You are going to read lots about Tommy Burns, who we lost 10 years ago today, and Bobby Murdoch, the first of the Lions to go, on this date in 2001, so I’ll share an observation on both.
Tommy’s coffin was carried into the church by Ally McCoist and Walter Smith. Tommy had lots of friends, former team-mates and players, as well as a large family. There was no shortage of candidates to carry the man’s mortal remains, but in extending the invitation to Walter Smith and Ally McCoist, he left you and me something to live up to.
There can be few more public expressions of an intimate invitation. How well do you and I reach across the city to others? I have considered that question, on and off, for almost 10 years.
The only time I met Bobby Murdoch he went straight to asking me what I did for a living. Then he talked about his wife, Kathleen, and her job. There were a dozen others in the room, nine of whom were Lisbon Lions, but that was what Bobby wanted to talk about. His priorities were well established.
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JAMESGANG
The other feature I liked, in the romantic side, is that this hotel is adults only.
Wouldn’t normally post something from the Daily Record but this is worth a read:
My memories of Tommy Burns, his faith, football and fun – Hugh Keevins
Hugh was a close friend of the Celtic legend and here he remembers their time together.
Ten years. It hardly seems possible because a decade doesn’t lend detachment.
The horribly premature loss of Tommy Burns at the age of 51 still seems as hard to bear now as it was in 2008.
Not for me. I was just a guy he had long before befriended and trusted to help write his biography, “Twists And Turns”.
It’s the family I feel for now. I’ve had the pleasure of having had four grandchildren born since illness cruelly took Tommy from his loved ones. He didn’t get the chance to know his children’s children. That just doesn’t seem fair when you know what a great grandfather he would have been.
We were at my house devoting two days to painstakingly editing his overdue book, a situation created by Tommy’s casual relationship with punctuality and his indifference towards the publisher’s anxiety.
He said goodbye to my wife and kids as they left to visit their two grannies. Ten seconds later the doorbell rang and the first child asked if that was Tommy Burns he had seen getting out of the big car.
Within minutes it seemed as if the entire neighbourhood – and adjoining areas – had witnessed
the same thing. Tommy spoke to every one of them, signed slips of paper and posed for photographs.
He loved the Celtic support on an individual basis, not in blocks, sections of a stand or any other collective unit.
And when the book was finally done and I mentioned I could get on with organising a 70th birthday for my mother, Tommy provided a touching postscript. Celtic had won the Scottish Cup the Saturday before Tommy turned up at my newspaper office and asked me to accompany him to the car parked outside.
The boot was opened and he told me to lift the cargo of champagne contained within. “For your mammy’s birthday son,” he said. Football clubs as big as Celtic are always lavish in their celebrations after a trophy win and there’s always stuff left over.
Tommy knew where that was going. Celtic could afford it.
A heart of gold and a trusting soul. “Hugo,” he said on another occasion. “You and Janet need to come out with Rosemary and me on Saturday night.” At the time I was working for what we know in the trade as one of the “posh” papers and Tommy thought Hugo sounded more intellectual and appropriate than Shug.
The function the four of us were to attend was in the east end of Glasgow, not far from Soho Street where he had been born. The car we travelled in that night had been purchased, brand spanking new, the day before. When I questioned the wisdom of leaving it unattended in a spot where the Marine Corps might
have felt a sense of clear and present danger, Tommy’s reply was: “Hugo. Thomas Burns. Diplomatic immunity.”
Tommy’s implicit belief in good being able to be found in everyone turned out to be misplaced.
When we returned to the car after an enjoyable night the driver side door bore the signs of someone having tried to yank it off with their bare hands or whatever aid to carjacking they happened to have on them. But law-abiding folks from the east end know the meaning of stoicism. Tommy held the damaged door in his right hand to prevent it from falling off and put his left hand on the wheel. Rosemary changed gears and we sat in the back in bemused awe of the driver.
Tommy was laid to rest 10 years ago this week. There’s not much I want to remember about the day of his funeral. Tommy’s requiem mass was held in St Mary’s in the Calton, the cradle of Celtic Football Club. He would have liked that.
Tommy’s faith was rock solid and his devotion to Catholicism was respected by the most fervent of non-believers. “It doesn’t embarrass me to discuss my faith,” he told me. “I turn to God because I am frail and
need his help. “I was aware of my spirituality and also humbled by the effect I can have as an individual on the lives of people who have never met me just because I played for Celtic. A family asked me to visit their
elderly father in Glasgow’s Western Infirmary where he was trying to come to the end of his life, as a result of cancer, with as much dignity as possible.
