Let’s begin at the beginning, well slightly before as the scene has to be set.

I had been introduced to Big George and The Business by my good friend Craig Daly, and had been along to every gig possible. The main venue was The Exchequer on Glasgow’s Dumbarton Road (Lord know what they have changed it into now) and many great nights were enjoyed.

One particular night the usual musical conversations turned to singers we loved, and I went into my usual appreciation of Jimmy Dewar. One of the company mentioned that he sometimes jammed with George, and it was then pointed out that he had just come in through the door. I had never seen Jimmy in the flesh before, and a more unassuming guy you would never set eyes upon. When he took to the mike though, it was something special to say the least.

Fast forward a few months……

I had finished Falkirk College earlier that year, and when Big G mentioned that he would be gigging at the town’s Burns Bar I said to him that I would most likely pop through for the gig. “Do you want a lift through in the van?” was the reply. Well I wasn’t going to turn down a lift was I?

I waited at the pick up point in the Exchequer the next week, and was duly picked up by Eric Thompson the then sound engineer, driver and one man road crew. It was then off to George Ross Watt mansions, well number 75 Plean Street, to pick up Big G. On the way to collect Jimmy, the question was asked that would change it all for the next nine years…”Do you want a job as a roadie? It’s a fiver a night”. Needless to say I took the plunge and was introduced to Jim Dewar junior, who showed me the ropes..well the cables and plugs to more accurate.

All went well and at the end of the night Jimmy was the man who paid me that first five pounds, asking “That’s what you were told you would get yeah?.

There was lots more to come, many great people to meet, vans to travel in to places near and far and memories that will last forever.

More to come folks....