When (and Why) Did You Move Away From Glasgow?, ...and where'd you go? Options

[brandster]

I left in 1969. My brother in laws mother died in Kilsyth and he had to go home for the funeral. My sister, who lived in Toronto was due to have a baby at any time. I was processed through immigration to go to South Africa, but my father told me my sister needed me....so I came to Canada. I arrived on January 7th resplendent in high boots, mini skirt and of course, the mini blue musquash fur coat ( the height of Glasgow fashion). I left the airport and saw the "SNOW". Knees freezing I arrived at my sisters place and discovered houses can be warm in every room...she had central heating?? What? no more scraping off ice inside the house....Excellent!! I also discovered "the Dating game"and a few other mind expanding t.v. shows. I am still here...Watching the discovery channnel sic! Funny how we grow.

[AmazingGrace]

Wow what a brilliant website. I was going to join the Glasgow Police Cadets in 1971 when my Dad came home from work in Paisley and told the family that we were moving to Nottingham as he had been offered a job in head office. So off we went and I stuck it out for just over a year but wasn't happy and one day I was watching Alan Whicker in Whicker's World following six Women's Royal Army recruits through their six week basic training at Guildford. Next Day I told my Granny who was visiting from Castlemilk with my Grampa that I was joining the Army. She didn't believe me until I told her that I had sworn my allegience to Queen and Country. Three weeks later off I went and this was the start of my life as an Expat. After my training I was posted to Royal School of Military Engineering in Kent and two days later I met this 6ft 2ins hunky soldier and I have never looked back. We have been married 30 years this July and we have travelled to Germany where our two girls were born. When we came out of the Army we travelled to Papua New Guinea where we lived for 5 years. Came back to Chester in UK while the girls went through high school and college years. Richard was offered a job in Saudi Arabia and a year later I followed him which would be 1997 where I worked as PA to the CEO of two military hospitals, he is one of the nicest Scousers I have ever met. In December 2000 I came out here to join Richard in Kuala Lumpur and we are still here and loving every minute of it. I am going back to Chester in June for the birth of our second grandchild due in July so although I left Glasgow quite some time ago, Shawlands to be precise in 1970, I love to go back but only to see how it has changed and sadly some of it is not for the best but the people are always so nice and friendly as always.

Look forward to hearing from anyone soon

Grace in KL

[yerbigpal]

Left in 1981 following work. There was none in Glasgow for me at that time. Came to Canada only to get laid off 19 weeks after. Not enough time working to get any broo money. Welcome to Canada. Being a Glaswegian I dug in and coming on for 23 years later I am still here. Love it here and don't think I could go back to Glasgow to live. I am lucky enough to get back often and since we do not have any relatives here at all it is a good thing. Born in Milton, lived in Maryhill ( Nansen St), Crossburn St off Garscube Rd., Arden (Thornliebank) and finally Cambuslang before leaving. Pupil at Arden Primary, Shawlands Academy, Langside College. Served my apprenticeship in Weir Pumps Cathcart. We are at the crossroads. We have been in Canada almost as long as we were in Scotland. Strange to think about it like that. Never thought that I would be anything but Scottish and here I am Canadian. Anyhoo, nice site nice people on it and I will visit often. Beers..... I mean Cheers Yerbigpal.

[anne]

Hi verybigpal, what year did you work at Weirs? My hubby served his apprenticeship there and also worked there for quite a few years, still know some guys there.


Anne Perth Aussieland

[sjmac]

Anne and yerbigpal, My cousin is a design engineer with weirs,and travels around the world for them.His name is Alec Fraser, and has worked with them for yonks. Also another guy Beatt, forget his first name, he is in engineering and a real character. Thought you might know them.

[Jan Williams]

Hi yerbigpal, (that sounds like my brother) as he'd every ones pal. Where in the Milton are you from? I worked in Maryhill, Bryant& Mays and stayed at the bus depot end of Maryhill, originally from Springburn & Auchinairn, but know a lot of people from Maryhill.

[ginny]

Hmm ok heres my story.I was all of 19 yrs and wanted to get away for a bit.Looked around for a *nanny*position in the USA but there was a stop on Work Permits at the time so i accepted a *mothers help* position here in Hamburg/Germany.Was with a German Family for 18 mnths, had met my other half and decided to stay here and get married.We met at evening language school.I miss Glasgow very much although i visit at least every 2 yrs for a couple of weeks.I would go back in a minute if hubby would.Maybe one of these days.Dont have any kids,maybe if id been lucky that way i would have settled more,but my heart yearns fer *Hame* Going over for 2 weeks on 3rd April to celebrate my wee sisters 40th B-Day will be good seeing the Family once again .

