questions posed by the audience.

Stuart and John’s interesting, very informative talk and questions / answers was

appreciated and enjoyed by all.

Quiz: The statue of Lord Roberts in Kelvingrove Park looked out over which famous

landmark ?

The answer being Glasgow University. Cameron Low’s correct entry was picked out of the

hat by our speakers.

Close: There being no further business, President Trezise closed the meeting and wished

all a safe home.

Stuart Little for Recording Secretary

TOP OF PAGE

Welcome: President Trezise welcomed everyone to the November ordinary meeting and

reminded us of where the safety exits were in the unlikely event of an emergency.

It was requested that mobile phones should be turned off or on silent mode.

* Please check the club website for possible cancellations of meetings in the event

of bad weather.

Attendance: There were 68 people including visitors.

Apologies for Absence: There were apologies given by Gaynor Mackinnon, Shona

Crozer and Ruaraidh Clark.

Minutes: President Trezise asked if everyone had seen a copy of the minutes from the

October meeting, either by email or printed copy, and asked if there were any

amendments or matters arising.

There being none, the minutes were then passed on a proposal by J Clark and seconded

by K Benjamin.

President’s Report: President Trezise commented on the very successful previous

months meeting about the Glasgow Motorway history.

Also the success of the club’s Saturday tour of the Merchant City with a follow up talk

about the Glasgow Tobacco Lords was thoroughly enjoyed by all who participated,

despite the cold weather.

My Street: Mr Bruce Downie presented an illustrated potted history of Glasgow’s Victoria

Road, his favourite location, having lived at 443 for some time.

The road was a somewhat gateway to the south, having been constructed in 1862 to

connect the city to Queens Park.

His illustrations included the American Roller Skating rink, BB Panorama Cinema,

Larkfield Garage and the site of the Glasgow Industry Exposition and Scottish Fete, all of

course gone now.

The road has always attracted processions and marches and has seen famous characters

such as Buffalo Bill and Barnum & Bailey Circus performing at a site in Govanhill.

Tonight’s Talk: ‘Rambling Round Victorian Glasgow with Hugh Macdonald’ speaker

Karen Murdarasi

Artie introduced tonight’s speaker, Karen Murdarasi, who gave us an insight on the work

of Bridgeton born Hugh MacDonald (1817-60), who was a poet, author and journalist,

particularly associated with the Glasgow Citizen newspaper.

From the age of 7 he worked in the Glasgow textile industry. He started as a tearer and

then apprenticed as a block printer at a few locations over the years.

It was his writing and passion for the poet Robert Burns that led to him being offered a

job by the editor at the Glasgow Citizen newspaper.

He wrote social/political articles under the pen name of Caleb, but it was his series of

rambles round Glasgow which he is most known for, encouraging the citizens of Glasgow

to take these rambles for themselves.

These articles were published in a book called ‘Rambles Round Glasgow’ that were

published in 1854 and were so popular that they went through several editions.

Karen’s talk included many illustrations that Hugh had described in his articles, including

a crowded High Street, Partick, Shawlands Cross, Govan (a rural looking village),

Rutherglen and Castlemilk House, a stately home now long demolished apart from the

stable block which remains today.

Karen concluded her presentation with extracts from his many poems, which painted a

vivid picture in words of his walks around Glasgow.

He contracted a fever after being caught in a downpour and died in 1860.

There is a memorial fountain in Glasgow Green commemorating his life and works.

Karen happily answered questions asked from both members and visitors alike.

Vote of Thanks: Robin Muir thanked Karen on behalf of the club for the very interesting

and enjoyable talk that she had given tonight.

Quiz: Compiled by Ken Benjamin. Tonight’s question was where was the location of the

statue of Queen Victoria shown in the photograph.

The location, George Square, was correctly identified by Alison McFarlane.

Close: There being no further club business, President Trezise closed the meeting and

wished all a safe home.

Stuart Little for Recording Secretary

TOP OF PAGE

Welcome: President Trezise welcomed everyone to the first ordinary club meeting of

2024 and wished all a ‘Happy New Year’. He reminded us of housekeeping rules, safety

exits in the unlikely event of an emergency and requested that all mobile phones be on

silent mode or switched off.

