Neil Oliver: Hard working, tough talking & not to be messed with! - episode 88

[@Paratus7]

When my spirits are low; when my disillusion at the world today is at its greatest, when my despair at the world and what is going on, along comes Neil to give me hope. Thank you Mr. Oliver.

[@mariesauvagetova1757]

You said it right ! M.

[@betsyross2.065]

He's my anti depression medication..

[@RichardGoddard-cd5ss]

So very true! He is the best medicine! Such an artist with words, mood and feeling. I say feeling because you are there - delivered by Neil - to the time and place. He is just brilliant!

[@mariesauvagetova1757]

Yes dear Richard; Neil is truly first of all An ARTIST: - ) He has that Unique Gift of taking us into the Past,--deep past and more recent one; indeed through his gift and talent,--we really are his Time (co--) Travellers..And What ! A JOURNEY it is with him. NEIL is also an Excellent Educator@ Consoller@Light in the Darkness..He reminds me of our "Komenius" -'17 th Century Bohemia; He Too was Not afraid of anything...showed the Light and The way...through greatest Darkness of those times...We ARE so lucky, so very lucky with Neil.😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@Frequency-ct4sf]

Love from the Netherlands. Stay well. Cheers

[@fredgill487]

Thank you Neil from all us wide awake people.

[@glakiteejit1718]

Thank you Neil for bringing some sanity to the world we live in. It’s become very sinister .

[@rachelb2231]

Sinister you say? Last week, all 338 mp's in Canadian parliament gave a standing ovation to a SS nazi!

[@mariesauvagetova1757]

Yes ""---IT ""has become SURREALLY sinister I agree ! But very luckily we have Neil Oliver here : this incredibly Brave, authentic, humane gentleman Who it seems incarnate himself into ""these times"" ..to keep us human and non--despairing. M.

[@jane---489]

*_Neil - You momentarily let us escape to 'other worlds' of our great past and allows us to forget briefly the insanity , here in the 21 century,_* *_described beautifully as always, sigh..._*

[@johnmccann5104]

He is a brilliant orator who really does deserve a bigger audience.....just a shame he's not a cabinet minister

[@betsyross2.065]

I was thinking the same thing... Cheers from Boston USA

[@nuggetella]

True people, true to themselves, true to each other..! We are meant to be the age of knowledge and understanding, though the opposite is true... 😇 🌏 🤲

[@alisin1dland68]

Thank you Neil, another wonderful reminder of the great people that built this nation. The day after the EU ref ,i had to call a radio station,as people, mostly city workers , were saying how disgusting it was that the working class had made that decision, with the argument being , what do they do, we do all the work. I called & had a debate with one of these people &. asked him how he gets to work. I had to stay explain to him that the bridges, the buildings, the tunnels all of it ,were built off the backs of the working class, going down mines for coal to power it the steel workers & on & on i went. He was defeated by facts.& hung up.

[@annapachaclarke2392]

Good for you. So many dim but entitled people, and the disrespect for ancestors who built everything! It is appalling how throwaway, entitled and ignorant so many are!

[@hazeltyler89]

Hiya from Canada! Thank you for covering our PM's latest blunders.

[@hittitecharioteer]

Blunders? He KNEW exactly what he was being said through your "speaker". Have a good look around your parliament. Can your representatives really be so ignorant of who your forefathers fought for? Because anyone with more than two braincells more than a halfwit can see what order of creatures you've elected. Communicate your objections to the supporters of 1930s Germany's nat socialists. Your clapping seals are Nutzis. And it won't stop at hosting men like Hunka. It will come to your front door eventually.

[@kerrybayton2954]

They are not blunders, they are intentional..

[@hittitecharioteer]

@@kerrybayton2954 I posted the following 2 hours ago. I'm sure it is shadow-banned. Censorship is rife on YT. Blunders? He KNEW exactly what he was being said through your "speaker". Have a good look around your parliament. Can your representatives really be so ignorant of who your forefathers fought for? Because anyone with more than two braincells more than a halfwit can see what order of creatures you've elected. Communicate your objections to the supporters of 1930s Germany's nat socialists. Your clapping seals are Nutzis. And it won't stop at hosting men like Hunka. It will come to your front door eventually.

[@rumblefish3290]

​@@kerrybayton2954, hi , was thinking the same .

[@lynclarke6184]

What a shocker Trudeau is. Obviously a placed puppet like most of the western leaders. God help us.

