RIP Bertie Auld

Im actually greeting at my work!

 

R.I.P Bertie
Bertie to Tiny Wharton (Referee): “If I call you an * Mr Wharton will I get booked?”
Tiny: “Yes Mr Auld. You’d be in trouble.”
Bertie: “What if I just thought you were an *, what would happen?”
Tiny: “If you just thought it nothing would happen”
Bertie: “Well Mr Wharton, I think you’re an *”.

 

“You know I’m Bertie Auld, ya banger”.
Cracks me up.

 

Brilliant

 

https://allybegg.com/bertie-auld-rip/
Yesterday was a quiet day for the family, we decided after hiking through the Austrian hills on Saturday that we would give the kids an easy day. It was a good day, filled with fun and laughter but that soon turned to sadness, when, as I scrolled through my social media pages, I read with great sorrow that the truly wonderful Bertie Auld had passed away aged 83. I was devastated. Bertie was a one-off, he had a certain charm about him that made everybody love him from the moment they met. Today, heaven is a better place.

Bertie was great pals with my late Grandpa, freelance football reporter John Begg. My Grandpa wrote for a number of different newspapers throughout the country and was loved, and more importantly trusted by all in the game. I first met Bertie when he took charge of Partick Thistle for a second time in 1986, I was fourteen years old. My ‘Papa’ took me along to the game and as we took our seats in the press box, he gave me strict instructions to write down notes. Without fully knowing or acknowledging the task in hand, my apprenticeship for writing began in the cold, damp Main Stand at Firhill. From memory, Thistle that day were playing Kilmarnock and won 2-0. After the game and having already ‘called in’ his match report to various newspapers my Papa led me down the steps to the tunnel. Bertie was already there waiting for him and greeted him with a firm handshake and that infectious smile of his. My Papa introduced me and informed Bertie of my love for the game – Bertie then asked who I supported, and I told him, “Aberdeen” he grinned and said, “that’s a good choice son”

What I also recall from that moment is the laughter and camaraderie between Bertie and my Papa. There was something about Bertie that simply made you feel warm – my grandpa and I drove back to Bishopbriggs afterwards safe in the knowledge that our day was a good one. Fast forward to the year 2004 and I had just, nervously, accepted a new role with Setanta Sports to become the lead presenter of new club tv channel, Celtic TV. The channel was still very much in its infancy and my relationship with Lisbon Lion and on-air partner Jim Craig was developing nicely. We had only been on-air for a few days when my producer, Craig Coughlan told me that Bertie was going to be our studio guest that day. Upon arriving at the old STV studios in Cowcaddens, Bertie greeted me like an old friend, I confess I was a little taken aback but overjoyed! Without me knowing, earlier in the day Jim had briefed Bertie about the show and told him about my family connection! Bertie immediately told me of his love for my late Grandpa and how much he liked and respected him. He then asked after my Gran and my own family. He made me feel ten feet tall, but to be honest, he did that with everybody he crossed in life. You could not help but adore this guy from the first meeting.

Bertie was an incredible storyteller, one of the best. He had a brilliant knack of holding an audience in the palm of his hand and when least expected deliver a line or a story that would have people captivated or in fits of laughter. Whenever I saw people in his company, they all had the biggest smiles on their faces – laughter and giggles were not far behind. During what was a particularly difficult period during my time with Celtic TV – with my spirits low – Billy McNeill told me to use unflattering words from viewers to drive me on, Jim Craig told me to use it as a tool to work harder and prove my place – Bertie Auld put an arm around me and comforted me but told me not to lose focus and prove them all wrong. Again, he made me feel ten feet tall! It was obvious he cared.

During one particular phone-in show where Bertie was holding court for the entire programme, he finished off a call with a fan and said to me “come on son, get the next caller on, I’m in the mood for chatting” He was a one-man PR show for Celtic Football Club and the fans loved him for it. Whenever Bertie appeared on the show he would come into our office and greet everybody with the warmest of smiles and the firmest of handshakes, it did not matter the role or status, everybody was treated the same. If Celtic had beaten Aberdeen that weekend, which was more often than not between 2004 and 2007, he would walk over to me with his arms out shouting at the top of his voice, “how did yer team get on this weekend son” and burst out laughing! As much as he was funny, he was also a cheeky git! My abiding memory of Bertie though will be the day that his strength of character and zest for life moved me to tears. It was the day Jimmy Johnstone was laid to rest. That evening, after the funeral, Celtic TV produced a two-hour long phone-in show where fans could talk to Jim Craig and Bertie about all things ‘Jinky’. I do not know where both Jim and Bertie found the strength to come on the show that night knowing their best pal had only been laid to rest hours before. The show was filled with laughter and tears, it was the best show we ever produced on the channel. Upon going off-air, both Bertie and Jim embraced each other tightly, their togetherness moved me to tears. It was in that moment that I realised that the surviving Lisbon Lions were not just great pals and teammates, they were a Band of Brothers.

In June 2007, I very unexpectedly lost my own father, I was left distraught and broken. Bertie was one of the first to call me and comfort me. If you don’t mind, I would like to keep his words private, but he gave me strength to look after mum and my brother Peter. I have never forgotten his kindness. In the days before I left for Singapore we met for coffee and he told me to keep in touch and to call him anytime, as long as I did not reverse the charges! We did keep in touch and remained firm friends. I am blessed to have had Bertie in my life and I will always be grateful to him for his kindness and compassion. I really hope, high up in the sky, he meets my Papa again and they can share many smiles together, like they did before. Sleep well Bertie, you will be so sadly missed.

 

In tears everytime I watch this. The emotion in his voice, fighting back the tears, you can just tell how much every single one of the Lions meant to him.

I’m taking this one like a close family member.

 

RIP. Legend on and off the pitch. A huge loss.

 

RIP Bertie, Such a sad loss

 

Mate I was bubbling away like * last night myself watching the video's before I went up to bed. Proper emotional..

Hit hard this one, definitely Doogs

 

Rip bertie auld , huge character, sad loss to us all .

 

One of the best personalities we've ever had. RIP.

 

Some good stories on Clyde tonight.

 

What a man. A proper legend. * rest his Soul

 

Class.

 

It's a shame big Ange never got to meet him.