William Neilly.was born on 3 December 1947 at Forbes Street, Camlachie, the home of his maternal grandparents, although the family lived in Newhall St, Bridgeton.  Just after World War II (1939-1945) the Corporation built new houses in Dalmarnock and in 1949 his Ma and Da must have felt they’d won the fitba’ pools when they were allocated a three apartment with kitchen & inside bathroom at No.17 Woddrop Street,
                  Dalmarnock. 





The Neilly family
continued to live at
number 17, from
1949 until 1981 when
their Ma was re-housed
in the Calton. 

 

 

 

 

The Neilly Family
Hogmanay 1958.

 

This photo was taken by eldest brother John Neilly as the family brought in the “Bells” of New Year 1959. 
Left to right round the table is: William, Edward, Joey the budgie, Thomas, our Da, Mary and our Ma.

William attended Springfield Primary,  Riverside Secondary and Whitehill Secondary Schools. He also attended David Dale College, Stow College and eventually graduated BSc Civil Engineering from Strathclyde University. 

His wife Sandra was also born and bred in the East End.  They met at the Highlander’s Institute and were married on 2 September 1971. They initially set up home in North Carntyne, Glasgow where their daughter Vivienne was born in 1973.  His work with the former Strathclyde Regional Council prompted a move to Hamilton, South Lanarkshire.   They’ve lived in Hamilton since 1981.  Their daughter graduated from Central College of Commerce as a Beauty Therapist.  She has her own beauty salon and has been trading for over ten years.

GlescaPals 'Walk Doon Memory Lane' – Games – inspired this painting, “Oot Tae Play”  
"This is a painting of weans playing in the streets of Glasgow around the 1950’s.  It is painted using acrylic on canvas board measuring 610 x 455 mm (24” x 18”) and is protected by two coats of satin varnish.  It is signed and dated by myself. 

You could imagine this as looking northwards up Dunn Street towards Fielden Street on the other side o’ London Road, wi’ the number 9 caur headin’ oot tae Auchenshuggle.  The “young firm” playing fitba’ at the junction wi’ Bernard Street and the ragman opposite Walkinshaw Street.   But it’s a’ in the mind.

 

How many games and how many glescapals can you spot in the painting, no’ counting the folk on the tram or the two cats and dug?   There are forty-eight glescapals and at least seventeen games being played by the weans. 

 

By the way, me an’ m’ pals are climbin’ up the back o’ the billboards and m’ Da and his pals are havin’ a hauf ‘n’ a hauf in The Fly Yin – named after wan o’ m’ cats, Fred, who thinks he’s a fly yin. The wee boy in the yellow jumper is pointing tae Fred havin’ a drink from the puddle ootside the pub."

Regards, William Neilly, artist, January 2009.

My painting “Snowing at Bridgeton Cross – 1950’s” GlesgaPals black and white photo taken from a GlescaPals webpage 

It is an original composition painted using acrylic on canvas board measuring 508 X 406mm (20” X 16”) and is protected by two coats of gloss varnish.  It is signed and dated by myself.

 

Looking north, London Road is to the left and right and behind the number 26 tramcar en route to Burnside from Dalmuir.  To the left of the umbrella is the number 106 trolley bus en route to Govan from Riddrie.  The number 9 tramcar, en route to Auchenshuggle, can be seen emerging from the corner of the tenement building on the left of the painting.  “His Majesty O’Keefe”, starring Burt Lancaster and co-starring Joan Rice and Andre Morell is showing in glorious Technicolor at the Olympia ABC picture house in the background. (This film was actually showing in the Olympia on 21^st October 1954 - at the time Bridgeton Cross was inundated with floodwaters after torrential rain).