I was gonnae: Recent Episodes
Iwasgonnae
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The "Iwasgonnae" podcast evolved as Stuart and Callum and their closest friends have always shared deep conversations on motivation, professional development and personal wellbeing. One day they started talking about recording those talks to try to widen the conversation. The initial concept was to have a Scottish slant hence the "I was gonnae" name and invite successful business and inspirational people on to discuss their motives from developing to "I have!".
In this episode, we explore the journey of Eddie Fraser, whose extensive career in local government has been marked by dedication and a commitment to public service. As the Chief Executive of East Ayrshire Council, Eddie has been at the forefront of community engagement, striving to improve the lives of the residents through innovative policies and programs. Join us as we delve into the experiences that have shaped his approach to leadership.
In this inspiring episode of the "I Was Gonnae" charity podcast, we sit down with Evelyne McDonald, the esteemed CEO of Scottish EDGE, a leading organisation that supports Scotland's most innovative and ambitious entrepreneurs. Join us as Evelyne shares her invaluable insights on fostering entrepreneurship and how Scottish EDGE is empowering the next generation of business leaders. Discover the impactful stories of those who've turned their visions into reality with the support of Scottish EDGE.
I was gonnae charity podcast are delighted to announce that this week's guest is Edel Harris OBE , the former CEO of Mencap, the UK's leading learning disability charity. Edel has over 25 years of experience in the social care sector and is passionate about improving the lives of people with learning disabilities. She was until recently a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a Trustee of the Robertson Trust. In this episode, we talk to Edel about her career journey, her achievements and challenges at Mencap, and her advice for aspiring leaders in the social care sector. Tune in to hear her insights and stories on our podcast, available. Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review our show. We hope you enjoy it.
I was gonnae podcast are delighted to announce that this week's guest is Jim Todd, the provost of East Ayrshire. Jim has a fascinating story to share, from his time in the Navy to his current role as the civic leader of East Ayrshire. He talks about his achievements, challenges and aspirations for the future of E Ayrshire region. Tune in to hear his insights and advice on leadership, community and service. You don't want to miss this episode!
This week's #iwasgonnae podcast guest isZara Janjua Award-winning TV, Radio & Podcast Presenter / Columnist / Journalist / Host / Comedian / Writer / Producer / Director / Filmmaker / Charity Trustee / Media & Presenter Training Instructor.
Zara was born in Glasgow and tells us that ‘she likes to be busy’ you can tell that having one look at her LinkedIn profile and her incredible list of what she is currently doing TV, Radio & Podcast Presenter / Columnist / Journalist / Host / Comedian / Writer / Producer / Director / Filmmaker / Charity Trustee / Media & Presenter Training Instructor.
At #school she says, ‘she didn’t feel as if I fitted in’ and felt ‘a little conflicted’ and called herself ‘a floater’ at that time. Zara continues that she felt her life didn’t really start until she left school.
She calls herself ‘a doer’ and likes to be busy and doesn’t like to spend too much ‘time processing that are not going well’.
Her advice for the future generation is ‘turn your ideas into something tangible', ‘getting my ideas out and into the world is what has shaped and is shaping my life and #career’.
Hear more of Zara's amazing life stories now on the #Iwasgonnae podcast.
This week's #iwasgonnae podcast guest is Dr Andy Campbell Commercial Director at Elevator UK.
Andy grew up in and still lives in #Paisley and has a real passion for the town. He tells us he loved school and liked being an academic sponge. He remembers talking to one of his primary teachers and referred to his classmates, ‘as his fellow scholars’, ‘and couldn’t believe that she laughed for using a big word!’. Needless to say, this was water off ducks back to Andy even at an early age.
Andy says he thrives on some level of chaos and loves to live life fully with all the adventures it throughs up.
Recalling his early #business #career, he says it was initially me tapping into my ‘inner geek’ playing with his ‘Spectrum computer.’ 'Initially as a hobby but quickly turned into my first business called Red Lemon', a very successful gaming business.
Andy is currently the commercial director at Elevator UK ‘working alongside some really amazing and ambitious #entrepreneurs '.
