Ruth and Norman Shanks

We lived next door to where Alasdair did in Marchmont Terrace. And we still miss him – with warm and happy memories!

What does Alasdair Gray mean to you?

Explain yourself?

Extraordinary: Alasdair was the ultimate one-off.  We have so many clear and warm memories. Casual door-step chats. Visiting him when he was in hospital. One New Year when somewhat incapacitated by a leg injury, and thereby prevented from doing his usual rounds, he and Morag called on us just as we were about to head for bed. And to the bemusement of a couple of friends who were visiting us from England he proceeded, with the help of a little lubrication, to entertain us with a flow of conversation and stories. And the time one winter evening when a taxi got stuck in snow and mud outside. A number of neighbours gathered to push it out. Among them notably Alasdair, clad in only a dressing-gown, which occasionally flew open to the amusement of all - including of course Alasdair himself!

Winsome: Although Alasdair could at times appear shy and preoccupied with the concerns of the day, he had an immensely attractive personality – sometimes almost unworldly to the point of innocence.

Laughter: Who can forget Alasdair’s laugh, which we often heard through the (very thick) wall between our houses.  In fact Ruth tells how, mysteriously and bizarrely, she heard him laughing in the middle of the night as clear as daylight when we knew he was not next door but in hospital. Later we discovered it was at that very time that he had died.