[Hazel]

I have just discovered this site. It has been really interesting reading all the messages in this discussion. I was brought up in Milngavie and now live in the Hyndland area of Glasgow. A lot of people I know have moved to England or abroad but I'm still here. I like (love?) Glasgow but recognise the downside. Lots of friends here.

[May]

I left Glasgow for Australia in 1970 with my husband, son of 16months and 4 months pregnant. I was 19 and wanted to know what my mother was upset about. I was a grown woman, wasn't I?!!!

We originally were coming for 2 years only. We were ten pound migrants. Here we are 34 years later. All of my family has joined us in Australia although my in-laws still live in the East End of Glasgow. I have 2 sons and 5 grandchildren. We have been home 4 times since 1970.

I came from the Gorbals then Castlemilk and sometimes still feel homesick. I often wonder where all my family would be if I hadn't come to Australia. I have a good life her. We have a nice home and I have a good career, but!! I still talk about home. I have a lot of Scottish friends and we all feel the same way. We might not be able to live in Glasgow any more, but we still don't feel 'at home' in Sydney. My husband and I would like to spend 12 months living in Glasgow so that we could get to know his family again. Letters and phone calls are not the same. Maybe in 2005.

Cheers May :

[pshelley]

I left Glasgow, Springburn in 1971 under less than ideal conditions. I left with the cloths on my back and nothing else. My mum and Dad had divorced in the early 60's and my sister, mum and I moved back to Scotland from the states. My Dad was on assignment in the US when they divorced, I was about 5 years old. Went from everything to nothing when I moved back there, large house in Colorado to the tenements in Springburn, what a shock but i made the best of it and loved that time there and call it "home". Whenever anyone asks me where I'm from I say proudly "Scotland"..........oh course everyone says "you don't have an accent" true but sad.
My dad was in Glasgow to see his "kids" and realized the problem my mother was having with alcohol and removed me from the situation rather quickly ( two days, I was in New York) What a culture shock !!!!
Small Glaswegian kid, from the slums and moved to a big house, big cars, central heat, air and food on the table everyday!!
I'm glad to give my kids the opportunity I never had and wouldn't trade it for the world but the thing I regret more than anything is that when I took my kids back to Springburn, they had ripped down the entire place. We toured the area and my kids got a better understanding and appreciation for what I went through, I guess our quest in life is to make it better for the next genreration??

[Marion Dougan]

Hi Paul, did you get me email?? I think I know your sister Lynn, we lived in Rochester many years ago. Bob ( my hubby) worked with Alan in Kodak, we used to party with them all the time. Let me know. We are coming to Rochester for the 4, July, would love to see them
Marion

[yerbigpal]

Hi everyone, I am sorry that it took me so long to get back to everyone who asked me questions but I don't get much chance to be on line at the minute. I also tried to send emails to everyone but I got kicked out by the BBS. I was in Weirs for eleven years ending 1979-80. I spent almost my entire time, man and boy in the maintenance dept and had no exposure to the "office wallers" at all. Sorry sjmac. As for my life in Milton, it ended when I was about 2 and it was spent in Scalpy Place in my grannies house. In Maryhill I lived in Nansen St and it is equally only a blur on the landscape. My memories basically start in Crossburn St off Garscube road. Went to Baird St school for about two years (no memory of it at all) before leaving the city for Arden. Stayed there until married then moved to Cambuslang via a short stay on Holmlea Rd. Phew, out of breath. I hope that I answered all the questions.
Beers
Alex Harper (yerbigpal)

[bertleggett]

left glasgow 1957 on the captain hobson for new zealand. worked at h.m teas. cadogan st. plaza dance hall ,as page boy, nights,muirheads ,in the sign writing dept, went to finnieston school,called up for the army 29 april,1957,on the ship 26 april was 18, on the 28 april arrived new zealand 7 weeks later after the ship broke down and we had to be towed over 600 miles to auckland nz.still remember the empire, and rock around the clock at the movies.anybody remember the endrick?

[Scotlass]

I left Glasgow in 1992 to have a wee adventure in the NY/NJ area. I had family who lived there and I felt that I was in need of a change of scenery for a while (at 19 that'll happen..... LOL).
After 3 years of travelling back and forth between the US and Scotland, I decided to make the States my home since things in Glasgow were getting rather dramatic in my life, haha!!
Shortly thereafter I met my now husband and - long story short - we are living in Colorado, married and have a beautiful son....

I miss the great local cuisine of Glasgow - you can't get a decent fish supper anywhere out here - and the potato chips (crisps) out here are boring, there's about a total of 5 flavors to choose from!!!

Thank God for the Internet where I can keep up with my favorite football team and listen to radio Clyde from time to time!!

[George Muir]

Hey Bert,
there must be a hex on ships named "Captain". I remember hearing that the Captain Cook also broke down while on her way to NZ in the 50s. What shipping line did the Hobson belong to?