Attendance: 62 in attendance including visitors.

Apologies for Absence: Shona Crozer, Gaynor MacKinnon, Ruairidh Clark, Iain

Henderson, Margaret McCormack, Cameron and Joan Low, Sallie Marshall, Kevin Scott

and Isobel Haddow.

Minutes: President Trezise asked if everyone had seen a copy of the Minutes from the

December 2023 meeting, either by mail or printed copy, and asked if there were any

matters arising or amendments.

There being none, the minutes were then passed on a proposal by Margaret Thom and

seconded by Glen Collie.

President’s Report: President Trezise gave a brief summary of the previous meetings this

session and remarked that so far they had been very well received. He thanked the

directors for the raffle gifts at our December meeting.

There was no ‘My Street’ presentation this month but Artie gave us a rendering of one of

his favourite songs, ‘The Train to Glasgow’ accompanied by a backing track, whistles

from the Vice-President and choral assistance from the audience.

Tonight’s Speaker: ‘Target Clydebank’ with Marc Conaghan

Mr Conaghan presented a well thought out and moving account of the enemy action that

took place over the West of Scotland on 13th and 14th March 1941.

His talk concentrated on the fact that so many previously published accounts called it the

‘Clydebank Blitz’, when in fact he was able to scorch that title and explained that more

bombs and casualties occurred over a wide sweep of Glasgow, especially Yoker, Maryhill

and Knightswood.

This was not to lessen the terrible impact on Clydebank where very few houses were left

undamaged. The fact that so many Clydebank residents fled the next day to safer

locations prevented more casualties.

Further myths were questioned as to the home location of the German squadrons (in

Belgium, Netherlands and France) and their flight paths to the target areas, coming in

three waves across the North Sea, Fife and Central Scotland rather than following the

River Clyde from Loch Lomond as is often stated.

The first bombs fell on Bankhead Primary School resulting in many casualties. There is a

plaque at the school, the only one, remembering that dreadful time.

Other areas experienced much devastation by parachute mines including Nelson Street in

Tradeston and Kilmun Street in Maryhill.

Mr Conaghan’s talk was illustrated by maps and diagrams showing the German’s plans to

hit Dalnottar Oil Refinery, Singers Works and Yoker Distillery. They had in fact identified

many targets in the Greater Glasgow Area on maps after reconnaissance surveys in 1939.

Due to the large amounts of smoke and flames, the aiming of the bombs was not

accurate. Several types of bombs were employed, oil, parachute and incendiaries. Mr

Conaghan believes that there are many of the latter still in existence, as residents used

the unexploded ones as door stops etc.

Mr Conaghan believes that statistics which are updated regularly show that the ‘Glasgow

Blitz’ was the second worse enemy action in the bombing campaign over the UK, with

London bearing the most casualties and damage.

There was time at the end of the talk for Mr Conaghan to answer some questions and

comments from the floor.

A vote of thanks was given to Mr Conaghan on behalf of the club by Ken Benjamin.

Quiz: Compiled by Ken Benjamin. What was the identity of the artist that had an

exhibition in Glasgow last Summer 2023?

The answer was ‘Banksy’ and the winning entry was Donald Sleigh.

Close: There being no further business, President Trezise closed the meeting and wished

everyone a safe home.

Stuart Little

for Recording Secretary

TOP OF PAGE

Welcome: President Trezise welcomed everyone to the meeting. He reminded us of housekeeping rules, safety exits in the unlikely event of an emergency and requested that all mobile phones be on silent mode or switched off.

Attendance: 50 in attendance including visitors.

Apologies for Absence: Shona Crozer, Brian D Henderson, Stuart Little, Colin McCormick, Carole Sleigh, Donald Sleigh, Bridie Boyle, Julie Clark, Elaine Gibb, Anne Manwell, Crawford Cassidy, Elizabeth Cassidy, Margaret McCormack, Jenny Peel

Minutes: President Trezise asked if everyone had seen a copy of the minutes from the February meeting, either by mail or printed copy, and asked if there were any matters arising or amendments. Ther being no matters arising from the floor he apologised for an error in relation to the Quiz winner of last month which should have read Donald Sleigh.

