Directors of Pollokshaws Burgh Hall Trust have honoured John Maclean – a founding father of  the Scottish Labour Party who lived in Pollokshaws – by naming a refurbished room in the building after him. In a simple ceremony, Westminster MP, Tom Harris, cut a tartan ribbon and declared the John Maclean Room open. He will use that facility for his constituency surgeries starting on Friday September 1, after the Parliamentary recess. Among the people who paid tribute to John Maclean were local resident Bill Speirs, who recently retired as General Secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Council and is a past chairman of the Scottish Labour Party.

He referred to research done by Jim Mulholland and introduced folk singer Arthur Johnstone. A founder member of The Laggan folk group, he sang a Hamish Henderson song about the funeral of John Maclean. Jack ‘the hat’ Maclean newspaper columnist who is related to John Maclean also spoke about his famous ancestor.

Attending the event were Councillors Stephen Curran, Billy McAllister and Michael Kernaghan as well as many representatives of local community organisations from Pollokshaws and Greater Pollok. Guests were invited to see a collection of recently donated hand coloured photographs of old Pollokshaws and Shawlands. ‘We are considering where best to hang these wonderful pictures,’ said Colin Deans, Chairman of the Trust.