Bowls fan who loved the Scottish countryside
JAMES TOOK GREAT PLEASURE IN WHATEVER HE DID, WHETHER IT WAS WORKING ON THE STEAM TRAINS, BOWLING AT HIS FAVOURITE CLUB OR BIG FAMILY GET-TOGETHERS
ALTHOUGH an only child himself, James Moran always considered himself lucky to be part of a very large extended family – adopted as an extra brother by his wife Sheila’s 13 siblings.
In fact, it was through one of her brothers, Terry, that the couple first met as teenagers.
“They lived streets apart and my grandmother would have an open house, always with a big pot of soup on the boil,” says their daughter Denise.
“Terry would invite my dad to go there and they’d play music and sing songs. That’s how he became friends with my mum and then that developed. “My dad was my mum’s toyboy, she was three years older than him!” Born just before the start of the Second World War, James was the only son of James senior, a publican who managed a local pub in Maryhill, and Annie. When his dad went off to serve in the army, surviving time as a prisoner of war, James was brought up by his mum and granny.
He went to St Mary’s School and then to St Columba’s Secondary School, landing a job when he left as a delivery boy at Galbraith’s grocery store.
“But he only lasted there about six months and then he went onto the railways, working on passenger and freight trains, which he loved,” says Denise. “He stoked up the steam trains, shovelling the coal, and he often told stories about how, when they had a break, they’d have their breakfast put on a shovel and heated up in the fire.”
After a time working in London, James returned to Glasgow and the couple married in 1967. Their family became three when Denise was born in 1969.
She remembers him to be an easygoing dad. “Mum was the more strict one. She’d give the orders and he’d usually just laugh and say, ‘whatever your mum said’. He was old-school, not one for constant cuddles, but I always knew he loved me and was there for me.”
Leaving the railways to join the GPO, the forerunner for BT, James spent his spare time playing darts, dominos and golf. He was also a member of the Ruchill Bowling Club for many years.
Holidays and Christmas were a chance for the family to all get together.
“Aunts and uncles would often come up from London, so there were always New Year parties which my dad loved. He wasn’t one for the spotlight and when he did get up to sing he only had one party piece – that was the song Anna Marie by Jim Reeves.” James took early retirement from BT and enjoyed spending more time bowling and meeting up with his mates. Sheila passed away four years ago but, with Denise living next door, the pair were able to spend time and take trips in the car, especially to Helensburgh and Loch Lomond where James loved to wander and see the scenery. Diagnosed with leukemia 11 years ago, his condition worsened during lockdown and, after recovering from a broken femur, he was hit with a series of infections. James’ funeral was live-streamed to family as far away as Australia and Spain, and Denise knew the most fitting song to end with. “I played his party piece, Anna Marie – the only song I ever heard him sing.”
When he did get up to sing he only had one party piece – that was the song Anna Marie by Jim Reeves. James’ daughter Denise