[@sharonwhiteley6510]

What a beautiful tribute to an Era that has literally sailed

[@alexandro446]

Fantastic viewing Neil. A Scottish hero and British hero. Hats off to you Neil.

[@mariesauvagetova1757]

So well said ! I agree with you 200 %....😄😂😄

[@CdEmm50]

Used to love his tv programmes here in England. 👍

[@lindamuldoon8215]

The shipyards came up in conversation just yesterday in our home in regional Queensland! My Glaswegian husband and I first met at a small company in Melbourne, Australia in 2001. His dad had been a sheet metal worker in the shipyards until they closed. The family then went to Rhodesia and at age 16, my husband went back to Scotland and lived with his Grandma as he was about to be conscripted into the Rhodesian army. This disruption in his education left him between levels so he never really obtained the marks he was capable of. He did get some qualifications in due course and ultimately made his way to Australia where he came to the company I worked at to undertake a 3 week contract. He left 11 years and a wife later! So many sliding door moments for us to have even met! If the yards hadn't closed...

[@MrKm1066]

Fabulous insight to our country & nation: thanks Neil 👌

[@britanniau.k.4352]

My own home town of Hartlepool was built with the blood, sweat and tears of men like this.Our town was a major ship builder in the 60s rivalling the Clyde and Merseyside.Sadly, we lost our ship building, and it is now a mere memory of our maritme heritage.

[@nolslifegren]

King Kong went there once . He said " Ive come for ma boy " !

[@jeanetteschulthe1andOnly]

There is much ship building history here in SF. And it is true, it does make you proud. (The Blue Angels were just here.) Alameda is a Navy town, we have the USS Hornet there. I have been on it several times. Once we were lucky enough to have an engineer take us through and we learned about the mechanics of it. Another time we had a Navy chief, that was good too. Hats off to all the docents. On the Oakland Estuary, were all small ship builders, WWII era was the hey day, old slag boulders, rails going into the water to roll them out are all that remain. I walked along the beach and found two 12" bolts which are treasured artifacts, prominently placed. It is a nice little area, if you are ever in Oakland, CA. Thank you for sharing, Neil.

[@iowablackhawk7091]

Neil, the entire world needs more of your gentle encouragement. Please know how much you are loved and treasured in the hearts of all of us who recognize the end of the works that defined western greatness and the noble enterprise of working men and women. We shall not pass this way again in my lifetime. Some days it seems like the Meek have already inherited the Earth. I praise your effort to show us how to stand tall, heads held high above the herd. May the record you are leaving us endure forever.

[@betsyross2.065]

Neill Oliver,simply the best... Cheers ❤

[@Loraann54fi10]

Thank you so much for making this video. My Grandfather was a ship builder in Glasgow. He came here to America with his mother and siblings in 1916. He enlisted in the United States Navy to fight in World War 1. That was how he received his American citizenship. I know very little about his life before he immigrated here because I was young when he passed and wasn't able to ask him all sorts of questions like I got to with my other grandparents. So, thank you for giving me a look inside what his life may have been like when he was young. I have always been extremely proud to be his granddaughter because of the way my mum spoke about him. To her, he was the greated, bravest, most wonderful man who ever lived. The more I find out about him, the more prouder I become.

[@christinemck7033]

Scotland has a lot to be proud of because what trade they did, they did extremely well. All of your information is very interesting and knowledgeable.

[@mothmagic1]

Not to mention the amount of engineering feats they were responsible for around the Empire. Especially in terms of Railways, the Scottish engineers were the architechts of most of the E,pires railways.

[@wfbcwfbc7884]

Neil Oliver national treasure...🎉🎉🎉

[@mariesauvagetova1757]

MY WORDS TOO ! ---😊😊😊

[@tooclaws]

Greetings Brother, I am a northeast UK veteran aged 54 and all I can say! People like yourself makes us Proud instead of PTSD. :( One Love and Peace out. x

[@mariesauvagetova1757]

Hello NE / UK ; - ) I agree with you😊😊😊Marie. S.

[@tooclaws]

@@mariesauvagetova1757 Kind Regards Lee.

[@raedgaj3878]

Hi Lee, I reckon you are old enough to have witnessed the sad days in the early 1980's with all our [proud] industries being shut down & going abroad. The daily sight of thousands of men all walking to work in the Shipyards, in North Shields we had Swan Hunters & North East Shipbuilders in Wallsend, also with Pallion & Southwick Shipyards in Sunderland. Also the hectic hustle bustle of the North Shields Fish Quay.

