People: Local Glasgow West End Characters.

Pat Byrne

The West End of Glasgow has the highest number of graduates among its population of any place in the UK (so they say). For sure, the area is dense with students and those who have studied in the area. The list of graduates from places such as Glasgow University, Glasgow School of Art, the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Art (the UK’s only Conservetoire) is long and impressive. More than a few have moved on to achieve great things and many of them choose to live in the area.

Apart from the scholars and literati the West End population has a hefty element of creative, talented and interesting individuals. Fashion experts inform us that Boho is back – but as far as the West End is concerned it has never been away. Poets, actors, artists, academics, photographers, writers, historians, designers, restaurateurs, entrepreneurs, comedians and people of wit, wisdom and style contribute to the unique atmosphere of the area.

I’m building up quite a collection of ‘local characters’ on these pages – and continuously compiling a never-ending list of those I hope to add.

Local Characters: Tom Cannavan: Leading Authority on Wine

Tom Cannavan wine expert

Tom Cannavan – formidable force in the world of wine and web-master of http://www.wine-pages.com A man of many talents and wide ranging experiences he’s enjoyed a circuitous route in arriving at his present position. A graduate from Glasgow School of Art Tom worked for a number of years as an Art Teacher before moving on […]

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Local West End Character: Phil Benson, Wood Carver

Phil Benson wood carver

Phil Benson is a very ‘well kent face’ around the West End. He can often be seen strolling purposefully along Great Western Road with his dog Zoltan by his side. When the weather is clement he can also be spotted working ferociously, high in a tree in Kelvingrove Park, where a wood sculpture of a […]

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Michael Dale, Director of Glasgow’s West End Festival

Michael Dale chats to Jim Byrne – Jim and Pat’s West End Chat Podcast (2018) (2021 – West End Festival now in 25th year) Michael Dale presents an urbane and elegant figure; easily spotted around the West End with his thick mane of silver hair and smart suits. He is often out and about, enjoying a […]

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Pat’s Guide to Local Characters in Glasgow’s West End

If you listen to the guide of the open-decked tour bus that traverses the City, they tell you that the West End of Glasgow has the highest number of graduates among its population of any place in the UK. You can’t move for bumping in to writers, artists, artists, scholars and artisans of all disciplines. […]

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Remembering Ronnie Clydesdale – West End Restaurateur

Ronnie Clydesdale

Ronnie Clydesdale – restaurateur Sadly Ronnie Clydesdale passed away in April, 2010 Feature by Roy Beers It’s just possible some readers may have heard of – may even have visited – a reasonably well-known West End restaurant called The Ubiquitous Chip? I went along to ‘The Chip’, in Ashton Lane, in the heart of Glasgow’s […]

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Malcolm Lochhead, Textile Artist and  Designer – Glasgow West End Characters

Malcolm Lochhead: textile artist and  designer. Emeritus Professor of Visual Design, Glasgow Caledonian University. I went along to meet Malcolm Lochhead in his amazing home in Glasgow’s West End; a tribute to his excellent taste, artistic flair and flamboyance.  We settled down in his lounge with some marvellous coffee and chatted about his work and […]

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Sasha-Kate Robb, Winner Scots Poetry Recital Championship, 2014. Hyndland School.

“Eh’ma pizza, a magic pizza, bein’ stuck in the freezer’s a scunner..!” – was all the parents of Sasha-Kate heard for weeks and weeks as she practiced for her “Scots Poetry” school competition celebrating Rabbie Burns’ Day at Hyndland Primary School in Glasgow’s West End. Sasha-Kate, who is in P4, picked the poem called “The […]

Read the full article: Sasha-Kate Robb, Winner Scots Poetry Recital Championship, 2014. Hyndland School.

Gerard Sampaio – Film Maker

Gerard Sampaio film maker

(R.I.P. Gerard. Gerard sadly passed away in November, 2022) I recently met up with Gerard Sampaio (2005) in Cafe Cherubini on Great Western Road to chat to him about his film ‘West End Story’ – much of which was set in Glasgow West End. For a man who has accomplished so much with so little […]

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What do professional astrologers actually DO? And should they charge fees?

