Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser

Marmalade frontman Dean given memorial plaque...

Bench tribute in Whifflet Park

- JUDITH TONNER

Former Marmalade frontman Dean Ford has been remembered with a memorial plaque on a bench in his home town – unveiled on what would have been his 74th birthday.

The singer, whose real name was Tom McAleese, was born in Airdrie and then grew up and went to school in Coatbridge, where he loved spending time in Whifflet Park.

Now he is remembered in a place where he and his family “enjoyed many happy times”; and although a dedication ceremony to be attended by friends and fans had to be postponed, there are plans to hold a similar event in the future when coronaviru­s restrictio­ns allow.

His sister, Liz Carson, said: “Tom was born in Airdrie but spent most of his childhood and early adulthood in Whifflet. When he became a profession­al singer he would often fly back to see our mother in Calder Avenue.

“Needless to say, both of us enjoyed many happy times in Whifflet Park and it’s lovely to see that there’s now a permanent memorial in a place that meant so much to him.

“Tom’s birthday would have been on September 5, so it was fitting to have his plaque put on the bench at that time – and hopefully we can still commemorat­e him in the future with a dedication.”

Liz, who now lives in South Africa, added: “I’d like to thank North Lanarkshir­e Council, local activist Jim McGinty and family friend Sandra Corbett who have been instrument­al in getting us to this point.”

Much-loved singer Dean passed away on Hogmanay 2018 in Los

Angeles, where he had moved after leaving Marmalade in 1975.

They had been the first Scottish band to top the UK charts with their 1969 cover of The Beatles song Ob-la-di Ob-la-da; and their other hits included Reflection­s of My Life and Rainbow, both written by their Coatbridge frontman.

Born as Thomas McAleese to parents Thomas senior and Elizabeth, the much-loved singer later adopted Dean Ford as his stage name.

A pupil at Clifton High in Coatbridge, he began his singing career by accompanyi­ng mpanying a jazz ensemble at Whifflet Parish Church hall and d formed his first group, The Tonebeats, ebeats, at the age of 13.

His big break k came after a memorable performanc­e formance with the Monarchs at the Barrowland ballroom in 1963, 3, where he was seen by members bers of popular Glasgow band The Gaylords and invited to join them – with the group going on n to find further fame as Marmalade.

After moving to LA in the 1970s, he became a limousine driver for famous names including Michael Jackson and Bob Dylan; and remained a passionate, hardworkin­g musician in his later years, completing new solo album Feel My Heartbeat in 2017 and releasing album My Scottish Heart just two months before his death.

Warm tributes were paid to Thomas from his home community, with Jim Millar of hit Monklands band The Concordes saying: “I was really sad to hear about his passing – not only was Thomas a great singer with a special talent, but a credit to Coatbridge, his family and all who knew him.”

Matt Costello, who is a community partnershi­p manager with North Lanarkshir­e Council, said: “It was great to engage with Tom’s sister on this, and it’s really good to see the plaque on the bench to commemorat­e such a successful musician from the area.

“The formal dedication unfortunat­ely had to be postponed, but hopefully, we will be able to have this when current Covid restrictio­ns allow.”

Not only was Thomas a great singer with a special talent, but a credit to Coatbridge, his family and all who knew him

Jim Millar

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 ??  ?? Memories Dean loved spending time In Whifflet Park
Memories Dean loved spending time In Whifflet Park
 ??  ?? Music legend Dean Ford died in Los Angeles
Music legend Dean Ford died in Los Angeles

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