The minutes were then passed on a proposal from Margaret Thom and seconded by Cilla Fisher.

President’s Report: President Trezise said he had to announce the sad news of the death of Cameron Low OBE on 18th January. Along with his wife Joan, Cameron was an Old Glasgow Club member for a good number of years. Camron’s funeral to be held at 11am, Tuesday 13th February at South Lanarkshire Crematorium, Sydes Bae, Blantyre. All friends welcome request. for no black tie. There will be a tribute to Cameron at the next meeting in March.

President Trezise said how much he had enjoyed the last meeting and the later questions and comments. He thanked Marc Conaghan and said this had led to the My Glasgow section of this evening. After tonight only two more meetings

in this session. We would love to hear suggestions of speakers We are looking now to organise the summer outing and of course the Tappit Hen Bowling evening. There will be more information on both at the March meeting.

President Trezise introduced Ken Moulson whose My Glasgow talk entitled “Granny & Grandpa in the Blitz” Ken showed a number of slides to illustrate his story of his grandparents terrifying experience of returning home from the Tivoli cinema in Partick to find their flat in Dudley Drive had been destroyed. by a bomb. The irony was the film they had seen was the Great Dictator. Charlie Chaplin’s satire.

Tonight’s Speaker :First to the Story with John Young

John Young, former picture and media editor for the Herald Group painted us a picture of his career from a retail assistant in a camera shop to becoming the leader in his profession in Scotland.

John had covered every big story from the Barlinnie prison riots in January 1987, the Lockerbie airline bombing in December 1988, the Dunblane primary school shooting in March 1996,t the 2012 Commonwealth Games and COP26 His images still retain the power of the story.

He leavened this serious content with some more flippant images including ones of our President and his good lady on stage as the Singing Kettle and Lord Provost Bob Winter’s introduction of Baby’s First Christmas.

In 1990 John was part of a group of photographers who contributed to the book Glasgow 24 hours in the Life of a City.

The 2012 Commonwealth Games and COP26 were major stories for the city which John portrayed.

John’s philosophy had always been to stay a bit longer and to try a bit harder; yes, get the shot that was expected - but hang about and set up something surprising.

A vote of thanks was given to Mr Young by Gavin McNae

Quiz : Glasgow loved Wild West Shows – and a whole heap of them blew through …. What does this statue in Dennistoun, honour?

The answer was Buffalo Bill and the winning entry was Alison Sannachan.

Close: There being no further business, President Trezise closed the meeting and wished everyone a safe journey home

Joyce McNae

For Recording Secretary

TOP OF PAGE

posted when available

TOP OF PAGE

Attendance

Chair  President Artie Trezise

Apologies Shona Crozer, Stuart Little, Julie Clark, Edwin Gibb, Peter Mortimer, Dominic D’Angelo, Anna Forrest, Robin Muir,

Minutes The minutes of the 2023 Annual General Meeting of the Old Glasgow Club had been circulated both digitally and in print form. They were approved by Ken Benjamin and seconded by Cilla Fisher.

There were no amendments or matters arising.

President’s Report

Secretary’s Report  Mrs Joyce McNae advised that copies of the AGM paperwork were on the signing in desk and had been distributed to all present. Hon Secretary’s Report, Hon. Treasurer’s Report and Membership Secretary’s Report would be the next items on the Agenda.

 Joyce read from the beginning of her report “I thought I would look through the Club’s transactions to a similar report by the Honorary Secretary in 1924 when the AGM was held in the Trades Hall, Glassford Street. Seven Ordinary meetings of the club were held. Membership numbers were reported 414! “

There was also mention that the Tolbooth Steeple had been repaired and a mention of the Club’s petition in connection with the proposed demolition of St. Enoch Parish Church - interesting to note that the steeple and portico might have been preserved.

Joyce asked for any questions as to this or the rest of the report.

