Story A Glasgow tale.

[Johnnythefox]

Glesga wisdom.

 

[Johnnythefox]

Makes me laugh

 

[longingforrelease]

This is s great thread Johnny. I learned a lot about you in this thread from reading about the Glasgow you grew up in. Thanks for sharing this...

 

[Johnnythefox]

This is s great thread Johnny. I learned a lot about you in this thread from reading about the Glasgow you grew up in. Thanks for sharing this...

Thanks

 

[OkTotti]

so that's why they call it a 'Glasgow Smile'......

 

[Johnnythefox]

so that's why they call it a 'Glasgow Smile'......

Yes! I'd forgotten that one, seen a few of those on people.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glasgow_smile

 

[Johnnythefox]

As well as the Glasgow Smile we also have the Glasgow kiss, it's not what you might think! https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headbutt

 

[Johnnythefox]

On the 27th January 1915, one hundred years ago, over 10,000 workers, led by the Red Clydeside, went on strike in protest of the sub standard working conditions and pay that the munitions workers had to suffer.

This prompted parliament to pass the Munitions Act of 1915 which made it illegal for anyone to leave their job if they were working in aid of the war effort.

The protestors raised the red flag – Y Faner Goch! First used to represent the socialist and communist movement in Merthyr Tydfil (during the Merthyr Rising) June 1st 1831.



a year earlier the abusive treatment of workers started the fall of British rule in Ireland and around that time the Treorchy miners were assaulted by the military on orders from Churchill at Westminster.

 

[Misanthrope]

Such an interesting thread. Thanks for sharing this.

 

[Johnnythefox]

On the 27th January 1915, one hundred years ago, over 10,000 workers, led by the Red Clydeside, went on strike in protest of the sub standard working conditions and pay that the munitions workers had to suffer.

This prompted parliament to pass the Munitions Act of 1915 which made it illegal for anyone to leave their job if they were working in aid of the war effort.

The protestors raised the red flag – Y Faner Goch! First used to represent the socialist and communist movement in Merthyr Tydfil (during the Merthyr Rising) June 1st 1831.



a year earlier the abusive treatment of workers started the fall of British rule in Ireland and around that time the Treorchy miners were assaulted by the military on orders from Churchill at Westminster.

Of course it was Churchill who sent in the tanks/army to deal with the strikers, it was the English army as the Scots had been confined to barracks for fear of sympathising with the cause.

 

[Johnnythefox]

I tried posting the entire speech but it's too many characters, as relevant today as it was then.
https://speakola.com/political/jimmy-reid-glasgow-university-1972

 

[Johnnythefox]

James Reid was a Scottish trade union activist, orator, politician and journalist born in Govan, Glasgow. His role as spokesman and one of the leaders in the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders work-in between June 1971 and October 1972 attracted international recognition.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Reid

 

[Johnnythefox]

Sectarianism in Glasgow takes the form of religious and politicalsectarian rivalry between Roman Catholics and Protestants. It is reinforced by the fierce rivalry between Celtic F.C. and Rangers F.C., the two Old Firm football clubs whose support is traditionally predominantly Catholic and Protestant respectively.

When I was in my final year of high school I was given a two week placement in John Brown's shipyard.
It built many notable and world-famous ships including RMS Lusitania, HMS Hood, HMS Repulse, RMS Queen Mary, RMS Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Elizabeth 2nd At its height, from 1900 to the 1950s, it was one of the most highly regarded, and internationally famous, shipbuilding companies in the world.

I worked in the apprentice workshop with twenty of the apprentices, most of them were good guys from what I remember.
I was never into football or many other sports as a youngster, I dabbled in karate for a couple of years and got into skateboarding when it first came here. I was no skate wizard but enjoyed the scene. I'd buy the magazines and posters and have them up on the wall, we'd talk of the great American boarders like Tony Alva, Stacey peralta and others. We'd discuss how we'd go to California and skate the pipes, we were young and naive.
The shipyard was a big place employing a few thousand workers from all trades and professions. I wasn't sure if I'd like to work there, but at that time a job in the yards was considered a good move.
Anyway it must have been the second week of my placement that I discovered that out of the twenty apprentices only one was a Catholic. Boom!!! No point in me applying for a job here then.
As it says at the top sectarianism in Glasgow means supporting one team or the other based on your religious affiliation, doesn't matter if you don't go to church or the Chapel. Not everyone is bitter here but there is a minority who hate with a passion, I abhor it and have no time for it.
I like to call it "the eternal question" and it normally goes along the lines of "what team do you support?" me"I don't bother with football" them "what do you mean you've got to support someone" me "I'm not interested" them "are you a Tim or a Hun" me "I'm a human" them "what school did you go to then?" me - I walk away.
One time I replied "I support Buddha United" them "where do they play"
People have been killed here for wearing the wrong colour of football top, depending on what side you support can get you a very good friend or a very bad enemy.
Ironically my best friends when growing up all attended what was termed the Protestant school.
I abhor religion, it only creates division and breeds hate.

 

[Smilla]

I tried posting the entire speech but it's too many characters, as relevant today as it was then.
https://speakola.com/political/jimmy-reid-glasgow-university-1972

This is incredible.

 

[Johnnythefox]

This is incredible.

It is, I remember him well, he stayed round the corner from where I grew up. He led the workers against the government and got support from John Lennon.

 

[Johnnythefox]

Another Scot who upset the establishment and paid the price. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Maclean_(Scottish_socialist)

 

[Johnnythefox]

It's Burns night tomorrow night, the one night of the year when you can talk to your dinner and be applauded for it by a crowd of inebriated kilted maniacs.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burns_supper


I made my own ode to Burns a couple of years ago, I don't think it's one they would use at the Burns Supper.

A went tae the cludgie
Fur a shit,
But when a goat there
A couldnae sit,
The seat wis broken
Faun apart,
So a hud tae settle
Furra fart.

 

[Johnnythefox]

'To a Haggis'. by Robert Burns

Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face,
Great Chieftain o' the Puddin-race!
Aboon them a' ye tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye wordy of a grace
As lang 's my arm.

Translates...

Good luck to you and your honest, plump face,
Great chieftain of the sausage race!
Above them all you take your place,
Stomach, tripe, or intestines:
Well are you worthy of a grace
As long as my arm.

Happy Burns night Peeps!

 

[faex42]

Really great thread. I live in the USA I only learned about Glasgow through serendipity and wanted to learn more.

 

[Johnnythefox]

Really great thread. I live in the USA I only learned about Glasgow through serendipity and wanted to learn more.

Thanks

 

[Johnnythefox]

Glasgow in top 10 worst UK cities for killings.

https://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/17418143.glasgow-in-top-10-worst-uk-cities-for-killings/