[@Mikerumball]

Thank you for sharing such a heartwarming family story Neil.

[@jeanettecampbell5205]

Love travelling with you, Neil...Slainte

[@isabelrice4494]

Oh The River Clyde, The wonderful Clyde, the name of it thrills me and fills me with pride. (words of an old Scottish song) This video's wonderful Neil. Tingles and goosebumps all the way through it !

[@mariesauvagetova1757]

Me too -!!😊😊😊

[@janethalliburton8539]

Lovely to see and hear Repulse mentioned. My late Father was Gunnery Officer and went down with her but survived to tell the tale. I can just remember QE11 being launched and Dad’s very disparaging views about her! He told me all about the ship building and I was taken all around the city and Docks with him when I was pretty young. He was so upset about its demise and here in Kent when Chatham went, his famous line was that the RN was reduced to one angry man in a rowing boat! I remember his stories about Scapa Flow too and how beautiful it was. Thank God he is no longer around to see what is now happening! From a great ship building city to one where it’s actively discouraged to drive in! What an ignominious end….

[@garethdavies7450]

A really enjoyable story, covering all modes of transport

[@philrogers2406]

Neil I still do the hard working with my son. . I have never had a job, I have been self employed all my life. My son has been self employed since he was sixteen too. We aren't to be messed with but the government want to cancel us.

[@suemcdermott2947]

They could not control you

[@ange1098]

@@Sigmatizedwell done, sounds lovely

[@budkopach3163]

I loved hard work with the other hard working types. I'm getting a little disappointed that at 63 I can still keep up. I would have thought that all the young guys would out work me but.. not so much.

[@joanhanrahan5775]

Well done! I’m 82 now and have lived all over British Isles and Ireland. As a healthy older woman I’m becoming nervous of the future but will stand up as long as possible. I’m trained in nutritional and herbal medicine and still see patients and continue to teach and help others. Thank you Neil for your common sense.

[@markwhite6782]

From the US, I always consider Britts as the same people as us, just in a different state more or less. As a historian of WW2 I still cannot believe the tenacity and toughness of you Britts. Without you the world would be a much much more dangerous place today because we dragged our feet as you fought the most powerful nation in the world determined to wipe you off the map. When one studies the battle of Brittain and sees how your citizens banded together and refused to give in it sends chills down my spine thinking of Churchills speech.

[@yarnchickenkim]

I’m so glad I stumbled upon this documentary. My paternal ancestors hailed from Scotland. I hope to visit one day, so it helps to know more history about it. My father traveled all over the world and said his favorite was the British Isles.

[@sylustalks1020]

I used to live in Forth South Lanarkshire it was a mining town just like my own home town. The place is all but dead and the village / town still has no gas. I had a 9KW multi fuel Wood Warm stove. It was an amazing thing. I heated my whole 2 storey house with it. No radiators required. I used to cook on it and the likes.

[@cheds1]

Hi Neil. You may well have seen that an ancient tree on Hadrians Wall was felled in strange circumstances. I live in the area and a tale has been passed down through my family that King Arthur lies in stasis in that exact spot. Got me thinking it has similar connotations to story lines as Alice in wonderland or Wizard of Oz where the characters were in a deep sleep and when they awoke they were reborn from the darkness . Maybe these were written as allegories for us to understand this world and find truth and light.

[@stevenbrindley2469]

Fantastic story of our great past, gone but never forgotten. Stunning photographs too.

[@Bannock-j4q]

Hi Neil, Your latest podcast of the Clyde shipbuilding brings back some fond memories of Glasgow to me. Though I was born in Cowie My closest friend whom I met in 1956 in Toronto came from Penilee in Glasgow. Eventually, we both returned to Scotland I in 1957 & he in 1962. Also, my wife was born in the Cowcaddens in 1941. So, my connections to Glasgow have been very close. Your history of John Brown’s & the Glasgow sense of humour brought back many happy memories. From 1962 onward, until I returned to Toronto in 1967. I used to spend every second Friday night in Glasgow with my friend. I travelled by bus from Whins of Milton, and we would meet in a small pub on the Northeast corner of Buchannan & Sauchiehall Streets. After a couple of pints, we would hightail it up to the Pavilion theatre, pay our 1/3d and stand at the back to watch the Lex McLean show. He changed his show every two weeks. It was Glasgow humour at it’s finest. Lex was an avid reader of the newspapers, and all his one-liners were current. Now to the jist of this monologue. During the Profumo scandal in 1963. Lex, in one of his shows said that he had heard that Christine Keeler was moving to Dunbarton because she heard that John Brown had a yard. Lex brought the house down

[@tonyforeman9502]

Great episode. I remember, as a school boy, seeing the QE2 going down the Clyde.