Listen to more of Dr. Andy Campbell’s life and career stories on the #Iwasgonnae podcast.
This weeks guest is Prof Eleanor Shaw OBE Associate Principal ( Pro Vice Chancellor) at University of Strathclyde.
Eleanor explains she is left-handed and reflects on her early days at school being told to ‘sit on her left hand and write with her right hand’ and consequently ending up in a remedial class for spelling and writing because of the effect this was having on her brain. Despite this she ‘really enjoyed school’ but was unsure what career direction she was wanting to take. She remembers thinking she would like to be an ‘English teacher or even more boldly a writer’.
Eleanor tells us of how Glasgow and the universities have always acted as magnet to her throughout her life and career.
Now as the Associate Principal (Pro Vice Chancellor) at University of Strathclyde she says she wants to help encourage young people to ‘take ownership and agency of their lives’ and ‘not to be frightened of failure’.
Listen to more of Prof Eleanor Shaw OBE life and career stories on the I was gonnae podcast.
This weeks I was gonnae guest is Geoff Leask, Chief Executive at Young Enterprise Scotland.
Geoff tells us that he had a nomadic life as a young man being born in Edinburgh and then moving to the borders then Leeds before settling in Jedburgh. As a young man Geoff tells us that despite Jedburgh’s size it had an independent record store where he spent a lot of time and money buying punk singles. Geoff has a ‘give it a go’ attitude to life which he reflects as emanating from his passion for punk music especially The Clash.
Geoff’s first job on leaving school was as an apprentice deck officer for a shipping line company Fyffes shipping line the ‘banana ship’ to get his ‘escape route from the sleepy town of Jedburgh’ (no he didn’t hear London Calling or get on a Train in Vain!). ‘This job gave me the opportunity to see things over the horizon’.
Geoff’s passion, motivation and life ethos is apparent to anyone who knows Geoff and what he has achieved within his career and most recently for YES (Young Enterprise Scotland).
Listen to more of Geoff’s life and career stories on the I was gonnae podcast.
This week's guest is Dr. Poonam Malik Head of Investment at Strathclyde University.
Dr. Poonam Malik was born and educated in India, however, Dr. Poonam tells us of there not being a secondary school in her local area, and her mother had to make the tough choice as to whether to send her at the age of 8 to another city to continue her education. Dr. Poonam describes this as an incredibly difficult decision but the correct decision. As Dr. Poonam's education developed she tells us she was offered a number of scholarships worldwide and decided to choose Glasgow to continue with her study of Virology. However, Dr. Poonam recalls landing at Glasgow airport herself with only £35 in her purse and having to pay the taxi driver £17!
Find out how she managed from the airport and more about Dr. Poonam's career and life story on the I was gonnae podcast.
This weeks guest is Michelle Ferguson.
Michelle realised at a young age that she had a ‘passion for modern studies and history’ and ‘loved reading newspapers for school projects’. When she left school studied computer design and reflects that this gave her the ability to ‘visualise things' within projects and still uses the skill 'on a daily basis’.
Michelle is the UK Managing Director at Scotland’s bravest manufacturing company based in Erskine and a part of the Royal British Legion Industries. Who give veterans the opportunity to work within their manufacturing facility and ‘learn about manufacturing processes’.
Michelle remembers coming from a family who ‘sat discussing and arguing points regarding the news and politics’ and thinks this is where she really ‘found my voice to stand up and say what I really believe’.
Listen to more of Michelle’s inspirational life and career story now on the #iwasgonnae podcast
This weeks #iwasgonnae podcast guest is Lianne McGrory UK Vice President Sales for Government & Transport; Public Sector for Salesforce UK.
This weeks #iwasgonnae podcast guest is Aiden Martin Author and recovering drug addict.
Aiden was born and educated in Livingstone and feels he was ‘failed’ and didn’t feel as if I was educated in high school’. Aiden tells us ‘ I left school at 16 with no qualifications, no hope and no future’. However, had a very different story when he went to West Lothian college in his mid twenty’s’ where he felt ‘I was getting nurtured and getting told how bright my future could be’.