“Two tumours on his brain and the medication he was taking made his eyesight poor, his speech slow and his reactions dull. “But when I sat at his bedside and told him who I was there came an instant flicker of recognition and an anxiety to say something back to me.
“Moments like that and my implicit belief in God gave me a sense of perspective and kept the daily demands of football at a tolerable level.”
And now it’s been 10 years since a wife lost a loving husband and children were deprived of the dad they adored. The family always has to bear the grief and the real sense of loss. The rest of us have our memories. I’ve still got the photograph taken after a night out that had clearly been a greater act of self-indulgence for one of us than the other. “All good thoughts, your friend Tommy,” he wrote on it before we framed it for posterity. He wasn’t a saint and he never claimed to be one. Tommy once strongly disagreed with something I’d written in my first column for the Sunday Mail .
When I came back from a Sunday game on the day of publication he was chatting to my wife on
the phone. When she passed the receiver to me with the words, “It’s Tommy” there then followed a denunciation on an epic scale. No swearing. No threats. Just the unmistakable sound of a boy from the east end letting me know in no uncertain terms he disapproved of what he’d read. And when it was said it was done. Tommy wouldn’t have known how to hold a grudge.
I’ll always remember that beautiful smile as he stood on the trackside at Hampden and watched his Celtic side go up to lift the Scottish Cup, the only trophy he won as manager.
And I still shudder at the recollection of how strained he looked when Raith Rovers beat Celtic in the Final of the League Cup at Ibrox the season before. The final whistle had blown to signal the end of a penalty shoot-out and I was on my way down the tunnel to conduct post-match interviews for Radio Clyde. We passed with only inches between us in what was a confined space but his shock and disappointment was such he was oblivious to another physical presence being in the vicinity.
The day afterwards he told me he had comforted a distraught Celtic captain, Paul McStay, in his office after the team bus had gone back to Celtic Park empty-handed. Paul had been the one unfortunate enough to miss the penalty that took the Cup to Fife.
It was always about looking out for others where Tommy was concerned and the ultimate irony was no one could help him when terminal illness struck and his life was tragically brought to an end.
I had to deliver the eulogy at the funeral of my sister-in-law’s husband last Friday. I mentioned a line from a moving song written about the city he and I, and Tommy, loved.
“Mother Glasgow watches all her weans,” Michael Marra wrote.
I hope she’s been taking good care of Tommy all these years. I know he deserves it.
Sam, if you run into Tam Burns up there tell him Hugo was asking for him.
Word of The Day
Perfidious /pəˈfɪdɪəs/
adjective
1. deliberately faithless; treacherous; deceitful:
2. guilty, treacherous, or faithless; deceitful
Derived Forms
perfidiously, adverb
perfidiousness, noun
Word Origin and History for perfidious
adj.
1590s, from Latin perfidiosus “treacherous,” from perfidia (see perfidy ). Related: Perfidiously ; perfidiousness.
KTF
ROBINBHOY on 16TH MAY 2018 9:55 AM
That was a great from Keevins; it shows the love and warmth between the 2 men. It’s the effect Tommy Burns had on people I reckon.
Thanks for posting it.
KTF
DELANEYS DUNKY .
Smoking .
I stopped and if I can do it -You can .
Stopping was easy — I did it lots of times -problem was staying stopped -I always went back to the foul weed . Definitive stop stemmed from witnessing a good mate dying horribly from lung cancer .Screaming like a teething baby .. . Cue the horrible thought -this could be me — stuff that for a game of soldiers . Goodbye fags !!!!
Not seeing anything in the Sevco statement saying that the submission was above board, that the tax bill was not due and they (or at least Rangers) have always acted in good faith towards opponents.
Wonder why not…….
Just a quick message to Lionsroar – full and speedy recovery mate.
Eurochamps – hope you are progressing well buddy.
Vape break over.
LR67- keep on keeping on….HH
JAMESGANG , been going to same hotel valamar president for past 6 years great hotel stunning views was there two weeks ago , if you need any more advice let me know also close to old town but very quiet BRTH still waiting on phone call bud
BMCUW, I do not think I have your email address. Will Paul be able to find it for me?
CONNAIRE12
My apologies. I meant to include it in the original post. It is
bmcuwp@gmail.com
CELTIC are reportedly in advanced talks with Tom Rogic’s representatives as they look to tie up the midfielder for the next 3-4 years.
Tom has a year left on his current deal with many speculating that he if he doesn’t re-sign by the nearer the end of the August window then Celtic will cash in on their player of six years.
However, Rodgers is desperate to hold on to his big game player and since talks stalled a couple of months ago – reports suggest that talks have been going well over the Australian’s future.
