Welcome to episode 106 of Jim & Pat’s Glasgow West End Chat In this episode Pat chats with historian Florence Boyle 

Florence is particularly interesting because she was born and brought up in Pat’s home village, Old Kilpatrick, West Dunbartonshire. 

It was during the Covid lockdown that Florence took the opportunity to start researching and writing about topics she has long been interested in - and those are the stories about the amazing, ordinary people who lived in her part of the world.

Links

• Pat's Guide To Glasgow West End

• Undeservedly Forgotten – West Dunbartonshire Women by Florence Boyle

Music by Jim Byrne

Episode 105 of Jim & Pat’s Glasgow West End Chat – Pat chatting to author Liam McIlvanney 

In this episode Pat chats to award winning author Liam McIlvanney about his latest novel, the psychological thriller, The Good Father. Which is by all accounts a gripping read. 

Liam is the Stuart Professor of Scottish Studies and Director of the Centre for Irish and Scottish Studies at University of Otago in New Zealand. 

He has previously won The McIlvanney Prize at Bloody Scotland, an award named  in honour of his father William McIlvanney – creator of Tartan Noir. 

The Good Father has been selected for the Long List for 2025. 

Links

• Pat's Guide To Glasgow West End
• Contact Liam McIlvanney: [email protected]

Music by Jim Byrne

Welcome to episode 104 of Jim & Pat’s Glasgow West End Chat

Author Deedee Cuddihy chats with Pat Byrne – Scottish Funny Books

In this episode Pat chats with the Deedee Cuddihy - author of a series of very popular and Funny Scottish Books. You will get a sense of Deedee's unique oeuvre from some of her book titles. Here we go: 

• I Love The West End of Glasgow
• I Love Scones
• The Wee Guide to Spooky Stuff
• Scottish Wedding Disasters
• Would Jesus Wear a Kilt
• How to Murder a Haggis
• The Wee Guide to Porridge
• I Love Irn Broo

There are many more and they are all great!

About Deedee Cuddihy

Deedee was born and brought up in New York but has lived in Glasgow since the 60s. 

After graduating from Glasgow School of Art, instead of persuing a career as an artist - which she said was too difficult  - she opted for journalism. Deedee started work with The West End News and Patrick Advertiser – before finding her real calling, writing about funny Scottish quirks.  

You can buy Deedee Cuddihy's books directly from her website at www.funnyscottishbooks.co.uk  I’m sure you will love them.

Links

• Pat's Guide To Glasgow West End
• Buy Deedee Cuddihy's books directly from her website.

Music by Jim Byrne

Jim & Pat’s Glasgow West End Chat - Episode 103

Today I am chatting with Tim Rideout and Ian Stewart of the Scottish Currency Group. And, if you’re thinking, ‘Currency? Well, that doesn’t sound very interesting’, then stay tuned because Tim and Ian will have you convinced otherwise.

In fact after this podcast you’ll be telling your pals that currency is the most important subject to learn about if they want to live in a successful Scotland. And that would be true.

Tim and Ian chat about all things related to the upcoming Scottish Currency Group Conference. The conference will take place on the 21st of September, 2024, at the Carnegie Conference Centre in Dunfermline.

If I were to reduce the aim of the conference to a single phrase, that phrase would be: ‘why an independent Scotland has to have its own currency.’ That's not their description, that's one I made up  - because that's the impression I got from reading the conference program. 

I hope you enjoy my conversation with Tim Rideout and Ian Stewart of the Scottish Currency Group.

Links

• Tim Rideout on Twitter
• Ian Stewart - Bylines Scotland
• Tim Rideout videos
• Ian Stewart on Facebook
• Pat's Guide to Glasgow West End

Podcast music by Jim Byrne

Welcome to Jim & Pat’s Glasgow West End Chat - Episode 102. 

Today, Pat chats with Billy Kay – writer, broadcaster, multi-award-winning producer and promoter of the Scots language.

Billy has a new book called 'Born in Kyle: A Love Letter to an Ayrshire Childhood.' I recommend it wholeheartedly; we attended a recent event at Glasgow University where he read from it and regaled us with many hilarious tales from his childhood.

Check out Billy's website for his full biography, more great books, and details about upcoming events.

Links

• Pat's Guide To Glasgow West End
• Billy Kay

Music by Jim Byrne

 

Jim & Pat’s Glasgow West End Chat - Episode 101 Dr Elisa Segnini and Rodrigo Hernandez Gomez chat to Pat about the exhibition ‘Masks We Wear’

Today Pat chats to Dr Elisa Segnini from the University of Glasgow and Rodrigo Hernandez Gomez from Hyndland Secondary School’s, Art Department. Elisa and Rodrigo talk about their exhibition ‘Masks We Wear’ - currently on at at University of Glasgow, Advanced Research Centre - until the 6th of April 2024. 