How ever what happened in the years between is as they say another story. Aiden is now an author and has written about the years in between in the first of two books called Euphoric Recall and details Aiden’s recovery from extreme trauma and addiction whilst detailing how he survived being groomed, his experiences with suicide, violence and severe mental health issues.
Listen to more of Aiden’s harrowing and motivational life and career story now on the #iwasgonnae podcast.
This weeks #iwasgonnae guest is Ken Pinkerton.
Kenneth Pinkerton was born in Cumbernauld and went to Cumbernauld High School where he remembers he was academically ‘bright’ but found that he didn't ‘get much guidance’.
Ken’s passion has always been theatre and especially musical theatre. However, tells us he was ‘brought up watching’ the TV drama series Petrocelli, starring TonyPetrocelli as an Italian-American Harvard-educated lawyer, and thinking ‘that’s what ill do’ as a career. Ken followed the legal path and successfully studied at the University of Dundee.
Ken is now Director of Charities and Third Sector within Brodies LLP.
Listen to more of Kens life and career stories on the #iwasgonnae podcast now.
This weeks #iwasgonnae s guest is Gordon Smith, Scottish football player, coach and executive.
Gordon Smith was born in Kilwinning but brought up in Stevenson. At a very early age Gordon tells us he always wanted to be a footballer, but his mother said, ‘if he wasn’t in the top 3 for all his exams, she was going to stop him paying’. At the age of 14 Gordon had Rangers, Celtic and Kilmarnock wanting him to sign at 14 he signed for Kilmarnock and was in the first team at the age of 17. He recalls one day returning to his house and his mother said, ‘there is your acceptance, and I said acceptance for what and she said your degree, I said I never applied mum, no she said I did!’
A few months after signing for Rangers from Kilmarnock Gordon says he members signing autographs outside Ibrox and then knocking on the door and the ‘wee doorman at Rangers was quite an old chap’ and as the door opened the doorman said ‘aye what is it, and I went I’m a player’, and the door man says ‘who for!’
Gordons career even after playing football hasn’t stopped and he tells us of one of his positions After his playing career Gordon remembers working on a FIFA football committee and turning up to a meeting in Zurich he remember sitting down having a coffee and as he sat there he is then quickly joined by Franz Beckenbauer, and who then sat across from him was Pele and then sitting next to him was Eusebio, Michele Platini and then Dino Zoff and Gordon thought to himself, ‘If there is a team getting picked here, I’m not getting in it!’
Listen more to Gordons amazing football career, career, and life stories on the #iwasgonnae podcast.
This week's guest is FORMER Royal Marine David Devenney.
David was born in Maryhill in Glasgow and admits that he grew up in the local library and tells us ‘it was his love of books’ that set him on the path for absorbing education like a ‘sponge’.
David’s first job was an apprenticeship with his uncle before he realised that 'it wasn’t for him' and joined the police at the age of 19. However, he recalls that he ‘was always playing soldiers as a kid’ and always had that interest in the military. He remembers ‘walking down queen street towards argyle street and walked past the Army, Navy and Air force careers office and will never forget that there was a green beret in the window, ‘I thought I quite fancy that’ and so a couple of weeks was walking up to the commando training centre, which was the start of a lifelong career in the royal marines.
David tells us he still remembers the day clearly when he was called up as a commando to join the forces for the Falklands war and says they cruised down to the Falklands on the PO Canberra cruise liner, ‘it’s the only way to go to war’ he laughed.
David is currently director of the Community Veterans Support based in Govan’s Pearce Institute.
Listen to more of David’s fascinating life and career stories on the #Iwasgonnae podcast.
This week I Was Gonnae podcast guest is Billy Watson CEO of SAMH
Listen to more of Billys's life and career stories on the I Was Gonnae podcast.
Having had the amazing privilege of speaking to Andy Colquhoun the current CEO of Doosan Babcocklast week, this week I had great fun speaking to 3 of my old work colleagues (Charlie McCaffrey, Willie Robertson, and Ronnie Smith) who started their Babcock apprenticeship at the same time as I did. 40 years on I ask them to reflect on their lives and how their apprenticeship shaped their life and career.
