Joe was the county ‘Voice of Clubland’

May 21 2009 by John Rowbotham, Hamilton Advertiser

JOE McGuigan, the Advertiser’s ‘Voice of Clubland’ for more than 25 years, died on Monday.

Club Call correspondent Joe, of Clydesdale Avenue, Hamilton, passed away in Hairmyres Hospital with wife Eleanor (70), 42-year-old daughter Lynn and other members of the family at his bedside.

Joe, who was 71, was admitted to hospital on April 10 suffering from low blood pressure and died after contracting a chest infection.

Blantyre-born Joe left the town’s St Joseph’s School and went to college, where he trained as a draughtsman.

He worked at Blantyre Engineering and Foster Wheeler, in Glasgow and London, before joining the city firm of civil engineers Babtie Shaw and Morton.

He worked there as a graphic designer for 35 years, until retirement.

Joe was never idle in his spare time and since the 1980s devoted most of Sunday and Monday nights to compiling our Club Call column.

He had got to know many people connected with the county social clubs through his charity work with the Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind.

People from clubs helped raise thousands of pounds for the charity by backing his annual sponsored climb of Ben Lomond.

Joe was also an accomplished painter and a long-standing member and past-chairman of Hamilton’s Woodhead Art Group.

His works in oils and watercolours were displayed at the group’s annual exhibition at Chatelherault.

And one of his paintings, of Carrigan’s Restaurant, still hangs in the popular Eddlewood eaterie.

He also regularly carried a diamond-tipped engraving tool which he would use to carve images of a thistle, or other Scotland-related pictures, on glassware.

It was a skill he displayed to many people who were in his company over the years.

A Burns enthusiast, Joe served as president of the Motherwell United Services Burns Club and performed his version of Tam O’Shanter at many suppers honouring the Bard.

He always made sure that money raised through Burns suppers was used to encourage the teachings of Burns in Lanarkshire schools.

Joe was devoted to his grandson Sky (18) and spent happy hours teaching him to play pool or taking him on visits to attractions such as the Burrell Collection.

He was also a regular visitor to Paddy’s Market and dismayed at plans to close the Glasgow institution.

There had been some confusion earlier this week about the dates for Joe’s funeral.

However, daughter Lynn yesterday (Wednesday) confirmed the arrangements as follows: Joe’s funeral cortege will leave the Co-operative Funeral Parlour in Quarry Place at 9.55am tomorrow (Friday).

His funeral takes place at South Lanarkshire Crematorium, Sydes Brae, Blantyre, at 10.15am followed by a gathering at Eddlewood Bowling Club.