As the cliche always goes – these things take time but Celtic are being very active in this regard.
The Celtic manager is also still keen to sign Dedryk Boyata up on a new deal but the Belgian is still playing hardball. The defender spoke earlier this season of wanting to play in the Premier League soon.
I’ve just had a wee lurk on FF to gauge their reaction to the SFA charge.
Many are demanding that the club refuse to compete for the Scottish Cup.
I thought they had already been doing that quite successfully since 2012!
Caught between the rock of May 1st Holy Communions and a hard place of June baby arrival, some season book family have an ill-timed break to Malta this week.
Anyone familiar with the Sliema side of St Julian’s Bay to recommend where they might enjoy the weekend football among like minded Celts?
Morning Hoops,
First chance to post in a week or so. So firstly congratulations to Brendan, Broony and the Bhoys on the manificent 7. Very much looking forward to Saturday now, the nervous energy is already kicking in.
I have tried to read back as best as I can, following yesterdays “announcement”. I am absolutely nowhere near anything like an expert on all things Res 12, but I have to say I find the positive vibes and congratulations a little odd. I thought Res12 was about highlighting the issues with the SFA and seeking some form of acceptance and clear out of those responsible. I never thought the desired outcome was about laying a punishment (probably an arbitrary one at that) on the doorstep of Sevco. All this seeks to do from what I can see is validate the continuation myth. This feels like a lose, lose to me.
Happy for anyone far more clued up and knowledgeable on the subject to counter this view however, as I would love to have this wrong.
HEBCELT on 15TH MAY 2018 9:19 PM
A bad day for Sevco/Rangers about to get worse tomorrow morning, totally unrelated to today’s news. I’m unwilling to say anymore, all will be revealed in 10 hours. Hail Hail Hebcelt
————————————————————
14 hours have past any update on this? Was it the abuse case?
Gary67 on 16th May 2018 10:57 am
I just read this bit :
“The Celtic manager is also still keen to sign Dedryk Boyata up on a new deal but the Belgian is still playing hardball. The defender spoke earlier this season of wanting to play in the Premier League soon.”
Can someone please come a smack me on the head with a mallet to effect a re-boot?
Not saying the big fella hasn’t improved, but….
One for you horsey people.
Jockey, David Maxwell is riding in the 16:45 at Newton Abott today. He’s also riding in the 21:05 at Perth tonight (Mendip Express, currently 3/1 fav). That’s a LONG way to go, just for one ride.
…. just saying like…..
? Roar great to see you posting.
Hope the recovery goes well.
KTF
Good tribute on Italian tele marking the death of Tom Wolfe .
Strangely -some of it was soundtracked by this –
Otis Taylor –
https://youtu.be/woaX1ImmpDE
Auldheid
An example of Government not interfering in football.
*****
Salmond told Sir David Frost, in an interview to be broadcast on Frost over the World on Al Jazeera English:
“Obviously HMRC have got to pursue, in the public interest, taxation.
“Equally, they’ve got to have cognisance of the fact that we’re talking about a huge institution, part of the fabric of the Scottish nation, as well as Scottish football, and everybody realises that.
“The most die-hard Celtic supporter understands that Celtic can’t prosper unless Rangers are there
“The rest of the clubs understand that as well. Therefore you have to have cognisance of these things when you’re pursuing public policy.
“We’ve certainly been arguing to HMRC on one hand, and indeed to Rangers, to for goodness sake get a settlement, get a settlement and a structure over time whereby Rangers can continue because Rangers must continue for the future of Scottish football and for the fabric of the country.”
Presumably they will have told the child at the time that he wasn’t actually joining the club, only a “company” that owned the club.
Presumably also, all the trophies that were won by players who belonged to a “company” would also belong to that “company”…
RIOSKORRIE on 16TH MAY 2018 11:37 AM
“One for you horsey people.
Jockey, David Maxwell is riding in the 16:45 at Newton Abott today. He’s also riding in the 21:05 at Perth tonight (Mendip Express, currently 3/1 fav). That’s a LONG way to go, just for one ride.
…. just saying like…..”
—————
A busfull used to make the long journey to Bentley’s in Kircaldy from Lanarkshire of a Saturday night for much the same purpose.
Hebcelt, can you please tell me what the bad news was, I can’t find it. Thanks in advance.
Seánp1916 on 16th May 2018 11:29 am
I can’t see any way in which the outcome won’t cement the same club narrative.
Which, to me, is a far bigger and more important issue, given that it’s current and ongoing rather than historical.
new article posted.
Last!!!