Thanks to all of the guys for not only participating in the podcast but for their friendship throughout the past 40 years.
This week I Was Gonnae podcast guest is Andy Colquhoun.
Andy was brought up in Paisley and 'has nothing but happy memories of my younger years, from an education perspective I went to Brediland Primary school and am still fortunate enough today that I support Brediland Primary through their STEM activities'.
Andy tells us how he can still reflect on the day that was the pivot for him becoming CEO of Babcock Doosan and says' timing is everything' in career development.
Andys advice to the next generation is based on 5 things:
- Work hard.
- Overdeliver.
- Set yourself big goals.
- Take every opportunity.
- Treat everyone the way you would like to be treated.
Listen to more of Andy’s career and life stories now on the I Was Gonnae podcast.
This week's guest is Kerry Sharp interim Managing Director at Scottish Enterprise.
Kerry Sharp enjoyed numbers at school and got involved in the young enterprise scheme which was her early introduction to business and entrepreneurialism. Kerry tells us she ‘managed to get on the graduate banking scheme at the Bank of Scotland’ and ‘got exposure to personal, retail, business, corporate and through the process decided I liked the corporate side’.
Kerry is currently the interim MD, Scottish Economic Development, Scottish Enterprise, and was ‘attracted to the mix of the investment and the public sector side, because it's more than just the money and the financial returns’. Kerry tells us ‘the pleasure of what we do is that we see it (new businesses) from something which is a concept through to something which is impactful and hopefully creating lots of jobs at the same time’.
Best piece of advice that Kerry was given ‘the harder you work the luckier you will be’.
Hear more of Kerry’s career and life story now at the #IIWasGonnae podcast on Spotify.
The podcast is part of the Scottish Registered charity #IWasGonnae - we are always looking for donations to help provide our services to inspire young people. If you would like to help please go to our Just Giving website – https://www.justgiving.com/iwasgonnae
If you would like to sponsor one of our #IWasGonnae charity services, please contact one of our team for more details.
This week I Was Gonnaes guest is Bruce Walker joint founder and CEO of Future X.
In 2011 Bruce started his first business, WeAreTheFuture aged 17 from a high school classroom in Scotland, with a mission to inspire and connect entrepreneurs from around the world. Bruce tells us, ‘he has been on this crazy journey, reaching out to the most successful people he can think of’, he started his business off by sending ‘Lord Sugar an email and then Michele Mone, and Tom Hunter he was asking if they would attend one of the events he was organising. Eventually, his persistency was rewarded, and he received replies from some of the most successful people in the world and also received an endorsement from Lord Sugars company.
He tells us a story of a friend who sent a tweet to Richard Branson and got a reply to say that he may be at a charity and suggested that if she attended the event, she may meet him. After raising $2000 to attend the event she did meet Richard Branson and persuaded him to invest $1m into her company. The same friend then invited Bruce over to the states which really ignited his entrepreneurial spirit and continued developing connections with businesses within Silicon Valley and all over the world.
Moving forward Bruce has delivered global summits and programmes in Edinburgh, London, Berlin, San Francisco, Chicago, Los Angeles, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, and Shenzhen, partnering with global brands.
Hear more of his life story now on the I Was Gonnae podcast..
Lawrence was born in Rottenrow hospital in Glasgow but as he puts it ‘made in the Royal Navy’.
Lawrence tells us that he knew that early on academia at school wasn’t for him and one day at the age of 14 ‘my mum and dad took me through to Rosyth Navy days’ ‘and wandered around the ships and saw where they had been in the world and from that day that’s what I wanted'.
For the next 20 years, Lawrence served in the Navy spending time in many Navy bases and traveled the world, and progressed through to becoming Master at Arms. During these years he tells us he ‘was lucky enough to visit all sorts of places Hong Kong, Singapore, Middle East all over Europe’ and ‘had fantastic experiences. And remembers being on board HMS Intrepid during the Falklands conflict.
