A tentative list of some well-known (and less well-known) local folk.
Giovanni ( known as Tony) Tarditi
He studied electrical , and radio communications at Stow College in Glasgow just after WW2. He went on from there and built his first radiogram ( wireless combined record player) in 1950, and his first black and white pictured television set in 1952. I am 99% sure our household was the first in Airdrie to have a b/w television set. At that time television was only broadcasted through one channel,BBC, and even then it was only limited to broadcasting the news channel. Never the less, neighbours would queue up our garden path at 23 Whitehill Avenue in Thrashbush waiting their turn to come in for a few minutes to view the news. Neighbours,family and friends around Airdrie and out lying villages depended on my father to repair their wireless sets, and later in time, also their television sets. He gained notability and respect for his expertise and ability. [Thanks for details sent by his daughter]
Arthur J. Higgins was born on March 6, 1956 in Airdrie, Scotland. He studied at Scotland’s Strathclyde University from 1974 to 1978, where he gained a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in biochemistry. He is Chairman of the Executive Board of Schering AG and Chairman of the Board of Management of the future Bayer Schering Pharma AG, respectively. Arthur J. Higgins has been Chairman of the Bayer HealthCare Executive Committee since July 1, 2004 and, since January 1, 2006, Chairman of the Board of Management of Bayer HealthCare AG.
David Hamill is Chairman and Chief Executive of ICI Paints. Born in Airdrie in 1957, he graduated from Strathclyde University with an honours degree in production engineering and management. After working for Honeywell and general Instruments, he joined Philips Semiconductors as product manager in 1986. Two years later he was appointed plant director of Philips Hazel Grove, UK.
John Goldie is originally from Coatbridge but after a lot of hard work finally made it to the dizzy heights of Airdrie where John has lived for the last 15 years. He started playing clubs locally when he was around 15/16 yrs old, progressing eventually to session work and concert hall tours with various US acts. Played jazz for about 5 years and is part of the award winning group Spirit of D’jango – well known at the time for the Renault Clio advert on TV. John now works all over the world as a solo artist mainly playing guitar festivals – his last cd was launched in Nashville at the Chet Atkins festival and he is busy all year round touring. John is planning to do some gigs locally next year and currently looking into the local scene – something he hasn’t done before. Mp3 clips are downloadable from the website. Check it out..
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September 20th, 2005 at 6:26 pm
Hello There
I enjoyed going through your website very much indeed. I remember a few of the folk mentioned. If you are interested I would like to give you some information on another famous Airdrie musician who made it big in the music industry. Hugh Burns hails from Burnfoot and has played with such big names as George Michael, Wham, Gerry Rafferty, (the guitar lead break on Baker Street was Hugh),McCartney & Michael Jackson, Dina Carrol, Joan Armatrading, Randy Crawford and Mike Oldfield to name but a few. He has also played on numerous sound tracks for films. If you would like to visit his website you will find all the info you need.
Cheers
Tony
September 22nd, 2005 at 11:09 pm
Thanks Tony for your comments. Wish I could remember who he was as I was brought up in that area. I will add his details to the list and any more well known locals you can think of – just let me know.
September 24th, 2005 at 7:51 pm
Hello Again
You said that you were brought up in the same area as Hugh Burns. Well if it helps you any Hugh lived in Ballochney Street just on the junction with Laggan Road. If you check his website there are some photos that may jog your memory. I also came from Burnfoot, Katrine Crescent, but got married and had to move to Greengairs for my sins.
Cheers
Tony
October 5th, 2005 at 12:06 am
hi tony remember me stephen rielly 24 katrine crescent wee harry roy was my grannys uncle and i also remember hugh burns good to hear from u how r john and irene by the way i am visiting my young bro in oxford looking forward to ur reply cheers stevie
October 15th, 2005 at 4:01 pm
seeing names like big duncy donaldson and pinty queen what about the thrashbush alkies like wee terry 2 locks and john elkin a fantastic and harmless pair always on the mill road in my childhood days at chapelside. a sight i miss whenever i am home
October 21st, 2005 at 7:43 pm
hi there that terry 2 locks was ma cousin am fae the bush. elkin john.is still there. thanks
October 26th, 2005 at 7:58 pm
charlie quinn are you fae roughcraig street?
