Glasgow is a great city. Struck by the large number of Glaswegians who have contributed to this greatness but who have been forgotten, Michael Meighan set out to correct this by producing short biographies of a few of these great men, hugely famous in their time and now all but forgotten. This is Michael’s personal selection, featuring names that he grew up with or whom his parents and their generation talked about. Some, like Tom Honeyman, have been exceptional leaders. Tom’s quiet tenacity established a world-recognised art gallery through his quiet tenacity and persistence against bureaucratic barriers. Hugh Roberton founded the world-famous Orpheus Choir and Tommy Lipton founded an international tea company. And, of course, Matt McGinn and Lex McLean simply gave us a laugh.

This book also reflects the Glaswegians’ commitment to education. Time and time again Michael found that our great industrialists and inventors took advantage of new facilities such as Anderson’s Institution and the world’s first Mechanics Institute. Education was fostered and even in the poorer areas there were possibilities for those who wanted to pursue them. Through the stories of a few Glasgow heroes this book shows that it was Glasgow’s people who ‘Let Glasgow Flourish’.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michael Meighan is a Glaswegian writer with a commitment to recording Glasgow life, culture and humour. Originally a writer of business books he used his skills to record his memories of Glasgow Life in his popular ‘Glasgow Smells’ which takes his reader on a tram journey through his Glasgow of the 50s and 60’s. ‘Glasgow Smells Better’ continues this journey through the 70s, 80s and brings us up-to-date.

His most recent offering is ‘Glasgow with a Flourish’ which introduces the reader to Michael’s personal selection of some of those people who have made Glasgow what it is today and helped it flourish. These include Tommy Lipton, the tea magnate, ‘Paraffin’ Young the first oil tycoon, Will Fyffe; famous for writing and singing I belong to Glasgow, and RS McColl famous newsagent, but less famous now as a footballer as he was in 1900.

Michael is married and lives in Edinburgh.

235 x 156 mm | paperback | 128 pages | black and white illustrations throughout