[@brianmcgeachy6205]

Me too.😊

[@gr2846]

Loved this episode. Proud to be a Glaswegian 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@antonykirkwood7341]

Great friday night in watching the best orator in my lifetime of 50 years.Thankyou neil.

[@splodgenessabounds150]

Thank you Neil, your narration combined with photos and snippets of film bring back memories. When the QE2 was officially launched (from John Brown Shipyards) I was 7 and I remember that the school I was at (Clyde St primary, Helensburgh) sat us all down to watch what seemed like a giant projector screen of her launch (in B&W of course).

[@rachelb2231]

As usual, outstanding! Much love to you sir! Neil Oliver for PM!

[@mariesauvagetova1757]

I agree with you 100 % !----HOW shall we go about it ?😊😊😊

[@mariesauvagetova1757]

DEFINITELY ! 😊😀😄NEIL is that NEW DAWNING in the NORTH..😀😀😇.M.

[@JohnSmith-rn8ui]

So what are we going tto do Neil? Eyes wide open for those that can see ! What are we going to do ? About it All ? ??

[@maccampbell8359]

Neil, my dad had got me a job at Swan hunters : if yer dad worked their, chances are they'd give you a job.: My ma took me to the co-op, first suit....I stepped off the train at Newcastle central..opposite, Royal Navy recruiting office ; that afternoon, my dad got word from the office I hadn't turned up for the interview...I stayed at me grannies that night...didn't fancy my neck getting snapped....I walked through the gates of Royal Navy training ship HMS Ganges wearing that suit....I was fourteen.

[@jolenesmith631]

My grandad lived through world war 2 as well as my nan who was evacuated at a young age. My great great grandad worked on Woolwich ferry in East London. I a cockney come from great discoveries throughout the years. I am still finding out the great suffering that was cause and effect of the “leaders”. My Fathers side, Scottish, My great great grandfather a army officer, wife of an interesting woman who published a book called “for you I remember” I have been blessed with amazing unbelievable stories. Thank you for triggering these stories that came from yours🙏🏻

[@earthwalker9109]

Neil I hope you read this - I have read a few of your (brilliant) books and I have to ask if you could PLEASE write some of your more ‘revolutionary’ posts in book form?! Purely because in the near future I suspect we will become internet-deprived and good old fashioned books will be vital. Every word is gold 🙏🏼 and we will need it ❤

[@Inisfad]

The photos in this presentation are spectacular.

[@myclearspiral3687]

Yes, your book makes for an enjoyable read. Thoroughly enjoyed every page.

[@jonathangold2087]

Another stellar episode of your wonderful podcast Neil! Your ability to do a deep dive into the factors that have impacted so much of world and British history, is remarkable!!! We learn so much about the backstories behind these pivotal subjects through our history. You are quite the masterful storyteller, and in the process bring forth fascinating aspects of history, that many of us had no previous knowledge of. You have the rare ability to capture our attention, with the fascinating means by which you present this diverse range of subjects to us in your podcasts! Your passion for history and storytelling, are a wonderful combination, that make your videos so thoroughly enjoyable to watch. The Scottish accent serves to further enhance this for your entire audience! I look forward to watching upcoming episodes in your series. You are doing a remarkable job in expanding our horizons, on many levels. Keep up the good work!

[@paulcalver7514]

Listened... loved this. I actually felt very emotional listening.

[@kathryncoles3652]

Amazing photographs as well as wonderful commentary of much better days .

[@23715]

Why were they better ?

