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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Scotland's referendum: Catching up with the class of '79 | Scotland's referendum: Catching up with the class of '79 |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| In 1979 eight school pupils were interviewed by the BBC as part of a special programme on that year's Scottish devolution referendum. | In 1979 eight school pupils were interviewed by the BBC as part of a special programme on that year's Scottish devolution referendum. |
| We set out to track down the group, with your help. After seeing the footage, you told us the school was Mount Florida Primary on the southside of Glasgow and you named all eight children. | We set out to track down the group, with your help. After seeing the footage, you told us the school was Mount Florida Primary on the southside of Glasgow and you named all eight children. |
| Four have spoken to the BBC again and three others were interviewed for a 1997 programme called "The Ghost of '79". So, that leaves one, Peter, (we'd still love to hear from you). | Four have spoken to the BBC again and three others were interviewed for a 1997 programme called "The Ghost of '79". So, that leaves one, Peter, (we'd still love to hear from you). |
| Here is the class of '79......... | Here is the class of '79......... |
| Russell Speed | Russell Speed |
| "I can't recall much of the day but the footage has cropped up a couple of times over the years. Grigor Milne was a good friend and John Milne, the BBC Scotland presenter who did the interview, is his dad. I'm sure it helped that I knew him before he interviewed us. | "I can't recall much of the day but the footage has cropped up a couple of times over the years. Grigor Milne was a good friend and John Milne, the BBC Scotland presenter who did the interview, is his dad. I'm sure it helped that I knew him before he interviewed us. |
| "Seems like one or two of us had figured out that humour would get us screen time. | "Seems like one or two of us had figured out that humour would get us screen time. |
| "Family and friends are envious of my childhood stardom. I'm told many of my expressions and mannerisms haven't changed. | "Family and friends are envious of my childhood stardom. I'm told many of my expressions and mannerisms haven't changed. |
| "I was clearly ahead of my time, being Scottish and wanting to be a tennis champion. Growing up I was much better at table tennis. | "I was clearly ahead of my time, being Scottish and wanting to be a tennis champion. Growing up I was much better at table tennis. |
| "The Conservative offices were near our house in Mount Florida, so I should have known what party he [Teddy Taylor] was in. As others indicated on the film, he's the only Glasgow MP you would have recognised in the street. | "The Conservative offices were near our house in Mount Florida, so I should have known what party he [Teddy Taylor] was in. As others indicated on the film, he's the only Glasgow MP you would have recognised in the street. |
| "Devolution always felt like a stepping stone to independence. | |
| "However, it's interesting that Donald Dewar was totally opposed to the idea. Living and working in London, I've mixed views. | |
| "I'm sure the country can sustain itself economically and it would remove suspicion of Westminster's priorities. | |
| "However, separatism doesn't feel like a particularly multi-cultural idea and Great Britain has its advantages, even if 'Dave Snooty' isn't one of them." | "However, separatism doesn't feel like a particularly multi-cultural idea and Great Britain has its advantages, even if 'Dave Snooty' isn't one of them." |
| Linda Paterson | Linda Paterson |
| "My husband thinks it's hysterical. He does like to remind me that it was 1979 and he wasn't even born the year I was doing that, so that's quite embarrassing. I think everyone finds it quite funny that my hair looked as if my mother had been using tongs on it for about 20 years and that I was so politely spoken. | "My husband thinks it's hysterical. He does like to remind me that it was 1979 and he wasn't even born the year I was doing that, so that's quite embarrassing. I think everyone finds it quite funny that my hair looked as if my mother had been using tongs on it for about 20 years and that I was so politely spoken. |
| "I think someone said I was angelic. | "I think someone said I was angelic. |
| "Marion was one of my best pals at school. And I used to chase Graeme [Atkins] about, I fancied him. He was my crush at primary school, I totally loved him, I was like 'oh my God!'. | "Marion was one of my best pals at school. And I used to chase Graeme [Atkins] about, I fancied him. He was my crush at primary school, I totally loved him, I was like 'oh my God!'. |
| "I haven't seen any of them since probably 1997 when we did the follow-up. I think we all kind of dispersed. | "I haven't seen any of them since probably 1997 when we did the follow-up. I think we all kind of dispersed. |
| "All I knew was Teddy Taylor, I didn't even know what party he was in. His [Russell's] answer was classic, it's the eyes rolling back! I think I kind of went along with the flow, because we were on telly and this guy Teddy Taylor's name's been mentioned a few times, I think I'll just say him as well. I think I just liked the fact that his name was Teddy. | "All I knew was Teddy Taylor, I didn't even know what party he was in. His [Russell's] answer was classic, it's the eyes rolling back! I think I kind of went along with the flow, because we were on telly and this guy Teddy Taylor's name's been mentioned a few times, I think I'll just say him as well. I think I just liked the fact that his name was Teddy. |