After 20 years’ service ‘I had a decision to make to come out and do something else or take my pension’ his concern at returning to civilian life was ‘sometimes service people are pigeonholed as what they may be as employees’. But wanted to prove to himself that he could make a success of civilian life.
Progress several years on and Lawrence has set up Azure a company involved in hospitality and tells us the story of pitching to Sir David Murray for the catering contract for Rangers FC and serving during match days responsible for coordinating an operation which consisted of 1500 staff. Before selling Lawrence and his team had expanded the business significantly with a turnover of £15m.
Lawrence is now the MD of the Good Coffee company a business he has built to enable him to also put ‘something back into the community.
Next year Lawrence has challenged himself to do Everest base camp.
When asked what his advice to the next generation he told us-
‘ I urge you to travel as far and as much as possible, work ridiculous shifts to save your money, go without the latest iPhone, throw yourself out of your comfort zone, find out how other people live, and realise that the world is a much bigger place than the town that you live in. And when you come home, home may still be the same and yes you may go back to the same old job but something in your mind will have changed but trust me that changes everything’.
Becky Woodhouse - Founder and CEO of Pure Spa and Beauty
Spending 2 1/2months of the COVID lockdown stranded in Bangkok gave Becky Woodhouse time to reflect on her Pure Spa and beauty business. Uncertain if the business she had built up over nearly 20 years could survive a pandemic. But as you will hear Becky is extremely resilient, hardworking, and always finds a way.
Becky was born in Norwich and at the age of 10 her resilience was apparent when she had to fight her case in an education system which she says ‘felt like they expected her to fail’ and they had ‘No real expectation about students going to University’. ‘Maths sits well with me’ and she thought ‘perhaps a rounded business career would suit’ and started applying to some accountancy firms. Becky was initially rejected from PWC and was so upset at the rejection that she ‘hot-footed it down to the PWC offices and said I am definitely the person you need for this job; you need to reinterview me!’ and was subsequently offered the job.
At 27, Becky founded the Pure Spa and beauty business and takes a lease on her first premises and ended up her dad and Becky completed the fit-out of the shop themselves, painting the walls alongside her 6-month-old baby! Shop fit-out completed she realised she could open the shop but had forgotten to think about marketing the business so purchased 10000 leaflets and hand-delivered these leaflets to tenement flats these with her son Morgan in a pram! - ‘There is no easy way to build up a customer base there are no shortcuts, you have to put in the hours, put in the work’.
Listen to more of Becky’s story now.
This week's guest is Craig Perkins. Craig is one of those #entrepreneurs that can’t sit still. Whether it's working within his Key Reservations 🏟business taking booking for his corporate clients, taking some corporate clients ‘doon the water for a dram’ on his Yacht’⛵or working on his latest business venture Tower Consultants supplying employees into the hotel trade, Craig never sits still. At an early age Craig ‘did everything not to be at school’ and now has to try to tell his kids ‘not to do that’! Craig from the age of 14 started his own Saturday business working washing cars and knew if he worked, he could get money in his pocket. And that was me on my journey, I never looked back’.
Listen now to #Iwasgonnae #podcast 44 to hear Craig's life and career development from Williamwood school to entrepreneur and becoming a home schoolteacher during lockdown!
‘If a job is worth doing, do it right’ says Janet Haugh CEO of YPeople in the latest #IWasGonnae🎙 podcast. These were the words of advice passed on by her father and that she has lived her life by. Janet’s life journey starts with her mum probing and testing her to see if she had what it takes to become an accountant she recalls. Having worked within several Accountancy positions within the public sector Janet saw an opportunity within Marys Wheels ‘an amazing organisation which she says she had the privilege to be a part of’ she tells us with a proud smile and within 6 years had become CEO. Traveling to Liberia she remembers that she couldn’t eat and was ill for all the time she was there, but it was ‘irrelevant when you saw the amazing work being done by the people of Liberia’. seeing the difficulties endured by families there ‘puts life into perspective’ ‘these people don’t need our sympathy they just need our help and support’.
