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Molly Weir radio,
stage, screen, television actress and author.
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 Born
in Springburn, Glasgow on 17 March 1910...
Molly's working life began as a shorthand typist in an office
in the city, always a keen writer - her first article was published
in the Glasgow Evening Times when she was only 15 yrs old. She went on to
write eight volumes of autobiography, radio scripts for BBC woman &
children programmes, a newspaper columnist and she wrote a best selling
cookery book.
Much of Molly's spare time was spent in amateur dramatics and she was
spotted by the radio talent show host, Carl Lewis, whose show she appeared on
but her big break came when she played the part of Tattie MacIntosh
in a BBC radio comedy called "Its that man again"
She appeared in a number of
television series, plays and films a few from which were :-
1949-Floodtide
1951-Cheer the
brave
1953-Forces
sweetheart 1954-Life with the Lyons
1955-The Lyons in Paris 1961-Carry on regardless
1962-Visiting
Day 1969-Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
1970-Scrooge
1971-Hands of the Ripper
1975-Root of all evil
1975-One of our dinosaurs is
missing
1976-Rentaghost
1996-Flowers of the Forest
1999-Captain jack.
She had a lovely Scottish
accent and her voice was in demand for many TV commercials, notably the
cleaning detergent 'Flash' and 'Mother's Pride' bread.
She
lived in London since 1945, always a proud Scot she was
honoured and named Scotswoman of the Year in 2000. Molly
lived in Pinner, near London when she died, aged 94 on 28 Nov 2004 the
loving sister of broadcaster and naturalist Tom Weir.
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Extract from messageboard Feb 2003, Ronnie
McPhee,
London
Mollys
trilogy of her Glasgow upbringing is an excellent read especially for those
of us who
are inclined toward nostalgia. The three books are:-
SHOES WERE FOR SUNDAYS, BEST FOOT FORWARD
and A TOE ON THE LADDER.
As well as the big Church, where we went to Sunday School and Bible Class,
and had our church parades of Girl Guides and the Boys Brigade, we had the
excitement in summertime of tent missions coming to Springburn to convert
us. We didn't know we were being converted from our heathenish ways, we
just enjoyed the sight of the huge tent being erected on a piece of waste
ground at the end of Gourley Street, and we begged to be allowed to help
to hand out little leaflets telling all that Jock Troup would be preaching
and saving souls that night and all week from 7 30pm
As soon as our tea was swallowed, we raced back to get front seats, and
the adults crowded in at our backs, greatly entertained to be having
hellfire preached to them inside a tent. Jock was great value, and we all
imitated him afterwards, not in any spirit of derision, but in profound
admiration. He could make the flames of hell so real, we felt them licking
round our feet and the prospect of heaven so alluring we often stood up to
be saved several times during the week, just to see him fall on his knees
in thankfulness at having plucked so many brands from the burning. His hymns
were different from those in Sunday School and had a sort of music
hall ring to them which we all enjoyed.
(A
brilliant read, get it if you can) I understand
that Molly is still around and living in a rest home in London.
PS And remember when she used to dae the Flash adverts? excellent. My
brother in law has just reminded me how she used tae also dae the other
advert "I'm the mother in Mothers Pride, they named it after
me"
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Extract from messageboard Feb 2003, Jim Jeffrey,
Canada
Ronnie, I couldn't agree with you more re the Molly Weir trilogy.
It is a masterpiece. I've had the books for about 30 years and have read
them many times. My favourite is the first one, Shoes Were For Sunday
which I reread just a few weeks ago. Although it deals with growing up in
Springburn, it could be applied to growing up in Brigton, Govan, the
Garngad,the Calton,or any working class district of Glesca. In the
prefatory pages, Molly quotes James Grahame, "What strange,
mysterious links enchain the heart, to regions where the morn of life was
spent." Truer words were never spoken. If you haven't read, at least
the first book, beg, borrow or steal a copy. You'll love it.
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Extract from messageboard Feb 2003, Anne
Calman,
Canada
You wont believe this but i just finished molly weir,s SPINNING LIKE A
PEERIE.she has a few other books out, MOLLY WEIRS RECIPES, STEPPING INTO
THE SPOTLIGHT, WALKING INTO THE LIONS DEN, ONE SMALL FOOTPRINT, TRILOGY OF
SCOTTISH CHILDHOOD. she said these words have stuck in her mind right down
the years....nothings impossible i have found, and when your chin is on
the ground, just pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over
again, lyrics from an old fred astaire film...she was in scrooge dr
findleys casebook, oh father, life with the lions, workers playtime, i
didnt realise she done a lot on the radio bbc.
she wis a bonny wee wuman
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Extract from messageboard Feb 2003, Jimmy
Reid,
Canada
Aye! wee Molly is a gem' an' a credit tae aw' Glaswegians. Ma' Ma says she
went tae school wi' hurr bit, ah' nivir seen hurr aroon oor hoose??? Aw'
ah' seen wis ma hungry Auntie Mary an' aw hurr glaikit wains an' annurra
Aunt, Nancy (whit a story thae yins wurr) She had two daughters, Jean an'
Quasimodo??? (that's wit a caw'ed hurr!) She talked like hurr mooth wis
fu' o' chuckies. Ma' Ma says she went furr Elokuishun??? Ah' figured it
musta been a waste'a time furr she didnae look ony better.
Anyhoo' back tae wee Molly, she supposedly lived up the High Rd.
that ran alangside Springburn Rd. bit only higher (Smart! Eh?) Wance ah'
stertit phonin' folk when a wis 'drunk'??? ah' aye'wis meant tae phone
hurr an' ask hurr if she really! really! really! knew ma wee fat mammy.
Noa thit ah' thoat she wis fibbin'??? bit' she says she also sang wi' The
Glasgow Orpheus Choir' well! ah'll tell yoo! if yoo heard hurr "warblin'
oot" ""The De'ils Awa'"" ah' mean? wit's a
ex-size-man anyhoo'??? ma' Da' wis 6'4" an 18stone so, ah' figure he
wis a 4x-size-man.
Anyhoo' back tae wee Molly she used tae write furr 'The Scottish
Banner' (A great wee paper we get ower here, an ower anywhere's else ye
wantit sent!) ...... Anyway, ah' wunner where wee Molly goat hurr Lorne
Sausages??? There wis a rerr Butcher oan Petershill Rd. an' a bet she goat
them there???
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WEBMASTER
:- thanks Ronnie for the smashing photo of wee Molly
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