| "No, I didn't become a nurse. I've got a complete phobia of anything medical. I've been in financial services since 1997, although I've recently been made redundant so I'm now training to be a driving instructor. | "No, I didn't become a nurse. I've got a complete phobia of anything medical. I've been in financial services since 1997, although I've recently been made redundant so I'm now training to be a driving instructor. |
| "I'm definitely a 'Yes' person, was in 1997 so I've not changed my views on that. Whether that's the right thing or not, I don't know." | "I'm definitely a 'Yes' person, was in 1997 so I've not changed my views on that. Whether that's the right thing or not, I don't know." |
| Graeme Atkins | Graeme Atkins |
| "Prior to the day itself we had all been given the choice as to whether we wanted to participate or not. I had been happy to opt in but then got quite worked up about it the night before and wanted to pull out. | "Prior to the day itself we had all been given the choice as to whether we wanted to participate or not. I had been happy to opt in but then got quite worked up about it the night before and wanted to pull out. |
| "My parents talked me round and, in the end, I absolutely loved it. It was all very exciting and lots of fun. | "My parents talked me round and, in the end, I absolutely loved it. It was all very exciting and lots of fun. |
| "Immediate family and a few friends have seen it so far. It prompted some nice reminiscing. | "Immediate family and a few friends have seen it so far. It prompted some nice reminiscing. |
| "I particularly remember Peter's comment about wanting more sweet shops to open, and Russell's description of Teddy Taylor. He was the local MP at the time and was pretty well known, even to nine-year-olds, although that was probably largely due to him being called Teddy. | "I particularly remember Peter's comment about wanting more sweet shops to open, and Russell's description of Teddy Taylor. He was the local MP at the time and was pretty well known, even to nine-year-olds, although that was probably largely due to him being called Teddy. |
| "That's my excuse anyway for saying I wanted him as prime minister. | "That's my excuse anyway for saying I wanted him as prime minister. |
| "I have actually seen the clip since it was originally broadcast. It was the days before video recorders were common so my Dad cine-filmed the TV as the programme went out. It was exciting to watch afterwards, although it did lack something without sound. | "I have actually seen the clip since it was originally broadcast. It was the days before video recorders were common so my Dad cine-filmed the TV as the programme went out. It was exciting to watch afterwards, although it did lack something without sound. |
| "After Mount Florida Primary it was off to King's Park Secondary then onto Strathclyde University. I moved to England in 1992, worked in industry for a couple for years, then went into teaching, becoming a head teacher in 2009. I've been living in London since 1997 but will be relocating to Northumberland in the summer. | "After Mount Florida Primary it was off to King's Park Secondary then onto Strathclyde University. I moved to England in 1992, worked in industry for a couple for years, then went into teaching, becoming a head teacher in 2009. I've been living in London since 1997 but will be relocating to Northumberland in the summer. |
| "I'm married now with one son of 22 months and number two is on the way. | "I'm married now with one son of 22 months and number two is on the way. |
| "I am watching proceedings with interest despite being unable to vote. I'm not unduly concerned about this as I don't have a particularly strong view either way. What will be will be." | "I am watching proceedings with interest despite being unable to vote. I'm not unduly concerned about this as I don't have a particularly strong view either way. What will be will be." |
| Norma Hutton | Norma Hutton |
| "I found the experience of the interview very daunting, I had opinions but always believed I had nothing constructive to say and maybe had a little stage fright. | "I found the experience of the interview very daunting, I had opinions but always believed I had nothing constructive to say and maybe had a little stage fright. |
| "I went onto Kings Park Secondary School but moved away from Glasgow approximately 23 years ago and I now live in Christchurch, Dorset. I am currently working for Bournemouth Borough Council. | "I went onto Kings Park Secondary School but moved away from Glasgow approximately 23 years ago and I now live in Christchurch, Dorset. I am currently working for Bournemouth Borough Council. |
| "I like bestowing my culinary skills on others and would have preferred to have had the opportunity of running a restaurant or bed and breakfast, cooking and just simply making a small difference to people's outlook. | "I like bestowing my culinary skills on others and would have preferred to have had the opportunity of running a restaurant or bed and breakfast, cooking and just simply making a small difference to people's outlook. |
