Picture courtesy of The Herald & Evening Times picture archive. Photosales website www.thepicturedesk.co.uk

Jack House

I intend to write a more in-depth biography of Jack House, and I would be grateful for any stories, photos, anecdotes that you may have about this remarkable man.

In the meantime, here is a brief synopsis of his career.

Jack House has been called by many as 'Mr Glasgow', a title well-deserved for a man who wrote so much about this city. Jack himself maintains that he was not born in Glasgow, he was born in Tollcross in 1906, and Tollcross did not become part of Glasgow until 1912.

He was a journalist and worked at first for the Glasgow Evening Citizen (now defunct). He was also a radio actor. A brief foray into politics did not last beyond polling day.

During World War Two, he became a lance corporal in the Army and started writing scripts for the Cinematographic Unit. After the war, he continued working as a journalist and continued writing novels.

His books about Glasgow were in-depth and knowlegeable, but lovingly told. He was also a broadcaster and appeared regularly on television. He services to Glasgow were recognised in 1988 when he was awarded the St Mungo's Medal.

Jack House died in 1991

Picture courtesy of The Herald & Evening Times picture archive. Photosales website www.thepicturedesk.co.uk