New Year’s honour for comic Andy
Rutherglen comedian Andy Cameron has been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list.
The 74- year- old - still fondly remembered for his Scotland 1978 World Cup song Ally’s Tartan Army - admitted he and his family were stunned by the news, but were delighted that he is being honoured for his tireless charity work.
In recent years, he was taken part in numerous fundraisers for the recently- opened Kilbryde Hospice, having hosted an annual golf competition at Cathkin Braes Golf Club.
Andy told the Reformer: “I’m really delighted. You first hear about it six weeks or so before it’s officially announced to the press, and then you’ve got to keep it secret.
“That’s the difficult part, because you’re so happy about it and you want to tell everyone about it! I’m very pleased - I’m humbled and honoured.
“I guess someone puts your name forward, and the first I heard about it was when a letter through, asking if I’d accept it.
“It’s really nice to get a bit of recognition, but when you do things for charity, you’re not looking for any reward from it, you’re doing it because it’s a good cause.
“I’ve always believed there’s a responsibility on entertainers to do what they can to help out charities, and although it’s not always possible, you do what you can. Receiving this is a real honour, because it’s not something you set out to get.”
Although everyone associates Andy with the Royal Burgh, he was born in London, before moving north where he was brought up by his gran, Isabelle Cameron, known as Bella.
Andy, who now lives i n Auchterarder, has five children and six grandchildren.
Andy said: “Rutherglen is a place that’s very close to my heart - I’ve got two daughters who still stay there, and I’ve got other relatives there.
“Rutherglen is still home, as far as I’m concerned.
“My family is delighted - I’ve got two sons who live and work abroad, and they’re over the moon.”
Andy still has many happy m e m o r i e s o f g row i ng u p i n Rutherglen.
He said: “One of the great things I remember was playing at the quoiting green. It was a really popular thing, where the working classes came together.
“When I was a boy, there were a couple of Scottish champions who lived there, and you’d have people coming from all over to play and watch.
“I was on the Rutherglen Reformer website last week, actually, as I was trying to find some pictures of the quoiting green. If anyone has any pictures of it, I’d love to see it again.”