[@carinegevaert3775]

Thank you ❤️ always such a pleasure

[@PREPPER65]

I remember standing in the playground of my primary school on the 20th September 1967, in the shadow of John Brown's shipyard and hearing the whooping and cheering as she was launched! It was my 9th birthday! 23 years later, my ex husband was a Sergeant on the MOD police launch who guided her back up the Clyde for the 1st time. Me and my 5 and 6 year old children were allowed onboard the Police launch and heard the Captain of the QE2 thanking "Police Boat Loyalty" for their help. As a footnote - my ex husband was "Clyde built" as he "served his time" as a fitter in Govan shipyards on the Clyde (1973 - 1977) then joined the ship he helped build as a junior engineering officer and sailed all over the world - joined by me in 1978! Happy days 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🛳 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🛳 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@eileenpritchard2721]

Thanks Neil. Making history so interesting.

[@Messy6610]

My heart is heavy, as tears fall. My life is forfeit behind a government wall. While rich men connive and poor ones toil, We seek the ways to make their blood boil! Towards the end, we march forth, Our lives entwined with those up North The fight awakens in my blood To battle my last, as my ancestors would. An Englishman born of Celtic line Our countries no longer yours or mine. This war for culture, past and present, Foretold and predicted by those that went.

[@jane---489]

*_As Heart breaking as it is beautiful - Is it yours ? ..._*

[@Messy6610]

@@jane---489The poem or our country? I wrote this just now. Our country, sadly, I feel is lost to us.

[@jane---489]

@@Messy6610 *_It was the poem that I was referring to - Absolutely stunning. If you're not writing professionally - You should be ..._*

[@GT380man]

@@Messy6610Brilliant. Well penned.

[@jane---489]

@@Messy6610 *_Oh, our country is only "Lost" if we let it - I for one are ready and and waiting to defend it with all that I have ..._*

[@betkay1018]

This is the stuff we need ... to relate and be connected to our roots. Your "love letters" help keep us anchored to our history which helps shape our future direction despite the headwinds that threaten our course !!

[@dawnyWestScotland]

Who better to tell these stories but you with that wonderful accent🌲🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿☀️

[@jerriehall6662]

I'm watching your series on Scotland which you hosted and narrated. I've only recently discovered you. Delighted since I've recently discovered that I'm 43% Scottish. Then 37% English and Northwestern Europe. Then 8% Irish. This explains why I have always always loved the sound of bagpipes. Hopefully I'll get to visit the British Isles before I go to Heaven.

[@jkkjeldsen8249]

Greetings from USA. Another enjoyable trip in the time machine. Beam me up Scotty... too funny! My mom had an electric fry pan just like that and used it all the time. Thanks for the memories. --Kjeldsen in Kalifornia

[@HubertofLiege]

Same

[@jameswalker2584]

My nanna told me that during the war she ran up a greenock st to the bomb shelters while the Germans staffed the ground. She was carrying two of her baby boys in her arns. The germans were trying to hit the convoys berthed in the Clyde and the nearby towns were collaterdl damage My mum recounted how after a bombing raid sometimes classmates desks were empty. Nobody said much but everybody understood. Despite this horror my Nanna would express great sorrow for what had happening in London and other places. As a child evidence of the bombing was still present in our town and i was amazed that my Nanna was So proud of the English stsnding up to the terror and said The English are stickers they dont buckle readily Yes not people to be messed with

[@nicholaspatton1742]

Doonhan's accent was his father's, he spoke as a proud Canadian with a Scottish proud heritage.

[@karentony3397]

Awesome as usual. Love from Australia ❤️❤️

[@stellawalker4240]

Hello Neil! From the U.S.

[@ylovaht2097]

Well done

[@andrewmacgregor8717]

Thanks for that. My family comes from greater Glasgow (Dad and his brothers from Lenzie), and they remember the Queen Mary launch ( at the time it was known only by it's number 534). All the schools went to see. It was very important to the City as ship building was in the decline at the time and the depression weighed heavy. I was unaware of the way in which the Clyde was made more navigable. Damned ingenious of those Scots!

[@nioengland]

In a dangerous occupation.. one must be switched on at all times.. it is constant self-preservation when combined with heavy work.. and the need to perform day after day it produces a serious individual tough in both mind and body.. with common sense through the roof Through the generations that built up energy must be utilised somehow.. the culture becomes ingrained in the society it explains much of the UK's post industrial area's

[@michaelwienholt5381]

My Dad worked 40 years in the shipyard at Bethlehem Steel's Sparrow's Point complex. Once as a child, I was present for one of the launches of a giant oil tanker which my Dad had helped to build. This episode particularly struck a chord in my heart. Thank you Neil.