Listen to more of her life story on the IWasGonnae podcast.
This week we had the opportunity to speak to Mike Smith, MD of The Orb Group. Mike’s life story begins In London at the age of 23 working as a Financial analyst and then quickly moved into working within the marketing department at Tennent’s brewery and having ‘an amazing amount of fun’ procuring merchandise mike realised ‘hold on I could do this’ and set up on his own. Mike reflects and suggests that at the age of 15/16 he always knew wanted to run his own business however his early career development showed him the specific niche for the business idea.
Mike tells us of the steps they had to take in business to achieve the success they have now within the ORB Group and indicates that it wasn’t until he stood back from handling client accounts and started to run the business that it quickly developed from £1m to £3m turnover business.
Listen to Mikes fascinating life story now and don’t say I Was Gonnae just say I am Gonnae.
This week I Was Gonnaes guest is David Scott, Singer-songwriter and member of The Pearlfishers and BMX Bandits.
We love examples of the ‘gallusness’ we promote at #Iwasgonnae, David tells us how he knew before he left school he wanted to be in a band and had the determination and developed the skills to pull together his own band by the age 16. Since then he has been the main songwriter, producer and vocalist of Pearlfishers since their inception. David discusses how he has managed to work with some of Scotlands top music royalty and how he has been motivated by lots of incredible artists but none more so than Brian Wilson of The Beachboys. Listen to this amazing podcast now. And, never say #Iwasgonnae
This week I Was Gonnaes guest is Graeme Duffin, Singer-songwriter and member of Wet Wet Wet.
We love examples of the ‘gallusness’ we promote at #Iwasgonnae, Graeme tells us how first fell in love with the guitar whilst having piano lessons! And how this love of the guitar took him from being bullied at school to being a member of one of the biggest 80s pop bands Wet Wet Wet.
Graeme also discusses why he promotes https://www.mcguireprogramme.com/en/uk
Listen to this amazing podcast now. And, never say #Iwasgonnae
This week I Was Gonnaes guest is Connie McLaughlin, Sports presenter and journalist.
We love examples of the ‘gallusness’ we promote at #Iwasgonnae, Connie tells us how her love for football and journalism has made her one of the most recognised names in the business having over the last 13 years been a broadcaster for BT Sport, BBC, Sky Sports and Bauer Radio. She has covered football matches at all levels in the UK and can be found on BT Sport's The Score program and BBC 5's Live's football coverage.
She's also the founder of Inner Buzz, one of the nation’s leading sports behavioural consultancies.
She’s a regular speaker and media contributor in the UK and US on self-development and has worked with some of the largest companies in the world. Listen to this amazing podcast now. And, never say #Iwasgonnae
This week I Was Gonnaes guest is Ian Donaldson, Singer-songwriter for Glaswegian band H2O and novelist.
We love examples of the ‘gallusness’ we promote at #Iwasgonnae, Ian tells us the story of visiting his career adviser at Govan High whilst still at school his adviser's advice was incredible. Ian also tells us of his musical inspiration came from watching David Bowie (his hero) on Top of the Pops and how he managed to make the transition from Govan in Glasgow on to Top of the Pops. Listen to this amazing podcast now. And, never say #Iwasgonnae
This week I Was Gonnaes guest is Martyn Robertson, BAFTA winning Video/Film Producer/Director working across the UK and worldwide.
FROM THE GREENS OF CASTLEMILK TO A RED CARPET IN LA
We love examples of the ‘gallusness’ we promote at #Iwasgonnae, so when during a podcast interview with Film-maker Martyn Robertson we heard this one, we were cock-a-hoop. Martyn was at first an accomplice in an extraordinary story and then made a film about it. It started when jobbing Castlemilk actor, Martin Docherty landing a role with Tom Hanks in the film Cloud Atlas, also starring Halle Berry and Hugh Grant. Invited to the premiere in LA, Martin didn’t have the money to travel. So, Martyn and a friend started a campaign to get him there. After a media stir, anonymous donors came good to cover their costs and off to LA they travelled – only to be told by Warner Bros, not to come. ‘Your story might distract from the Premiere’ – news travels fast. Just as they were ready to disguise as cinema ushers – Warner Bros relented. Listen to this amazing tale now. And, never say #Iwasgonnae
This week I was gonna 🎙podcast really enjoyed chatting to guest Ray Bugg Founder at DIGIT.FYI *** End User Events & News in Digital Transformation, InfoSec, FinTech, IT Leadership, AI, ML, Data💻.