October 29th, 2005 at 6:37 pm
remember me chick im fay the bush whitehill ave i was very fond of you and you will now me by name . i would chase you all over the place fur shouting at me aggie
October 30th, 2005 at 8:04 pm
am looking for a guy i used to go with he stayed in thrashbush his name was kid stewart a fine looking laddie he was my first love and my last no other person looked at me the way he did and he used to go bike ridding with me he had a sister name of kate i think but not sure if you know this person drop me a line many thaks chick inew your face to
October 30th, 2005 at 9:05 pm
aggie everybody remembers you love
October 31st, 2005 at 10:23 pm
I NEW KID STEWART
October 31st, 2005 at 10:26 pm
i knew agnes very well and also that wee weed kid stewart many a home he robbed and bleed his sister dry he has a big daft laddie age 26 and thinks hes 2
November 1st, 2005 at 10:22 pm
must be the wrong kidd stewart the one i know fae whitehill avenue at the top in the square, it cant be the one you are slabbering about, kidd is about 40 odds now always down the workmens club and doesnt even drink i have known him for years and he is a good lad
November 1st, 2005 at 10:29 pm
ye but we all no you mcgill
November 4th, 2005 at 12:20 am
Please note: Just a reminder – if you wish to leave messages for other visitors, please use the Message Board. If you wish to comment on this section then please keep messages related to the topic. Thanks.
November 7th, 2005 at 5:37 pm
i remember tony brennnan he said he could play the guitar and i remember stevie rielly to i used to come from whinaw but moved to plains
wullie mcd
December 17th, 2005 at 9:34 pm
i would like to wish my fellow airdrie people a merry xmas and all the best for the coming year
February 11th, 2006 at 8:42 pm
i went to the boxing way kid stewart .his uncle wullie taught us he was a gem of a guy.so is kid.
April 22nd, 2006 at 11:25 am
Hey, looking through the webiste was great…i didn’t know we have had a few famous people in/from Airdrie,lol. Hopefully I’ll be famous…got another 4 years to go, but I’ll manage it. lol
October 1st, 2006 at 5:38 pm
i was shoked to find out that my dad isnt in this. his name is wullie booth and was the scottish light weight champion and was born and brought up in airdrie. i am also an airdrieonian. please look into this.
October 1st, 2006 at 8:25 pm
Thanks for pointing this out Zoe. I have searched for information on your Dad and will add what I have found to the Famous Airdrie Folk section. It would be great to get a photo to add to this also.
October 13th, 2006 at 9:11 pm
I know of wullie booth. he was a good boxer. Used to live beside his nephew mark. you should post some of his fight posters
October 15th, 2006 at 5:50 pm
Reading about all the people i forgot about has brung back a lot of memories .Keep up the good work
October 20th, 2006 at 8:33 am
Someone told me that Jim Traynor (the daily record and stv football journalist/pundit) is from or living in Airdrie (Cairnhill).
November 29th, 2006 at 9:27 pm
I’m related to Dunkie Donaldson [:
January 1st, 2007 at 2:38 am
Haven’t been on the site for a long time. Enjoyed reading the Airdrie celebrities. Noticed Alan Esson entry Octo 20th. regarding Jim Traynor. Jim certainly did hail from Airdrie. I grew up playing with him and his family on Park Street. (Helen Fleming then)_Glad to hear you reached celebrity status Jim! Although your Mum will always hold celebrity status in my memories. I hold many of them from those days. Actually, I do believe that you and I promised to marry when we grew up. We would have been about 8 or 9 I think!! Best wishes to all for a healthy and happy 2007.
January 28th, 2007 at 12:02 am
Hello everyone
Please believe when i say that this is no joke.