Membership Secretary’s Report Mr Colin McCormick informed us that the club membership currently stands at 84 members (including 4 Life Members) Further information on the “ bring a friend “ initiative and e-mail problems were also highlighted in the report.

Colin asked the members to read the report and invited them to ask any relevant questions.

Recording Secretary’s Report Mrs Shona Crozer’s report highlighted that club correspondence is sent to some 94 e-mail addresses who have authorised us to contact them in this way. With only a few printed copies now required we are well on our way to becoming paperless. Those present were asked to read the rest of the report and ask any relevant questions.

Treasurer’s Report Mrs Margaret Thom circulated the club accounts for year ending 31st March 2024 (session 2023) and invited members to ask any relevant questions. Mrs Thom said she would speak with the directors and answer the question of Life Membership asked by Irene Louden.

The recommended increase of the subscription from the current £30 per annum to £35 to cover the increased costs the club is facing for services and room hire raised a few questions. Also on the visitor cost of £5 - there was no plan to increase this at the moment. The directors proposal to increase membership to £35 was passed.

The adoption of the Treasurer’s Report was proposed by Gavin McNae and seconded by Kevin Scott.

Election of Office Bearers

As agreed at the AGM of 26th May 2022 President Artie Trezise handed over the chain of office to Gavin McNae to take up his term of office.

President McNae then officiated at the Election of Office bearers.

Honorary Secretary Joyce McNae, Honorary Treasurer Margaret Thom

Recording Secretary Shona Crozer, Membership Secretary Colin McCormick

were all re-elected

Directors

Stuart Little having completed a three year tenure was re-elected for a further three years.

Ken Benjamin was re-elected having completed a three year tenure was re-elected for a further two year tenure.

Gaynor MacKinnon having completed a three year tenure was re-elected for a further two year tenure.

President McNae thanked the office bearers for their continuing support to the running of the club.

Appointment of Examiners

President McNae said that both Jim Gibson and Sallie Marshall had expressed their willingness to continue as Examiners. Both were unanimously re-elected.

The elections over, President Gavin McNae spoke to the meeting.

Good evening – I said the first time I was anointed as your leader – you’re not getting this chain back - ever! Well, you did get it back for a short time but it’s mine again! Mine, Mine, Mine!!

I’d like to thank Artie for his service as President over the last two years, he certainly has been committed to delivering on all fronts for the club.

As an ambassador – he has attended civic and other functions and kept the club in the eye of, let’s say, important people.

He’s also led us into new areas of publicising the Club – Facebook advertising was tried and we got involved with the Doors Open festival - and very successful it was too.

And, we would have expected someone as well connected as Artie to bring a new and different kind of speaker to the syllabus – once again, he did that too.

So, thank you Artie for your service over the last two sessions, the club has been enhanced by your efforts.

Thanks are also due to another of the club’s office bearers – Artie may have served two years as President but Mags can beat that hands down! She has spent ten times that period as Treasurer – 20 years in post and not a penny missing! Thank you, Mags, we have a lot to be grateful for.

Now moving on to the up-coming session:

I had a vision that I’d like the talks to follow a kind of arc through time – using significant events from the city’s history to mark its passage from the quiet wee village with a Cathedral up the hill, to what it is today - a vibrant financial centre, a retail paradise with a booming night-time economy.

We’d begin with something mediaeval around the Cathedral – go through trading and no doubt slavery – see how that financed agricultural development industry and then look at how we spent the profits.

It was a plan to chart the rise of the city from ranking fourth after Dumbarton, Paisley and Govan to being the top of the tree (with a bell and a fish and a bird of course).

Well, like all plans it didn’t survive first contact with the enemy – that is the directors - but it kind of works.

For our September start we don’t have an opening talk on the mediaeval religious centre – but we do have one from the other team - Glasgow’s witches! Lorraine Murray has researched Witch Trials in Scotland and this one involves the Maxwell family of Pollok House.

In October, coinciding with Black History Month, we see the welcome return of Stephen Mullen who will speak on the Sugar Aristocracy. In 2008 Stephen spoke to the Club on his work which debunked the myth we like to believe about ourselves that, ‘It Wusnae Us’ – well it wuz - and now he takes it a step further.

