Alex and Chrissie McLean and daughter, Gina, at wedding of Rod Clark and Chris McLean, 1955. Click here for larger image.

Alex McLean was born on 31 December 1908 in Glasgow.

He worked on the railway on leaving school. A member of the Socialist Party of Great Britain, he had profound and steadfastly-held socialist views. As a Conscientious Objector during World War 2, Alex was sent to the mines of West Lothian.  After the war he worked in the Parks Department of Glasgow Corporation and latterly as a Storeman in  Rolls Royce, Hillington.

He worked permanent night shift at Rolls Royce, partly because of the shift allowance, and partly to relieve mid-week pressure on sleeping accommodation. To ease matters at weekends his daughter, Gina, ‘lodged’ with his sister-in-law, Mary Robertson at nearby Penilee

Alex at one stage acted as a Junior Football scout. He also liked a modest flutter on the horses and would never miss a week’s punt on Vernon’s Football Pool; guided by the latest alluring  ‘Plan’ in the Evening Times newspaper. Sadly, unlike his son George, he was not endowed with good luck. He had much  more success with the vegetables he raised from his vegetable plot. A man of simple pleasures, in his latter years he enjoyed nothing as much as a post Sunday lunch whisky in the front lounge of his daughter Gina’s home in Newlands, while listening to Kris Kristofferson; and reminiscing about the his school-day milk-runs to such houses; never imagining then that one day he would relaxing inside one of them

He valued education and ensured that those of his family who wished to profit from it were given every educational support.

Alex married Christina Nicolson Robertson (born 23 October 1910) on 19 September 1930.  She was a strong woman and a consummate homemaker who used the most of the limited resources at her disposal. To supplement the family income, she worked as a Cloakroom Attendant on the back shift in MacDonald’s Biscuit Factory in Hillington Estate. This also ensured a prolific supply of damaged Penguin and Glengarry Biscuits and MacDonalds Chocolate Marshmallows.

Alex and Chrissie had seven children:

George Torrance McLean born 7 March 1931. Married Mildred Mobley.

John Robertson McLean born 1 August 1932. Married Margaret Mary Livingstone.

Christina NIcolson McLean born 4 June 1934. Married Roderick Clark.

Alexander McLean born 5 June 1938. Married Alexina (Ina) Campbell McGregor.

Finlay Robertson McLean born 1 August 1941. Married Lillian Napier.

Georgina Torrance McLean born 15 February 1945. Married Douglas McCreath.

Gordon Robertson McLean born 23 October 1951. Married Lesley Margaret Calder.