My mother named me after two saints but I failed miserably as far as saintliness was concerned. She still loved me anyway
Born: 15 February 1955 in the Eastern General Hospital. My dad said if I'd been a day earlier, it would have been Saint Valentine I was named after. I was brought up in Hamilton Street, Leith then moved to Bailleyfield Road and went to Tower Bank School. My dad worked for Ferranti's at Crewe Toll. I remember he used to cycle to work every day. We then moved to Bellevue where I stayed until I went into the Navy in 1974 as an Artificers Apprentice. I came back up to Edinburgh in 1980, just in time for the Iranian Embassy seige which led to me spending the next ten years in the reserves. When I moved back up, I got a flat in Downfield Place, where I lived for 5 years until I met my wife and moved to Murieston Crescent. She was in the WRENS at the time and had lived in Gorgie/Dalry her whole life.
Q: When/why did you first start drinking in the Tynecastle Arms?
A: I first came in a few years ago with Billy Balloch (former Tynie regular - now barred) as he'd joined the Bowling Club down the road and used to come in here on a Sunday. I'm still a member of the Bowling Club, as are about 20% of the customers here
Q: Why do you keep going in?:
A: I like the people in here and I like Senga. I often bump into her at the bus stop on her way home when I'm coming back from the Bowling Club. She's a very interesting lady and is fun to talk to. I'm made to feel very welcome in the pub, even though I'm Leith born and bred and a Hibs supporter
Q: What is your favourite song?
A: My favourite song is "Groovy Kind of Love" by Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders as it reminds me of the first time I fell in love, with a girl I was at school with. I also like a bit of country music and also love listening to Jonathan Ross on Radio 2 on a Saturday morning. His show is superb
Q: What is your favourite film?
A: 'Shrek.' My pal lent me his kids' copy and told me not to tell them I had it. I've not given it back yet because I love it. I've already watched it about 7 times. The final scene is fantastic
Q: Who are your favourite comedians?
A: Eddie Izzard to me is superb. His sense of humour is obscure and off on a tangent, just like mine. I find his stuff glorious. I have one of his early videos where half of the show is in French. I really like it as I work in the Civil Engineering Department at Heriot Watt University, so have a lot of dealings with French people and I am able to say a lot of obscure Izzardisms in French to them. I don't know what French lorry drivers trying to upload pipes make of it, but I think it's fun. I also love Monty Python and Jack Dee
Q: What is your favourite tipple?
A: Dark rum and coke or a pint of 80/-
What's your favourite holiday location?
A: I think South Wales is fantastic, particularly Methyr Tydfil and Barry. The people there are so warm. I originally went down there for the rugby but we never made it to Cardiff. I like to go back regularly and renew friendship I've made over the years and when I do, it's like I've never been away. I'd thoroughly recommend the Park View pub and the Imperial Hotel which is run by a French guy and a German lass. They come up and visit us here as well. Methyr is just like home.
Q: What place in Edinburgh do you think every visitor to the city should see?
A: The Port of Leith pub and Olivers in Rose Street for a late drink. Also, the Laich pub in Chesser is also very friendly, as are most of the pubs in Stockbridge like the Broughton and the Raeburn Hotel. I'd also want them to experience the multi-cultural aspects of Edinburgh. There's a good mix of foreign folk here. My best pal at work, Kadhim, is Iraqi. His oldest child was born in Iraq but the rest were born in Livingston. When they all go over to Iraq his parents can't understand what the kids are saying as they are speaking Iraqi with a West Lothian accent. Kadhim is a fantastic guy and possibly the person I care for the most. He's a great friend to everyone at work. I'm praying his family are ok. I started at Heriot Watt in 1985 and he started there in 1986. During the last Gulf War, his bank account was frozen because he was an Iraqi, so he went into the bank to complain and said, "What's the problem? I vote SNP." He's a bloody good mate and always will be.
Q: What was your childhood ambition?
A: My grandad was a crane driver in the shipyards and his greatest pleasure was to stand at the bottom of Leith Walk, with his bunnet on and his pint and watch the world go by. It used to be my ambition as a kid to grow up and be just like him
Q: What don't you like about Edinburgh?
A: It can be a very impersonal city, particularly the nearer you get to the city centre. The people are very clannish and tend to go out drinking with groups of workmates and not talk to anyone else. I like going drinking with the students from Heriot Watt. I love students. I think they're brilliant. I like to get them pished then take them down the kebab shop
EDDIE IZZARD
MONTY PYTHON
JACK DEE
