Hi all you x Possil Vicky and Milton Star members does any body have any photos of the Possil Vicky or the Milton Star i have three of the Milton Star but i don't have any of the Possil Vicky i also have an old photo of my first band the Saracen Flute Band in the 50s or 60s iwas in the Sarrie i think in 1958 my friends in the Sarrie were Jimmy McComb,Tommy Dickson (side drum} Geordie Dickson (bass drum) Francie Dickson (bass flute) Bud MacIntyre i thinkhe played the flute . Iwould be very grateful if you could send me on any photos of these bands

Thank you
Johnnyhendrickson.

Hi Johnnyhendrickson, Sorry l don't have any pictures of the bands you mentioned, l played in the William Dawson Acc.Band from 1960 through the early 70s. I also played with the Sarrie for almost a year, [ snare drum ] The names l remember from the Sarry at that time [1968/69 ] were John McCarthy, Wille Cunningham, Archie Hayes, Charlie, Norrie,those 2 moved to Canada. Auld Vic,was the teacher. Gavin Allen was the bass drummer. I have als recently been in touch with another person who played in the Dawson who is also on this site, Amackinnon, l am sure he will read this later he sent me a picture of the Dawson from about 1963, l think he has some more, l am hoping to meet up with him this July in Toronto, be the first time in 45 years, The picture of the accordion band you posted l believe is the Caledonian, my sister played in that band in the 60s, don't recognise the flute band.
Cheers
Foxy52

That photo of a flute band is the Willie Wilson flute band there was a big polis man in the band i think his nme was Gavin Wylkie we just called him big Gavin that was another great we Glesga band.

Would that big polis's name have been Gavin McLeod? He played in the Saracen too, He would be dressed in his police uniform walking alongside the band until it was out of sight of Maitland St. Off would come the tunic and hat, these were given to someone walking alongside the band and the flute would come out of the back pocket, I knew big Gavin well, he was never away from our house, he would always be needing my help in his inquiries............lol

If we are to believe this story, the Glasgow polis must have had a discipline problem as serious as that of the bands, which you claim, did not gie it laldy outside Catholic churches.

Are you insinuating that l am lying? As for the bands giving it laldy outside the pineapple, that was explained to you why it didn't happen in Scotland. Because of the risk of the band losing their marching permit. I told you this and also Jupiter told you and he was a cop in the district l was talking about.

Incidently, l don't lie, OK?

I am not accusing you of lying, any more than you would accuse me of the same, when I vividly recall the behaviour of the bands and the marchers in Shettleston in the 50s.

Perhaps I have a faulty memory but I can remember one band in 1968 going out of their normal route home so that they could stand outside St Cuthberts in Ruchazie giving it laldy.

I can also remember the same band a couple of years later after they had been instructed by the police to stick to their approved route again going out of their way to march past the same chapel, the only reason they were stopped is because the parish priests came out and linked arms in the street and only then did the police who were with them tell them to turn around.

Well, Dave, seemingly it was not allowed, ergo it did not happen !

I don't believe you will find anyone disagree with you that the bands did indeed walk slowly or even stop outside any chapel that they may have been passing, I think that can be accepted as a fact. The time frame that Foxy & others are referring to is the the mid 60's & beyond.

I was a member of the William Dawson band ( as was Foxy) & as we were usually with the Springburn lodge(s) we usually passed by the big chapel on Saracen St ( can't remember the name of it! but it was away back from the road at the top of the hill!) and I clearly remember "giving it laldy" going passed it in the early 60's when I first joined as a boy.
But, I just as clearly remember being warned in no uncertain terms by both the police & the Orange Lodge Marshals in the mid 60's that we were not to play going passed it, the only thing that was allowed was the Base drummer &/or the lead snare drummer to sound out the "step". ( and yes! they did so with some "Vigor")
If we failed to obey this directive we (the band) would have been denied a permit to parade & banned from marching the following year.
So, did it still happen on an occasion? Yes! no doubt, but rest assured there would have been severe consequences for that band. One last comment, it should be remembered that not all band members were members of the Orange Order, then or even now, in fact I would hazard a guess that the majority are NOT members.

Thank you for your reasoned post. I think I have always stated that I was referring to the 50s, as I have no later experiences of watching a walk. I think (and sincerely hope) that the tale of a Glasgow cop , shedding his uniform and whipping out his flute from a back pocket (obviously specially designed for the purpose), is a bit fanciful, whatever the era.

Well, you have to admit that the back pocket where they used to keep their baton would be ideal for a flute!

archie the name of the church was st theresas in sararcen st you and foxy wernt the ones who painted the statue orange in 1960

I have no knowledge of that incident I was simply wearing gloves due to the sudden cold spell.

I seem to remember that cold snap, that maybe account for the statue having a Rangers tammy on its head and a fish supper in its hand