[@janelester6477]

Such great informative content thank you Neil Oliver. We all need to be reminded of what made this nation great. But sadly, no longer great, so much has been lost

[@mariesauvagetova1757]

Don't worry please; All is Not Lost!😊😊😊With someone like Neil O. We are on the Good Path--( however bleak ""it may look now).😧😧😊😄

[@nuggetella]

A beautiful time with a true sense of community, unity & purpose, what a beautiful time other than the wars.

[@23715]

And the poverty alcoholism and unchecked domestic voilence.

[@nuggetella]

@@23715 OMG, damaged people cannot ever be satisfied, never be happy, contention eternally a foreign concept...🎾

[@audreykendall7939]

Loved this Neil thank you. X

[@ShortbusMooner]

Thank you, Neil- I shared this with my 85 year old father, and he was pleased. He & my mother raced yachts when I was young, and he's always had a love of sailing and ships.. 🙏🏻

[@karloskastaneda675]

Married in the early 80's, the electric frying pan was also considered an essential/gift, it's still in my kitchen-pass our love to your Mum! We had the steel mills, coal mines, Philly shipyards..greeting from Pennsylvania...

[@carolinecrosbie7367]

Wonderful ❤ you mentioned a fryer ,I’ve still got a radio from the 70s ! They certainly don’t make things the way they used to.

[@kimlevert6984]

Many thanks for this episode. My grandfather apprenticed at John Brown's shipyard in Clydebank. It was nice to see the history

[@ruthcollins2841]

Just joined as am getting fed up with the wokeism on most other MSM sites!😊

[@mickbeckett5136]

Fantastic, no other words ❤❤

[@PaulMann8666]

I met Jimmy Reid, the organiser of the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders' Work-In, for just a few minutes sometime between 1972 and 1974 after attending the inspiring talk he gave in the Rupert Becket lecture theatre at the University of Leeds, in which he talked about his already famous statement that "A rat-race is for rats. We are not rats; we are human beings". He was inspiring because he was right, but had no smug ideas of his own greatness, but a strong conviction of the strength and justice of his cause. He was the kind of socialist that my Grandfather, a 1920s/30s union man in Salford/Manchester was, and that I aspired to be: before the "left" was abducted into Loony Land by air heads that had never done an honest day's work in their cosy lives. He was perhaps not just a "great man" in the comfortable establishment sense. Much more than that, he was what my Salfodian Grandad (born 1886) would have called "A bloody good lad".

[@rosemaryrandell7295]

THX for retelling stories I grew up with. My father was the Master at Arms on the maiden voyage of the Queen Mary. As well one of the 1st stories I ever heard from my inlaws in Clydebank was about the wave on launching the QM.

[@Christoph1888]

I have the same cooker. Given to me by my mum and it was given to her by her mum. Still works!

[@robertdaoust5691]

Another excellent talk, thank you.

[@EldritchMaven]

Born in Scotland, apprenticed in Hawthorn Leslie Marine Engineers in St Peters, Byker, I watched and participated in this shipbuilding era, unfortunately near its end. I have since worked from Europe to the Far East for over 50 years.

[@marksadventures3889]

As I've come to do, I was listening to this great podcast whilst stood in the kitchen prepping vegetables for freezing, dehydrating and canning. It was leeks and runner beans today. I don't know of any links in my family to shipbuilding, most were miners or military or naval. I love listening to these podcasts and share them with others via social media as at the moment I'm not in a position to give financial support. I do remember as a boy my father taking me to Portsmouth, Bucklers Hard, Lymington, Plymouth and other places showing me the ships that made Britian and in the city i lived in for many years, I saw that huge ship of Brunel - The Great Britain, Isambard Kingdom Brunel - master of metal. I think IKB was the Elon Musk of his day apart from the wealth bit. I wasn't shown much about the mines, I think that was because it was a difficult time for my dad as a boy, I think it was why he ran off and joined the army, many did. For war too be better than going down the pit gives an indication of the state of mining and its curse on the towns of the Empire. I also think that Northern towns, like Burnley, where my dad was born, were suffering from such neglect and had only been seen as places where resources come from. No wonder their football teams were so beloved. Turf Moor of 1883 until today - never too far from controversy due to some of the fanbase, but staunchly proud of it's early history in the FA is the epicentre of the town. If I were to do my Love Letter to the British Isles Turf Moor would be in the top 20 because it had a profound association with the mines and that linked to my family who were miners in Burnley, Fence, Padiham and earlier in Ayr on one side and Kernow on the other, with links through Radstock in Somerset. You went where your trade took you.

