Giants of the Clyde Glasgow author captures the magic of the shipyards
Ships built on the Clyde were known to be the best in the world. dwarfing the surrounding streets. at one yard in particular, Denny in As a wee boy, I would cycle from Dumbarton, which seemed to be a Glasgow to Gourock to use the very happy place and ahead of its outdoor swimming pool and time with ideas like work outings. would pass by all these yards.” “I spoke to former shipyard
As Robert began researching workers and they loved talking and writing the book, the former about their time in the industry. journalist soon realised the stories “One great story I was told of the workers in the yards were concerned a draughtsman during just as interesting as the ships. the Second World War.
“Jimmy Reid said, ‘they didn’t “He was sent out to a merchant just build ships on the Clyde, they ship off Greenock to measure her built men’,” Robert said. for some modifications and was
“There was a tremendous sense deep in the bowels all day. of camaraderie in the good old “When he came back on deck at days. That appeared to be the case the end of the day, to his horror he realised they were heading out towards the open Atlantic. He asked where they were heading – Murmansk was the reply!
“He was in a sports jacket, collar and tie, and his wife was expecting him home for dinner. He was dropped off at Scapa Flow and had a troublesome journey back to Greenock, with no identification papers, no money and a weak tale to tell the military police!”
Along the road in Port Glasgow, a replica of the Comet, a little vessel that became the first commercially- successful steamboat service in Europe in August 1812, takes pride of place to this day.
His book follows the industry from the early days of the Comet through to the Cutty Sark, warships, liners, Cunard Queens and Ferguson Shipbuilders, spurred on by businessman Jim McColl.
He added: “The story of shipbuilding has had many twists and turns, but there are still a few tales yet to be written.”
Giants of the Clyde is released this Thursday by Black & White Publishing.