Callum and I really enjoyed chatting to Ray and hearing how he is dealing with the restrictions surrounding COVID, his life and inspirational business ideas and concepts.
Find more information about Ray digit.fyi
This week I was gonna podcast really enjoyed chatting to guest ✈ Gordon Cowan - Group CEO at UNITED Jet Fuel & EEP and Charity Trustee.
Callum and I really enjoyed chatting to Gordon and hearing how he is dealing with the restrictions surrounding COVID, his life and inspirational business ideas and concepts.
Find more information about Gordon - Gordon Cowan | LinkedIn
This week I was gonna podcast had the privilege of having is Gordon White, Owner and Managing Director of Fatbuzz Ltd Marketing agency as its guest. Callum and I really enjoyed chatting to Gordon and hearing his stories of COVID, his life growing up in Scotland and having a beer in the Horseshoe bar one minute and the next being the owner of a marketing agency!
GIVING AT THE HEART OF COMMUNITIES THAT CAN LEAST AFFORD IT
From feeding 40,000 kids a day in Malawi to the cashback scheme from the police and Food for Good. Tony is proud of what his Celtic FC Foundation is achieving. “We can’t boil the ocean, but we try to do what we can do. “Our role is to tackle poverty and redeem the lives of marginalised people. We identified 60 charities and funded these through the ‘Food for good’ program. What we increasingly realise is that many people don’t just need food they often need support with their mental health. We are also addressing that imperative.”
One observation Tony is happy to share? It is people with the least that often give the most. His experience of this spirit started at home and then at St Andrews Secondary School in the east end of Glasgow. A school which Tony describes as ‘Mental’. It was run by the Marist Brothers and headed by Brother John Ogilvie who “had a heart of gold. He really did care about people and would regularly dip into his pocket if someone needed it.”
It was years later in 2008, when after studying for his MBA, and with many years working in marketing roles at the Club, Tony was asked to set-up the Celtic FC Foundation. It was a challenge he relished, and it certainly didn’t take him long to realise the immensity of the generosity out there – especially from some of the poorest communities. But with the Club’s global draw we also organise fundraising dinners and events across the World – from London to New York. “It is something we will never, ever take for granted.”
No entry to the ‘Polis’
When he left school Tony’s ambition was to go into law and he sent applications to a number of Police forces. These were unsuccessful admits Tony, who now reflects on the attainment and expectation gap that existed back in the early 80s. In his view, the gap was greater than now. “I did what many young men did in our community: “Got married young and had children.”
What has never left Tony from his younger years is the ethos that existed in his community in Glasgow’s east end. “You were brought up to look after people who needed help.”
Now at the Celtic FC Foundation, that is precisely what drives him today. So, how does he advise young people today? “Have ambition, manage your expectations, have a bit of humility, make good choices and live your best life. It’s not the money you make or where you get to travel to that should measure your success or make you happy. It is the people you surround yourself with. In short, find something to do which makes you happy, do it now and don’t have any regrets.”
The Power of Inspiration
Tony has been both humbled and inspired by two books: One million Little Pieces by James Frey, whose experiences with drugs saw him near death’s door before he checked in a Rehabilitation Clinic. It is a heartrending journey that will inspire anyone who finds themselves in that situation. The other is “All Hell Let Loose, from a politically opposite source, Max Hastings. It is the very human stories of how World War 2 impacted on ordinary lives that reinforces the utter futility of war. He cites his father and former Celtic hero, Stillian Petrov as his most inspiring influencers.
