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Captain
Robert Bryson
Boys' Brigade
1906 - 2001
.
St.Thomas, Gallowgate,
Church
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A
tribute to a great servant of the Boys'
Brigade, the community
and to the youth of Glasgow's east-end |
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Extract
from the 'Glaswegian', Sept 1998 supplied
by Charlie McDonald.
Bobby Bryson has two
claims to fame, not only is the 93 year old
the most elderly Boys Brigade officer in
Scotland......but this year he has also
starred in a film!
The retired agricultural salesman was chosen
to play the main character in the city film
Roses of Picardy. And he conquered the
challenge with ease. The film was made in
Glasgow by Outsider films and was shown at the
Edinburgh International Film Festival.
The short film contrasts the experiences and
painful war time memories of a WW1 veteran
(played by Bobby) with those of an aimless
youth who steals his war medals. Bobby's
performance was hailed as moving and
effective.
Bobby was a youngster growing up in Dennistoun
when WW1 broke out, he remembers the blackouts
and the Belgian refugees coming to his school
and the rush of local men to join up to fight
the Germans.
Through the efforts of Charlie McDonald at the
Scottish WW1 remembrance group the Thistle and
Poppy Society, Bobby came to the attention of
the film director Steven Mochrie. |
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Aug.2003, Extract from
messageboard, Charlie McDonald, Glasgow
Wull in your BB days did you ever come across
an Officer called Bobby Bryson. I knew Bobby
only in his last few years as he attended our
Day Centre here in Parkhead. I used to listen
to him for hours about his BB days... although
I was never a member. Sadly he died just over
a year ago and I attended his funeral and I
walked away from the church knowing that Glasgow would be a worse place
without him......he was a gentleman and an
Officer
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Aug.2003, Extract from
messageboard, Webmaister
It is with great pride I can say I
new Bob in my BB days and attended many BB
events where he would be there. His whole life
was the BB a lovely gentleman. I met him at
various events as the Bridgeton District of the
BB became attached to the Dennistoun district
and of course Bob's church was in the
Gallowgate.
He loved the BB music and always
encouraged his young lads to join the Battalion
Brass Band, I was involved with BB bands and saw
him often. Sorry to hear of his death, he must
have been a fair age!
Life is such that when you move on you lose
touch with many people, sadly.
Yes a well respected and
much loved BB man.
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Aug.2003, Extract from
messageboard, Charlie McDonald, Glasgow,
Scotland |
|
Bobby Bryson was
a pleasure to meet and full of wee stories that
only a nutcase like me would listen to...did you
know he played a leading role in a movie about 5
years ago. I attended the premier of it with him
in Edinburgh and he was a celeb for the
day...never mind Bobby Di Niro or Bobby
Redford...we have Boaby Bryson!
I took him into the Hearts Supporters Club as I
was choking for a drink...didnae fancy the red
wine at the Premier. As I stood at the bar
waiting to get served I asked a couple of guys
what the score was wi' the Rangers and they duly
told me...I took over my pint and Bobby's
Lemonade and told him the score...forgetting
that he was a Queen's Park man.
He asked " how did the Queen's get on" so I went
back over and asked which brought the reply "
who the heck wants to know that " from the
Hearts fans.
I pointed to Bobby and said " he does , he is
the oldest Queen's Park Supporter in the world".
Before you know it my table was covered in pints
of lager for me and glasses of Lemonade for
Bobby.
He certainly was a star in more ways than one
that day. |
I'll try and get
you a postcard of the poster advertisement
of the film and send it to you.
He also spent a few holidays wi' me and my kids
when they were younger on the Somme at my mates
cottage over there. He laid a wreath a couple of
times on behalf of the 16th (Glasgow Boys
Brigade) Battalion of the Highland Light
Infantry at the Thiepval Memorial to the
Missing. I can honestly say that my life
has been touched and honoured to have met
and known Bobby Bryson. |
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