[@mabelheinzle2275]

Och Neil - thank you - my family are from Glasgow - many on the docks

[@mhewison2081]

It was so sad to see the industry and the heritage to disappear, and be taken away from the Great North 15:25

[@janlharrington3509]

I live in Newport News VA, the home of Newport News Shipbuilding. Most of my family works or has worked there. This makes me want to learn more about the history of our shipyard.

[@MH-ce8hx]

Great appreciation from a Yank in Los Angeles 🤗

[@susannevaughn6947]

This is is informative -loved seeing the shipbuilding history of Glasgow. I read How the Scots Invented the Modern world by Arthur Herman, so learned its earlier history, as one with Scottish heritage, it is so interesting to learn more about this fascinating chapter. Thank you.

[@SubjectRandom21]

Talk about learning something new! I never knew that Montgomery Scott was created because Gene knew about ships being delivered with a Scot in the engineering department/section.

[@raedgaj3878]

I grew up in the North East & right on the Tyne in the 1960's & 70's. When the men left school they would either go down the Pits [to work in a coal mine] or work in the Ship Yards. As a young lad I had a taste of these professions, but then all of the industries were sent abroad so we had to find alternative work elsewhere. I knew a lot of these hard working men as I was growing up, & it seemed to me they were were made of iron & steel, hard working, hard drinking & never complaining. Those were the days.

[@andymac345]

As a proud weegie I always call my children “ Clyde built”, also my father was a film cameraman and filmed many of the launches and used to love the sound of the ship horns on Hogmanay. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@andymac345]

Maybe it’s just nostalgia, but I feel that things were better, I lived through the razor gangs, rampant sectarianism but it was still my dear green place.

[@garrymiller2769]

So good to hear about what life was like when there was still some nobility about it.

[@joeboudreault2226]

Neil mentioned Babcock. As an operating engineer all my life, we were very familiar with Babcock boilers. Some of the best. I am Scottish (Campbell) fom my mother's side...

[@psmith2714]

Love your brain and voice. Have turned my friends on to you💚

[@violetmoonofthenorth]

Hi Neil 👋🏻 from the northeast of uk!! love a bit history time travel . 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿✨💞

[@paragondega]

My father in law only recently stopped working at the shippy in Scotstoun due to health issues. Never a day goes by without a tale from the yard. We all live on the Black Cart

[@JanetHazell]

As always you inspire me

[@frederikhyrup2871]

Love to you Neil. From the danish isles. Aye I know... The war crimes of the brits. I know. But that knife cuts both ways. None is without sin. And whom who makes no mistakes. Makes no decisions at all...

[@FictionCautious]

Never lose hope, never give up. Always stay in the light of God, it will keep your souls warm and show you the way.

[@scottanderson3577]

Good show.

[@vesterwolfe2420]

Just imagine what would or would not have been built if they had HR to ruin the whole thing like we have today.

[@frankraw9991]

But for Human Resources? what would have been buit? Confused am I.

[@anntookey4846]

😊

[@billyclegg3084]

Love this...!!

[@katherinecollins4685]

Enjoyed this

[@helenwilliamson7099]

That was soo interesting, great I'm from Paisley. Great love History ❤

[@jamiebell4604]

Any chance you could raise the number of treasures to 200 !!? Love your videos, I know you have another 100 in you... there are so many stories and places you haven't mentioned, and even alternative places covering the same themes eg coal of Newcastle/Nottinghamshire rather than South Wales... or steel of Sheffield, shipbuilding in Liverpool etc rather than Glasgow. We're getting too close to the 100 mark, please continue. 😁

[@jemc4276]

Apologies for being 'that guy' Neil, but Lusitania was sunk in 1915 by a German U-Boat yes. But she was also full of war material from the US to Britain which, when hit by torpedo, catastrophically broke the ship in half. There was no 1:45 slow sink like Titanic. It pretty much went straight down. In two pieces... 😪

[@timelessmemories5150]

Hi hi from Cape Town just made it to see you

[@eliwahuhi]

Oh I was born in Glasgow, near the centre of the town I would take you there and show you, but they've pulled the building down And when I think about it, it always makes me frown -- Billy Connolly Oh! And Irn Bru! It tastes like bubblegum.

[@garrymiller2769]

I recognize that pan. Mom had one. They last forever.