Nancy Peppers is my aunt and im trying my hardest to contact her , i havent seen her in about 15 years due to family stuff if anyone can help please contact this site. Anyone Doubting this can feel free to ask questions.The thing is she has never met my kids and i know she would love too i just cant cotact her
February 1st, 2007 at 9:00 am
Hello Damian,
how nice to hear that you are looking for me, I don’t know if this site will give you my e-mail address…if they won’t let you have it ….then your dad or your sister will give it to you….take care
love nancy
February 2nd, 2007 at 8:05 pm
hi damian, I passed your message to Nancy – I’m glad she got it and you are now in touch. You have my e-mail address – would like to keep in touch. After you are my family
Regards Uncle David
February 9th, 2007 at 7:07 am
I CANT BELIEVE THAT IVE FINALLY GOT IN TOUCH,, listen i dont have any of your email addresses and i havent seen my Da in abt two years , i did see Brian at xmas we swapt numbers but as per nothing came of it . Damianlindsay@msn.com … I realy hope that people arent takin the mick here coz this means a lot to me. If that is you uncle David ,cheers for getting back to this message and i would love to speak to you and yours soon..
April 14th, 2007 at 11:47 am
Nice to see something about a Craigneuk man on here – Wee Wullie Booth – i remember him well, knew his sister Angie.
April 17th, 2007 at 8:04 pm
baHEid YES ME2 i knew angie, wots ur name plz?…..mines is fagan
September 12th, 2007 at 2:54 pm
hi i am clair donaldson
duncie donaldson was ma dads uncle he died when i was just a baby but the family still take about him.
September 30th, 2007 at 10:31 pm
Duncie Donaldson was the caretaker at Dunrobin Primary School for some of the time I was there (I left in 1984). We all knew there was a history there but we all thought he was the business. At the school fetes he used to do a strongman act where he would pick up loads of pupils sitting on either side of an old PE wooden bench. It was the highlight of the year! Fond memories. I’ve been living down in Stockport for nearly 10 years now but my parents are still in Airdrie so I visit regularly with my husband and son. I was really missing home tonight so was delighted to find this site and reminisce.
January 15th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Wee Harry Roy lived in the High Street, near the “Devil’s Elbow”. Directly opposite lay the well known Lamarra’s Fish & Chips and Cafe for whom Harry would collect fresh fish daily from Airdrie Station (hence the long climb up South Bridge St ). Elsewhere (Clark St) was another Cafe owned by Joe Izzi (famous for his hot peas). As lads we used to sing the following ditty.
To the tune of Molly Malone – or possibly The Ash Grove:
“He wheels his wheel barra for Jose Lamarra
Who Is he? Joe Izzi? Naw, Wee Harry Roy”.
Further to your tale of the “hill and the brae”, half way up South Bridge St stood the impressive Clydesdale (?) Bank. which was Harry’s rest point where he sat on his barrow. He used to claim he was retiring soon because he had a lot of money at his back!
TC 15 Jan 08
April 23rd, 2008 at 3:05 pm
I remember Big Dunky as well, he was a nice man, I stayed in Mull petersburn. What about Steven Lyndsay of the group. “The Big Dish”
As for Brian McLaire He did stay in Craigneuk, his late dad(a nice man) worked in Inverhouse distillers.
Does anyone remember John Patersons pub in the main st/ Where WH Smiths is now?
May 27th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
IF ANYONE REMEMBERS IRENE/KATHERINE BRENNAN WILL YOU PLEASE CONTACT HER BROTHER JON ON 07765334471 or 01706 631451. Please let me and my other family know your memories of her. I need to build a picture which will elevate Darryn and Johnathan to heights they both can, achieve, climb, and successfully scale. These two boys are the most magnificent children to emanate from the name of Brennan….
July 3rd, 2008 at 3:52 am
Jon… Any relation to Joe Brennan? Joe lived in Burnfoot at one point, then emigrated to Canada in 1969. Jim.