Yet again a statement from Sevco in Rangers guise pretending not to know the continued history, specifically the incorporation of club and company in 1899.
So, if yer old company is in liquidation, as they admit, then so’s yer club.
And you are, therefore, new, as in not the same, major-trophyless, a stripling of 6 summers.
And count yourself lucky, or you’d be liable for over £150 (yeah, that’s right, lady, one hundred and fifty!) million to creditors, face painters and all.
LIONROARS67 on 16TH MAY 2018 8:32 AM
Good morning CQN from Monklands hospital
Humbled by so many good wishes and prayers, Eddie thank you
The start of recovery didn’t give me the best of nights
To borrow an oft used CQN truth, i need to keep the faith HH
“”””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””
Hail Hail fella, hope your feeling OK.
B, if your specific Consultant is nurse Sharma and she is backed by,Pamela, Tracey and Alaine, then your in good hands, that’s been my nursing team for three years now, at the beginning of my treatment process, they misdiagnosed my symptoms, causing my family unbearable worry, but, they got it right, thankfully, and they have been fantastic ever since. I hope it stays that way. You should know this, since my first diagnosis, which led to a cancerous lump the size of a mushroom being removed, I opened up on here, after the hospital’s crossing of the wires, I over indulged with information released on here because, during the misdiagnosed period, I feared the worst. Thanks to the prayers and wishes on here, and elsewhere, I’m still alive, the power of CQN prayer is unquantifiable, i even started going to mass again, but, now that i cant walk that has had to be shelved, but, youll get grand backing from here, believe me. Good luck fella HH
WEEBAWBABBITY, you offered him a donation, he said he didn’t have the time to phone you, but, he has the time to type ‘War & Peace’ on here ?
E, sometimes its best to be one if the black sheep ; HH Amigo.
……oot.
Watching Blakey May perform during Prime Minister’s Question’s, and the image that pops into my head is one of a tethered goat. The stalking wolves that flank her are Hammond, Bojo and Javid, smirking and nodding their heads, but ready to twist the knife in her back when her party jettison her before the next election, and don’t forget Rudd, skulking on the back benches.
?⚽️
Barrach Obampot
Writing to all the European teams that the old Huns cheated was a great idea. I really hope that your efforts bear fruit. Thanks for all you have done to expose the cheats. Hail Hail
DD
Agree with every you say aboot the Clash. Did ye know that Joe Strummer was half Scottish, his maw comes far Huntly I think. Maybe Dingwall. Watched the video for Tommy Gun and Joe is wearing a H Block t-shirt. Hail Hail
I have a book to recomend tis an old book. It is aboot the hunger strike. The book is called Ten Men Dead and is written by David Beresford. It is really good read.
Double Treble on Saturday. COYBIG
Rich Hail Hail
KEVJUNGLE on 16TH MAY 2018 12:02 PM
LIONROARS67 on 16TH MAY 2018 8:32 AM
Good morning CQN from Monklands hospital
Humbled by so many good wishes and prayers, Eddie thank you
The start of recovery didn’t give me the best of nights
To borrow an oft used CQN truth, i need to keep the faith HH
“”””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””
Hail Hail fella, hope your feeling OK.
B, if your specific Consultant is nurse Sharma and she is backed by,Pamela, Tracey and Alaine, then your in good hands, that’s been my nursing team for three years now, at the beginning of my treatment process, they misdiagnosed my symptoms, causing my family unbearable worry, but, they got it right, thankfully, and they have been fantastic ever since. I hope it stays that way. You should know this, since my first diagnosis, which led to a cancerous lump the size of a mushroom being removed, I opened up on here, after the hospital’s crossing of the wires, I over indulged with information released on here because, during the misdiagnosed period, I feared the worst. Thanks to the prayers and wishes on here, and elsewhere, I’m still alive, the power of CQN prayer is unquantifiable, i even started going to mass again, but, now that i cant walk that has had to be shelved, but, youll get grand backing from here, believe me. Good luck fella HH
WEEBAWBABBITY, you offered him a donation, he said he didn’t have the time to phone you, but, he has the time to type ‘War & Peace’ on here ?
E, sometimes its best to be one if the black sheep ; HH Amigo.
……oot.
_____________________________________________________________________________
KEVJUNGLE – Good morning my friend
Having read back and noted positive responses to your post I sought it out and when I read it felt that it deserved a re-post as above.
You are another remarkably brave CQN’r who has shared their “Story” with the rest of us and I thank you for that. I had assumed wrongly that your medical issues had been resolved satisfactorily, not quite it would appear. I shall keep you in my prayers as I send good thoughts to you and your family.
HH