Once Upon a Time in Glasgow
The City from the Earliest Times
by John Watson
ISBN 1903238609
John Watson was a next door neighbour to me and lives in Shawlands. He was a postman until he retired but also an authority on Glasgow and its history. After finishing his early morning work most weekdays he could be found at the Mitchell Library doing research. He was a freelance writer and in addition to historical articles also wrote fiction and some plays.
In the 1970's he wrote a series of articles for the Evening Times on the history of the city from its earliest beginnings presented in episodic format. This was published as a book in 2003.
The book has chapters on personalities such as Hawkie who was one of the city’s most famous street hawkers and without whom no public hanging would have been complete; Jamie Blue, who took the law into his own hands to defend the rights of Glasgow’s citizens and Blind Alick, who saw everything!
As well as personalities, there are places and events, disasters and fairs, body snatchers and religion, trams and pubs, royalty and ships and markets and murders.
I thoroughly recommend it.
Regards
Ian