So, what of the pandemic and the various stages of lockdown. “The really positive thing for me has been that bit more time spent at home and, believe it or not in the kitchen, where I have done much more cooking – expanding my skills. The food is "still terrible” but the focus and learning has been great. While Tony may not be the world’s greatest chef, his greatest pride is the work ethic of his family. One final piece of advice: “Marry a good-looking cook. That’s what my wife did.”
In memory of Ann McDonald (1932-2020)
FEEL THE FEAR AND DO IT ANYWAY
Pat Armstrong’s mum wrote in her primary school yearbook, that she should reach for the stars. Now many years later, that is precisely the same advice she would give to young people today. And, she adds, that these stars might well be much further than you imagine and as planes rarely travel in a straight line, there may well be many turns along the way.
Pat is Chief Executive of ACOSVO, the Association of Chief Officers of Scottish Voluntary Organisations, whom she has led for 17 years. This is all a far cry from where it all began in Edinburgh’s Pilton, where in summer the toes were routinely cut out of shoes during summer to make sandals. “We never thought of ourselves as living in deprivation, although growing up where your world is small, you don’t see opportunities out there and will tend towards what you believe is available to you.”
This week Callum and I had the privilege of chatting to 🏉Kenny Logan🏉 Ex international Scotland International, Wasps, Farmer, 🕺Strictly Dancer🕺, Founder of Logan Sports Marketing, Co-founder of National Fitness Games (NFG) and Icons Art.
Rugby legend, Kenny Logan tells ‘I Was Gonnae’ how he went from classroom hell and a field of coos to sporting glory.
Kenny Logan is one of Scotland’s most celebrated rugby internationalists, scoring five tries on his debut and winning a total of 70 caps. Yet what people may not know about him is that he endured stomach-churning struggles throughout his schooling.
What he says will resonate with so many youngsters who, like him, feel they are outside the classroom looking in. His message is one of inspiration to those who feel that same sense of alienation.
“Every day, says Kenny, I had stomach aches going to school … I thought I would go to the GP take antibiotics and I would be ok.” But that was never going to be the case. You see Kenny is one of 10% of the UK population with dyslexia - undiagnosed dyslexia may that percentage up to around 17%.
“The teachers at school, in general, didn’t understand me.” How many young people will tell that same story? Yet like many dyslexics, one apparent disadvantage, signals greatness yet undiscovered.
History is littered with dyslexics who found their greatness from Walt Disney to Leonardo da Vinci and Richard Branson to Jim Carrey. Albert Einstein is also reputed to have been dyslexic. Kenny Logan found his greatness on the rugby field. What though if he hadn’t the opportunity to hold an oval ball?
Kenny’s message to teachers today is clear:
“Your job as a teacher is to find the star in a child and celebrate it.”
Yet it was dealing with the struggle at school that also gave Kenny a wee bit of an edge: “school was hard for me but (conversely) that’s where I got a lot of strength from.”
The launch of Kenny’s pro Rugby career and his route to Scottish internationalist represents a dramatic shift in fortune:
“I was a farmer. My father had recently passed away. I had 350 cows to look after and a 300-acre farm. I was dyslexic and earning £4k per year. I then signed a professional contract and was making 50k … it was all happening so fast. Then my international debut and scoring five tries.”
“My motivation comes from a simple adage. The harder you work the luckier you get - it won't come to you, you need to go and get it”
And so, Kenny Logan from Stirling County, who struggled at school and thought his condition might be cured with anti-biotics goes on to win 70 international caps, marry television presenter Gabby Yorath (Now Logan) and waltz on Strictly Come Dancing.
His advice to young people is this: “Do things that you want to do. Enjoy what you do and live in the moment.”
‘I was gonnae’ exists to challenge head-on the Scottish habit of selling ourselves short and believing that who we are, where we come from and what our parents and pals tell us matters. It doesnae. We want to inspire young Scots to get above themselves and take on the World.
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For more information about Theo Priestley visit: https://www.theopriestley.com
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More about I was gonnae - www.Iwasgonnae.co.uk
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For more information on the Glasgow rocks basketball team - www.glasgowrocks.co.uk
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https://www.iwasgonnae.co.uk