| "I got married to Quintin, whom I met in 1996. We don't have any children, only our cat - Tinkerbell. | "I got married to Quintin, whom I met in 1996. We don't have any children, only our cat - Tinkerbell. |
| "Scotland has grown since 1979 and although not independent has devolved power and control over some of its affairs through an elected parliament which I believe is gradually increasing. | "Scotland has grown since 1979 and although not independent has devolved power and control over some of its affairs through an elected parliament which I believe is gradually increasing. |
| "There are so many changes to be made if the majority vote 'Yes'. What will they be saying 'Yes' to? Without even considering the bigger picture the day-to-day aspect could have a devastating consequence on Scotland's economy. | "There are so many changes to be made if the majority vote 'Yes'. What will they be saying 'Yes' to? Without even considering the bigger picture the day-to-day aspect could have a devastating consequence on Scotland's economy. |
| "I do wish that I had the option of voting, in order to make the right decision, one should have all the facts for and against. I would prefer Scotland to have more devolved power, standing on its own but still part of Britain." | "I do wish that I had the option of voting, in order to make the right decision, one should have all the facts for and against. I would prefer Scotland to have more devolved power, standing on its own but still part of Britain." |
| David Ferguson | David Ferguson |
| When David was interviewed in 1979 he was asked if he wanted to be a politician, serving in a Scottish assembly. He gave a blunt "no", adding that he wanted to be a policeman instead. | When David was interviewed in 1979 he was asked if he wanted to be a politician, serving in a Scottish assembly. He gave a blunt "no", adding that he wanted to be a policeman instead. |
| The BBC caught up with the Glasgow school pupil in 1997, ahead of the Scottish devolution referendum of that year. | The BBC caught up with the Glasgow school pupil in 1997, ahead of the Scottish devolution referendum of that year. |
| At the time David said: "I think we should give it [devolution] a try, see what happens. The only thing that worries me is if it doesn't work, what would happen then? We'd be stuck with an assembly that isn't working. That's my only real worry about it." | At the time David said: "I think we should give it [devolution] a try, see what happens. The only thing that worries me is if it doesn't work, what would happen then? We'd be stuck with an assembly that isn't working. That's my only real worry about it." |
| Marion Wickes | Marion Wickes |
| When she was interviewed in 1979, Marion was clear that she did not want to be a politician, but she did want her dad to be the prime minister. | When she was interviewed in 1979, Marion was clear that she did not want to be a politician, but she did want her dad to be the prime minister. |
| The BBC caught up with her again in 1997. On the prospect of Scottish devolution she said: "I think my dad or my mum would probably make a better job of it than some of the Labour lot that are in Scotland at the moment, if you look at Paisley etc. I wouldn't be too happy at the thought of people like that running an assembly in Scotland. | The BBC caught up with her again in 1997. On the prospect of Scottish devolution she said: "I think my dad or my mum would probably make a better job of it than some of the Labour lot that are in Scotland at the moment, if you look at Paisley etc. I wouldn't be too happy at the thought of people like that running an assembly in Scotland. |
| "I just don't think that Scotland's going to gain anything by having its own assembly. I think another tier of government is just going to cost more without actually achieving much more." | "I just don't think that Scotland's going to gain anything by having its own assembly. I think another tier of government is just going to cost more without actually achieving much more." |
| Grigor Milne | Grigor Milne |
| In 1979, Grigor was sure that Scotland "could manage by ourselves" and had been with the English "too long". | In 1979, Grigor was sure that Scotland "could manage by ourselves" and had been with the English "too long". |
| He was more reflective when the BBC spoke to him again in 1997. | He was more reflective when the BBC spoke to him again in 1997. |
| Grigor said then: "Given that I'm about to get married to one [an English person], that side has [changed], but as far as devolution I'm probably not quite as staunch as I used to be, but I'm still cautiously pro-devolution, yes." | Grigor said then: "Given that I'm about to get married to one [an English person], that side has [changed], but as far as devolution I'm probably not quite as staunch as I used to be, but I'm still cautiously pro-devolution, yes." |
| Peter | Peter |
| In 1979, schoolboy Peter's contribution to the political debate was that Scotland needed more sweet shops. Did the politicians of the time make his wish come true? Get in touch Peter and let us know...... | In 1979, schoolboy Peter's contribution to the political debate was that Scotland needed more sweet shops. Did the politicians of the time make his wish come true? Get in touch Peter and let us know...... |