North East Scotland At War – by Alan Stewart

 

A facet of Scottish culture is the capacity to self-deprecate. In fact, Music Hall performers often depended on it. Chic Murray’s infamous “My father was from Aberdeen, and a more generous man you couldn't wish to meet. I have still a gold watch that belonged to him and it’s my most treasured possession. He sold it to me on his deathbed you know” is a prime example and there are plenty more still going the rounds.

Now, Harry Gordon (1893-1957) is maybe the best-known performer to have trodden the Aberdeen stage. He was known as the Laird of Inversnecky, a fictional Scottish town he used in his comic routines, and to this day there is a beachfront café – The Inversnecky Café, named in his honour. His first public appearance was probably at age 12 at Gilcomston Parish Church where he performed panto as Princess Chrysanthemum. A brief career in insurance and three years serving in the First World War followed although his war service involved entertaining troops rather than shooting at them.

Harry went on to lease a theatre on the Aberdeen beachfront and recorded shows for the BBC. He worked with many of the greats of his day but seemingly never strayed into dangerous territory on stage with one commentator reflecting that “He never let a blueish tinge mar his homely Scottish comedy”. His wholesome style was ideal for ‘Children's Hour’ on the radio and he even appeared at the London Palladium although his Doric humour maybe proved too much for a London-centric audience.

As far as I know, Harry never let the side down by making fun of his fellow Scots. He was much more inclined to reflect on homely matters:

“When I was a tiny wee laddie I used to play at posties. I would write out letters on scrap paper and post them through the neighbour’s letter boxes. One day after school I rushed home to tell my mother that I’d become a proper postman. Mother, mother! I've just delivered a real letter to every hoose in the street. That's a clever boy, she said. But where in god’s name did you get the letters from?

Oh I said, I found them in your wardrobe a' tied up wi' some really bonny pink ribbons.”

Aye.

If you’ve valued this wee snippet of Scottish history, I would encourage you to check out my books: The A-Z of Curious Aberdeenshire and The Little History of Aberdeenshire. Both titles are available from Amazon and there is a new book, sponsored by The Doric Board, on the way.