James Boyd (28.08.1939-20.05.2017)

James Boyd (28.08.1939-20.05.2017)
Jimmy to his closest “Boydy” to others.
A friend, a father-figure, a confidante and a cavalier.
A singer, a musician, an enigmatic entertainer.
A comedian and exponent of Glaswegian gallows humour.
Sharp-witted and cutting like a great white sharks tooth.

JUST WAITING FOR THE BITE !!

The ponytail, the glasses, the guitar and the voice.
Masking the favourites from a time, not so long ago.
The likes of Orbison, Diamond, Humperdinck and Cash.
And the Ink-Spots, Presley, Jones and Ives .

With a Beatles medley, always on the side.

A cabin in the hills, a place to rest the skip-hat.
Bringing back a life he once lived, no ‘Leccy, no ‘Gas’ just  the coal.
An open door was the norm for all and, we certainly would oblige.
The good times, far too many to count, the details, jeez they’re still quite vague. 
But every visit that we had up there, was fodder for all our wee souls.



For a while the visits were planned every week, ‘nae' time to holiday abroad.

A couple of us would undergo the “Pilgramage”, and we would walk it from Milngavie.
The rucksacks packed with the weekend’s supplies. There’d be food, but then, there was mainly beer. 
As we trekked we’d sit and rest for a bit and sink a few of them on the way.
Eyes on the prize after Craigallian Loch, the Dumgoyne ‘Warrior’ in the distance, and there was the chimney blazing away, a sign that your nearly there. 

So much better if it was raining.

A few more minutes to go to the last hut on Lochside, Caesar’s Palace it’s in sight, “Let the hedonism begin”.
A weekend of mirth and songs of your parents, of sweat-lodges and bonfires and swimming in the loch.
And there’d be visits from strangers that soon became friends, some of which, last to this day.

Often known as the proprietor of the “Heartbreak Hotel”, a dumping ground for all of our wee tragedies.
The issue hardly mentioned, emotions were never judged.
Eager to send you back down the road, resolved and healed and good humoured. 

You’ll be ready to take on that city again, but don’t worry how long that might take.
No duration of time, take as long as is needed.
No rent is required, just “get chopping that wood”.

There’s an image of Jimmy that will always prevail. 
Sat on his seat at the “windae”, spittoon to his left with dooby in hand, a pose that will never be shifted.
Behind is a shelf with miniature Buddahs, these are gifts from his friends (from) all over the place.
And you’re greeted with a phrase I’ll never forget……. “Sit Doon, and I’ll get you a Chair”.




I’ll miss your loudness and your gregarious laughter.
I’ll miss getting told “that candles no straight”.
I’ll miss you shouting “shut the gate, there might be a loose ‘Dug’ about”, and picturing the events that that would incur.
I’ll miss your free weekend phone calls at inappropriate times, we’d be talking pure nonsense for 59 minutes, or as long as it’s under an hour.

So Jimmy, just a wee message ‘fae’ a wee “Bhoy” you adopted….


“Thanks Pal” !!