For November, just after Bonfire night, we’re talking Fire! Glasgow has had two great fires the first of which predates London’s great fire. So, we were first before London and more importantly Edinburgh, it didn’t have its great fire until much later. Club member Dominic D’Angelo is going to speak about the Watson St warehouse and lodging house fires of 1905.

Now, Glasgow is a city of immigrants – it’s a well-rehearsed story and we punch above our weight in this regard. Renaming Stock Exchange Square to Nelson Mandela Place because that’s where the South African Consulate was located was the kind of audacity that no other city could pull off. And where else do you see the brand ‘Refuweegee’? To mark this character of the city we have a talk on the History of Sikhs in Glasgow for our December meeting.

Traditionally an entertainment month, January, has panto and variety carrying through. So, it’s marvellous that we have as our speaker John Short, or should I perhaps say, John Logan Short. Grandson of music hall artist Jack Short, son of Buddy Logan, and therefore nephew of Jimmy Logan – John has promised to regale us with stories of his family and old theatres of Glasgow as well as telling us about his own career in acting and management.

February is fascinating – what started as a lock down project for Dr Ailsa Boyd – trying to find out who built her house - became an investigation to a Strange Affray in Crosshill – which happened in her house. There was medical student with a poker and a dead police constable involved.

Along the way she did discover that her house was designed and built by Robert Duncan who went on to become “The Grocer’s Architect” designing many buildings for Cooper’s including the Great Western Road store.

That Glasgow invented Fitba’ is probably only going to be challenged by Alastair Blair, the St Johnstone Historian who can definitively prove that it was invented in Edinburgh, and maybe by some English guy in Sheffield. However, at our March meeting Graeme Brown of the Hampden Collection will refute all that and help us to glory in the many defeats we inflicted on our southern neighbours in those early days – way back when.

To round off our year in some style we have Norrie Wilson of Lost Glasgow to remind us of where we came from to get to where we are today.

Now, that’s the year in prospect – and a very exciting syllabus it is too.

Before that of course we have the Tappit Hen next Thursday at Kelvingrove and our summer outing 6th of July where we once again get to ride a corpy bus. The bus will pick up at the usual places and take us to the Kelvinhall and then Fairfields for tours of both.

Club Historian’s Report  “Mr President, fellow members of the Old Glasgow Club, ladies and gentlemen next year sees the Club celebrate its 125th anniversary.

In conjunction with this, 1 February 2025 marks the centenary of the Final Service at St Enoch Church, St Enoch Square. The service, under the auspices of the Club, in cooperation with the Glasgow Presbytery, preceded the building’s removal due to improvements to the square, and followed unsuccessful attempts, by the Club, to preserve the steeple and portico.

The church stood behind St Enoch Underground Station building, and adjacent to St Enoch Railway Station and Hotel.

Given the significance of 2025 in Club terms, the directors recommend that we should install a plaque on the south elevation of the old underground building. A listed building itself, planning permission is now in place, thanks to the crucial help and support of Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, the owners of the building.

The project will result in no cost to the Club, due to two donations, and the possibility of a grant from Glasgow City Heritage Trust. Our thanks are due also to the Trust and to Glasgow Presbytery, for its great encouragement and interest.

 May I say, respectfully, that it would, of course, be open to any other Club member to make a similar donation, in the spirit of the exercise. 

If the proposal is accepted this evening, please feel free to make a discreet approach to me to discuss this further. Thank you, in advance, for your participation.

It is the directors’ hope that the plaque’s presence will promote public awareness of both the former church, and, dare I say, our Club, as we approach our 125th anniversary year.

I therefore hope that you will formally support this venture, ladies and gentlemen. A living history highlight, I, hopefully, an anniversary year of highlights. A golden opportunity for us.

My sincere thanks, again, ladies and gentlemen., Thank you.

Mr President, may I ask, please, if you might invite our members to vote on this matter.

Close  President McNae thanked everyone for coming along to the AGM, reminded them off the summer events and new session beginning in September, and wished them a safe journey home.

 TOP OF PAGE