Gorbals great, grandfather Phil McCusker has achieved his Karate Black Belt, 1st Dan at the age of 77 (he is second from the left in the picture) Said Phil, ‘A healthy diet and plenty of exercise is vital for good health and a long life.’
A retired cartoonist and newspaper columnist, Phil is a father of seven and has a ‘regiment’ of grandchildren and now a great grand child.

He spent much of his working life in America but is now happily ensconced in a flat ‘with a magnificent view’ in Norfolk Court.

He was determined to gain the coveted black belt before he reached 80. ‘I owe my success to Karate Master Stephen McGlinchey and senior coach and his team of black belt instructors as well as the staff at the Kelvin Hall International Sport Arena where I train almost every day,’ said Phil. 

The particular branch of Karate he has mastered is Shotokai Karate-Do. The LOCAL NEWS has been pleased to publish some of Phil’s work and hopes to find space in the next few issue for items he’s written recently.