Horoscope” ‘s Question: Is it true that REAL astrologers do not charge for their services as it is against the code to take profit out of a gift from God to help people? I read this and saw a medium on tele say it.  In these circles it is donations given based on good work.Is this true at all?  ( […]

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Astrology Workshops – exploring astrology beyond the Sun Signs

ASTROLOGY BEYOND THE SUN SIGNS ASTROLOGY WORKSHOPS  WITH ANNE WHITAKER     Popular astrology as found in the media can only give a very general picture of one dimension of the person via the Sun or Star sign. The workshops explain what astrology actually is, its many uses, what a horoscope is – and hopefully answer […]

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Glasgow kids raising funds for cancer research

  Tabitha Gardner, age 9 (left) and Eva Glennie age 10 (right).   After Tabitha’s mother’s friend was affected by cancer Tabitha decided to have a bake sale outside her front door to raise funds for cancer research.  She, along with her friend Eva, spend one Sunday outside selling their home made cakes and made […]

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Tuesday, August 27, 2013 | Filed under: People: Local Glasgow West End Characters

An extract from Terry Welsh’s book Reflections: Lambhill, Possil and Elsewhere

Terry, who passed away in 2006, aged 74, was a very well-known face in Glasgow West End. He attended circuit training and football in the Western Baths into his seventies! In fact, in his memory the Baths now have a football tournament every year.  The year before he died Terry self-published a book called ‘Reflections: […]

Read the full article: An extract from Terry Welsh’s book Reflections: Lambhill, Possil and Elsewhere

Thursday, August 15, 2013 | Filed under: People: Local Glasgow West End Characters

Zodiac sign Virgo: its name and meanings

 from  ThatHairlessBaby  Why is the sign of  Virgo called the virgin?     MY ANSWER: This question raises the interesting issue of how the usage and meaning of words changes from one historical period/cultural phase to another. Within our current culture the word virgin when applied to humans generally means sexually intact. However, in ancient times when matriarchal religions […]

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More on “astrological twins”: Linda’s Question

Linda’s Question:   Submitted on 2013/06/27 at 5:43 pm   I’ve always found twins fascinating. What’s even more fascinating is the kind of relationship that develops between people who aren’t blood relatives of any sort, yet seem to be “cut from the same cloth”. We talk about being “simpatico” – has anyone ever done any studies […]

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Monday, July 1, 2013 | Filed under: Astrology Blog by Anne Whitaker

Can two people have the same horoscope? What about Twins?

  Helene’s question: By email: 16.6.13   How does it work when you do a birth chart for twins? Or two babies born the same minute at the same hospital?  Can two people have the same horoscope!?   My Answer: During nearly twenty years of teaching astrology classes, I found that the above questions came up very frequently……. To read the rest […]

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Monday, June 24, 2013 | Filed under: Astrology Blog by Anne Whitaker

Just WHAT were the planets up to this Spring?!!

Caroline’s Question: Since you did my birth chart last year…… I have become much clearer about who I am. ….  I am curious to know what might have been happening in the heavens from the last week in February to the last week in March 2013. During that time I had a series of … […]

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Just how stubborn is Taurus? Astrology Questions and Answers 2

This new blog is very much about interaction with those of you out there with an open-minded interest in astrology. So  – do keep dropping by, whether as a regular follower or a new visitor, and leave me questions to tackle. I shall do my best to answer them! QUESTION FROM “ANNE” : I was […]

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Astrology – Questions and Answers

Astrologers are always being asked questions. By open-minded members of the public. By closed-minded-members of the public. By one’s friends and family. By clients. By students. By interviewers for various media outlets. I thought it might be interesting, and fun, to begin this new blog by running a series of question and answer sessions.  You […]

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Glasgow Writers: Dave Anderson

Dave Anderson

Opening Time by Dave Anderson – A Play, A Pie and A Pint, OranMor 1 November – 6 November, 2021. When I first wrote about Dave Anderson on my website, back in the early 2000’s, I pointed to his many accomplishments including, ‘singer, storyteller, musician, songwriter, musical director’ and, of course, accomplished actor. Apart from […]

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Thursday, March 21, 2013 | Filed under: People: Local Glasgow West End Characters, writers, Writing

Glasgow Writers: Maggie Graham

maggie graham

I first met Maggie Graham back in 2000 when she had just returned from a month’s writing in Grez-sur-Loing.  This trip was part of her prize for winning the Robert Louis Stevenson award for her first novel Sitting Among the Eskimos. The book was also shortlisted for the Saltire Prize.  More success was to follow […]

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Tuesday, March 19, 2013 | Filed under: People: Local Glasgow West End Characters, writers, Writing

Glasgow Writers: David MacLennan

david maclennan

(Sadly David MacLennan died on 13th June, 2014. Neither he nor his remarkable achievements will be forgotten. David MacLennan Obituary, The Guardian ) David McLennan Award 2022 – A Play, A Pie and A Pint David MacLennan, Portrait Unveiling, OranMor, 21 February, 2016 One of the traits I admire in writers is a tendency to […]

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Monday, March 18, 2013 | Filed under: People: Local Glasgow West End Characters, writers, Writing

Tom Cannavan wine expert

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