Helicopter Crash - Glasgow

[mahler10th]

On Friday night at about 10.25pm, a helicopter plunged from the air into a busy pub by the clydeside in Glasgow, the Clutha Vaults. The Clutha Vaults is a familiar city haunt for musicians, writers, folk of the folk scene, and anyone else who fancies a pint of beer.  There are 8 known deaths.  One of the deaths was of an old acquaintance of mine, who in my drinking days I drank with many times, a very generous fellow and a damn good writer of Glasgow, John McGarrigle.  The last time I was with him was on 10th May 2008, where we shared a blether and a beer in the Clutha Vaults  - I knew him from being part of a writers workshop we were both part of in the 1980's.  It is awful that John seems to have lost his life so suddenly, and in such tragic circumstances.  Bless you John, you were THE man, and I still have fond memories of your brilliant stories.  God bless.

[Brahmsian]

What tragic news.  Very sorry for your loss, John.

[mahler10th]

What tragic news.  Very sorry for your loss, John.

Many thanks, but in the main it is John McGarrigles family and his distraught boy (who is a38 yr old man now!) who matter.  It's just a wee post for him and them in a faraway place (GMG) that he is remembered even in the most unlikely environments.

[Gurn Blanston]

John,
I thought about you when I heard the news of that crash, not knowing your haunts, of course. It's a pity about your friend, he was clearly what a community would call a 'valuable man', and I'm sure his loss is felt deeply by those who knew him or even knew of him. Still, glad you weren't bending an elbow with him that evening. You are a valuable man too, to our little community.

Regards,
GB

[Cato]

John,
I thought about you when I heard the news of that crash, not knowing your haunts, of course. It's a pity about your friend, he was clearly what a community would call a 'valuable man', and I'm sure his loss is felt deeply by those who knew him or even knew of him. Still, glad you weren't bending an elbow with him that evening. You are a valuable man too, to our little community.

Regards,
GB

Yes, I watched a few minutes of the news, and thought that the odds were actually against our Scots John knowing anybody in the accident...but no!

So, John, in our thoughts and prayers we will remember your friend and all the others in the accident!

[ibanezmonster]

Yes, I watched a few minutes of the news, and thought that the odds were actually against our Scots John knowing anybody in the accident...but no!

I saw John's facebook post less than a minute after seeing the news of this on TV. I'm almost not surprised as it seems like everyone in those small northern European countries knows each other. 

Sorry to hear about this, John. 

[Mirror Image]

Horrible news. My heart goes out to all involved in this accident.

[vandermolen]

Horrible news. My heart goes out to all involved in this accident.

Same here.

[North Star]

Horrible news. My heart goes out to all involved in this accident.

+1.
And I too thought that John (not MI) probably didn't know any of the victims. It's a small world, though. 

[mahler10th]

It has now been confirmed that a friend back in the day did indeed fall victim to the Glasgow Helicopter crash. RIP John, there was none like ye, God bless, my prayers are most definitely with you and yours at this time. Keep writing up there in the Beer Garden of the sky.