July 3rd, 2008 at 4:00 am
Re: Ian Bannen…. Every time Ian Bannen would appear in a movie on the TV my Dad, who passed away a few years ago, would remind us of Ian’s visits to their house when they were boys. Now every time he’s on TV my wife and I race to say it. He’s part of our family memory and will be forever. And makes us mention Dad. Which is perfect.
October 24th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Can anybody tell me what was the Devil’s Elbow on the high street and what was Finnies Lane? Also, is there any folklore stories about Airdrie or old wives’ tales about the place?
Thanks very much.
November 19th, 2008 at 10:47 am
I’m sure youve had many repliesabout THE DEVILS ELBOW being the sharp bend between High St and Chapel St The archives in the library has pictures of this and the archivist is great. Don’t know the lane name but info required is available in the library.
December 16th, 2008 at 8:16 am
I was born in Roughcraig street, thrashbush in 1957 and went to Chapelside primary, I moved to Petersburn when I was 14 after spending a few years at Airdrie Academy, I lived nest door to the Grants does anyone know them? I move to Australia in 1976 where I have lived ever since.
January 17th, 2009 at 5:23 am
steven lyndsay is my cousin we both lived in burnfoot my family emigrated to the states in 66
January 17th, 2009 at 5:27 am
proud to be a scot
January 25th, 2009 at 10:15 pm
Anybody remember my father,Danny (Daniel) Mullen?He was well known in The Gartlea area,and in the town centre.He was a newspaper vendor and would stand at airdrie cross in all weathers
February 21st, 2009 at 12:30 pm
My mother, Molly (Mary) Lucas lived in Airdrie from 1927-1946. She attended Glasgow University. She married my father, Martin McAdam, after WW II and immigrated to the US (Louisville, Kentucky). She passed away on Feb 28, 1976 at the age of 49. I am looking for anyone that remembers my Mom and would like to share their memories of her and her life as a child and young adult in Airdrie. She left six children to cherish her memory and pass on to her 13 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. Please share your memories with her family.
May 28th, 2009 at 4:41 am
I do remember your dad. Right ourside Woolworths to the right. A wonderful old man he was. I think he had a helper at one time, some other old fellow. Every Thursday we we see him, buy our paper as the Inverhouse bus rolled in for all to see their brown paper packets full of money, off to the fine fare for their messages and yellow labeled groceries.Great Memory
August 7th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
I remember a lot of these people. I remember Duncy Donaldson staying in Frew street at one time when I was young. Always had some cool gift for me when I was at my Gran’s house. Remember Stephen Lindsay playing at the Academy with his band one time. I remember Wullie Booth well. Great guy, I got to know him through the Clarkston Fishing Club with my dad. And it’s good to see Helen Page’s name on here, She’s someone I’ve heard of all my life bacause of her Mum and Dad. Those are the real famous people. The one’s your parents told you stories about as you were growing up.
Good to hear from Home :)
August 15th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
hi there i went 2 st margarets from 19 63 till 19 66 class d3 like to hear from any onewho went atthat time old school great timeswe all had married ellen mullen ty
October 9th, 2009 at 1:29 am
Hi everyone. I am trying to find out any info on Thrashbush House.
I spent 18 months there when I was a baby from 1945-47. I drove down to where it should have been and it was not there. I met a woman today who told me it was the poor house. I was sent to Aberlour Orphanage to join my brother and two sisters.
Now nearly 65 (ouch!) I just found out about it. I have had a pretty interesting life and now live in the US. I have always been linked to the music industry and recently recorded a new album. You can hear some of the songs on myspace.balladray. If you have any photo’s of the house and I can see them, that would be great.
Many thanks.
Ray
October 21st, 2009 at 6:12 pm
ellen.i was at st. maggiesi left on 65 i was in 3d also im margaret higgins, i married john fagan from burnfoot hope to hear from u soon xx
October 22nd, 2009 at 3:45 pm
hi,I’m Alex lafferty fae Roughcraig st., any one remember me and ma mate Zak Cowie ?
