Made In Scotland: My Grand Adventures in a Wee Country

About this book

All roads lead home. After my knighthood was announced a woman from the BBC came to Glasgow to interview me. We sat down in a lovely hotel in a nice part of town and she hit me with her first question: This must mean a lot to you with you coming from nothing? I looked at her and I laughed. I didnae come from nothing I told her. I come from something. I grew up in the tenements of post-war Glasgow. I am very proud to be working class and especially a working-class Glaswegian who has worked in the shipyards. I come from the working class. And most of all I come from Scotland. Scotland is a unique and wonderful place. Its national motto says a lot about it: Nemo me impune lacessit. A decent translation might be: By all means punch me in the nose but prepare yourself for a kick in the arse. I didnae come from nothing: I come from Scotland. And this book is about why I will always be happy and proud that I do.