That’s where we came across the exhibition and it was so good that we just had to meet them - tell the world about their work and the work of the talented pupils. The masks were created by S3 and S5 pupils at the school.  You can catch the exhibition until 6th April, 2024 at University of Glasgow, Advanced Research Centre. The couple came along with their lovely sons Icaro (7yrs) and Cosimo (4yrs) - they watched a cartoon - if you hear a noise in the background - that's them playing together in the next room.

Links

• Pat's Guide To Glasgow West End
• Read the feature on 'Masks We Wear'
• Advanced Research Centre at Glasgow University

Music by Jim Byrne

Lesley Riddoch chats with Jim about her new film, Denmark - the State of Happiness Jim & Pat's Glasgow West End Chat - Episode 100

Welcome to Jim & Pat’s Glasgow West End Chat. Remarkably, this is episode 100. Hurrah! Well done to us. :-) 

This is the second half of my chat with the esteemed broadcaster, podcaster, journalist and filmmaker Lesley Riddoch. In part one, we learned about Lesley’s formative years and we learned about the background to the making of her latest film, Denmark - the State of Happiness. In this second part of our chat, Lesley talks about the film itself and explains exactly why you must go and see it. And I agree. 

It's a fabulous film. If you get a chance to see it, grab a ticket and go along. You’ll enjoy it. 

Links

• Pat's Guide To Glasgow West End
• Pat on Twitter
• Lesley Riddoch

Music by Jim Byrne

Lesley Riddoch talks to Jim Byrne about, ‘Denmark - the State of Happiness’.  And more. Part 1 of 2 Episode 99 of Jim & Pat's Glasgow West End Chat

Lesley Riddoch is a tour de force. She is a political activist, pioneering publisher, writer, podcaster, independence and land-reform campaigner and, last but not least, a role model for women in Scotland and far beyond. 

It was great to chat with Lesley about her student days at Oxford, her work in both the mainstream and independent media, the current state of Scottish politics and. of course, about the making of her latest film, 'Denmark - the State of Happiness'. It’s a brilliant, inspirational film that I recommend you seek out. 

I guarantee you will enjoy this chat. Lesley is forthright, a natural storyteller and always speaks directly from her heart. Not only will you enjoy the podcast, it will be an education.

Links

• Pat's Guide To Glasgow West End
• Pat on Twitter
• Lesley Riddoch

Music by Jim Byrne

Writer and writing tutor Dave Manderson Chats to Pat

Welcome to episode 98 of Jim and Pat’s Glasgow West End Chat. Today Pat will be chatting to writer and former creative writing tutor Dave Manderson. 

Dave works with literary organisations such as Scottish PEN, he organises and runs literary events and has presented illustrated talks on a range of different topics - including topics as diverse as serial killers and Scottish identity. 

He writes both fiction and non-fiction. He recently curated a series of films written by Alan Sharp called, ‘From Greenock to Hollywood’, and he has written a book about the same Scottish filmmaker called,’The Anti-hero’s Journey’. 

At the moment Dave is working on a book of short stories and a new novel.

 

Links

• Pat's Guide To Glasgow West End
• Pat on Twitter
• Dave Manderson
• Dave Manderson on Twitter

Music by Jim Byrne

Donella Campbell chatting to Pat about her book, The Girl Who Invented Dusty Springfield Jim & Pat’s Glasgow West End Chat - Episode 97

We have another great guest. Pat will be chatting with Glasgow West End’s own, Donella Campbell. Donella is the writer of the book, ‘The Girl Who Invented Dusty Springfield’. 

Dusty Springfield, certainly one of my favourite singers of all time.

This is a meticulously researched book, which covers the singer’s early life, as Donella seeks to find the person behind the trademark mascara and blond beehive.  

It is the story of her transformation into one of the 1960's most iconic and best singers.

Links

• Pat's Guide To Glasgow West End
• Pat on Twitter
• Donella Campbell - Who invented Dusty Springfield

Music by Jim Byrne

 

Episode 96 - Jim & Pat's Glasgow West End Chat Pat chats with Jeane Freeman OBE

We are thrilled to have Jeane Freeman OBE, former politician and SNP member, as our guest on the Podcast. Jeane is truly one of the good people in this world. You will know her best from the daily Covid briefings - at the height of the pandemic - as she put her heart and soul into trying to keep us all safe.

Jeane's political journey began in 2016 when she secured the constituency seat of Carrick, Cumnock, and Doon Valley, becoming an MSP. By 2018, she had earned her place in the Scottish Cabinet.

Hailing from South Ayrshire, Jeane was raised in a working-class family that supported trade unions and the Labour party. Her passion for helping others was evident early on when, in 1979, she became the first woman to chair the National Union of Students in Scotland. Even before her role as an MSP, Jeane had already accumulated a wealth of experience as a dedicated political activist.

I hope you enjoy Pat's chat with Jeane Freeman.

Links

• Jeane Freeman at Glasgow University
• Jeane Freeman at the Scottish Parliament
• Pat's Guide to Glasgow West End.
• @glasgowswestend

Music by Jim Byrne

Photo by: By Scottish Government - Social Security Scotland recruitment, CC BY 2.0