November 9th, 2009 at 6:27 pm
Well, I stumbled into this conversation becos’ I’d come to Airdie (on the ‘net) curious about the town after reading about the murder of a lady in the news on the Beeb recently. That was tragic but falling into your ‘chat’ was nothing but pleasure. You all sound like a lovely buncha people! There’s a beautiful friendliness coming across from all of you.
Me? I’m in the U.S. but originally from Liverpool. Scotland’s a great place, isn’t it?
December 5th, 2009 at 8:03 pm
No.35—-Is this the same T Carbarns who worked in the Gas Works at one time. The Christians from the Hebron Hall (at top cross) used to hold an open air Gospel preaching meeting at The Rialto on a Sat. night
(over 40 years ago this was). I remember many times Mr Joe Muirhead of Manor Drive(a good Christian gentleman) push Harry Roys barrow up South Bridge St. hill. Harry would say “Thank You Brother OUR LORD is Good”
January 9th, 2010 at 2:26 am
No.35: This entry interests me as a Peter
dickson went to Chapelsde Public School many years ago.Albert Dalzell,
Billy Collins, Ben Bianchi, Robert Patrick were some of the boys in the class. I left Airdrie in 1953 to come to Canada, but have come home many times. The last time was April 2009 when I attended my nieces wedding at Castle Culzean. My son and I were only in Scotland for a week, but we managed to visit Airdrie. Hope to make another trip there again this year, but time will tell.
January 10th, 2010 at 5:01 pm
Hi Betty,–I am the P.D. from Chapelside & Mack St.,& I remember you –Your DaD was “The Janny @ the Sup” & Jean your sister. Last week I met Ben Bianchi in the Sup/Mkt his wife is recovering from a stroke–same day I met Albert Dalzell he is happily married for a second time both seem to have good health.Tom Durham,Scott Carruthers, Bobby Patrick all died young—dont know about Bill Collins,He was a top manager in Watsons Garage High St but now most of High St is a supermarket. Good to hear from you Betty hope you enjoy good health.
I married in 1956 to Jessie Brown from Greengairs –we have a daughter & 2 sons & we live in Cairnhill—Happy & Healthy Will write again PmD
January 11th, 2010 at 1:22 am
Good to hear from you. I received information on “Friends Reunited” and went to Airdrie Academy. Pressed the key for photos and who popped up but a picture of my dad taken in 1940. It was sent in by James Bell. Tommy Bell the science teacher at the Academy son. I marreid a Canadian (farmer) and hav e two sons and three grandsons. We live about 27 miles from Niagara Falls. I knew that it was you as I can remember you your Mum and Dad and brother going to the Hebron Hall.
It was by accident that I found this website, but so glad I did, Bye for now, Betty Spence
January 12th, 2010 at 12:06 pm
I am glad i found this site brings back loads of memories. I stayed in Thrashbush road since I was three but live in Birmingham now. I went to St Serfs and St Margarets. All the names above jolt memories. Wee terry 2 locks used tae carry ma maws bags up thrashbush road for her. Big Duncu was also a janitor at St Mags for a while. I also went to Clarkson boxing club just next to central park with kid stewart and his brother, think it was Alec?. Wullie Booth came in there regularly. Recently i came home and held a 50th birthday party in Dellets Bar on 31/12/09 GREAT NIGHT with all my family. Anyone know me gees a reply.
February 16th, 2010 at 11:45 pm
Hi Cathie, I am your second cousin My Mother Mgt. McHugh Nee McAuley is your Mother’s cousin. They were born in the same year and grew up together and stayed in the same house, and slept in the same bed til your Mum married and moved to America. I didnt come accross this site til last. As you can imagine Mum is in Her eighties now so I asked Her today if she would like to be involved which she is quite happy to do She has a lot of info for you and I will be glad to be the go-between as Mum doesnt have a computer