Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Childhood memories focus of charming tale by author
A Coatbridge author has penned a charming childhood tale reminiscing of his early life growing up in Monklands.
Originally from Townhead, David Mcclure is now retired and lives in Irvine, Ayrshire, with his wife Martha.
Before retirement, he worked on the trade counter of a roofing company.
The couple have two children, David and Amanda, and two grandchildren, Holly and Lewis.
David’s autobiography, entitled Any Broken Biscuits?, tells of his upbringing in the 1950s and is his legacy for his grandkids.
He told the Advertiser: “I sat down one day when I retired and began to write my autobiography. I did nothing with it until lockdown and when I felt that I had written enough, I decided to get it self-published.
“It’s mainly about Coatbridge. My father drove a steam engine in Gartsherrie iron works and I was allowed to drive that engine.
“We have photographs of my father and I; he became the shunter and I was the driver.
“I wrote it for my grandchildren Holly and Lewis. Holly learned to read during lockdown.
“She was a bit behind with her reading but was determined to learn so that she could read my book.”
The former Clifton High pupil continued: “It’s all happening a bit quicker than I thought. I have self-published it through Indie Authors and it has been likened to a Tom Sawyer type story.
“It’s a boy’s tale about Coatbridge. It’s a happy wee book and is aimed at both children and adults alike.
“My family are all part of the characters and they said they enjoyed it.”
David and Martha met as teenagers and were married in the registry office in Dunbeth Road.
The 70-year-old told us: “We met when we were 15 and then we drifted apart and then met again at a new year’s party and have been together ever since.
“We lived in Coatbridge for about three years until I was laid off from the RB Tennents steel works foundry in Whifflet in 1975. We were visiting my wife’s aunt in Kilmarnock and I got myself a job in Irvine. At that time it was a new town and the council were promoting it as such.
“I decided to write my autobiography as I thought it was better to start with something that I knew about. It will probably take over my life for the next couple of months.”
David’s family and friends, many of whom still live in Lanarkshire, have praised his book and take pride of place in his prose.
He told us: “I have seven sisters, Carol, Jean, Sandra, Elizabeth, Alison, Mary and Lorna, and three brothers, Alec, Angus and John, and they are all characters in the book but I have changed their names. Although, some of them said they liked their names better in the book rather than their own names.
“I have had positive comments from a couple of friends and some of my family and they have all thoroughly enjoyed the read. Lots of my friends are waiting to get it on paperback and have me sign it for them. Hopefully, it will do well.
“There are lots of people who want to get their hands on a copy and I’m hoping to get a book signing organised very soon.”
David explained that his inspiration to pen his story originated from his late father, who also enjoyed writing.
He told us: “He was always going to write a book and I found a notebook with some of his stories he had written when he was in the Royal Navy. So I sat down one day when I was retired and started writing about my childhood.
“I think some of the stories are quite humorous. However, there are lots of stories left untold and I already have about 30 headings for chapters for a follow-up”.
Any Broken Biscuits? is available to buy on Amazon in paperback and on Kindle.