Glasgow's Gilmour boxing dynasty set to be portrayed in new stage play

Haudin’ The Jaikets, from playwright Jim Orr, takes place during the first world boxing title fight held in Glasgow in 46 years on March 18, 1992, which saw Pat Clinton from Croy take on Isidro Perez.

The fight was promoted by legendary boxing promoter Tommy Gilmour MBE, the grandson of boxer and promoter Jim Gilmour and the son of boxing manager and promoter Tommy Gilmour Snr.

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Not only was the fight the first world title he promoted but Tommy was also Pat’s manager and his victory that night was the highlight of his career.

Now, the new stage adaptation of the night will see him joined by his dad and grandad at the ringside in Kelvin Hall.

Jim first came up with the idea of the comedy after he appeared on BBC Radio Scotland’s Off The Ball in 2017 with Tommy before reading his autobiography A Boxing Dynasty: The Tommy Gilmour Story.

"I’d written my first play and I asked Tommy if he’s ever thought about a play of his life," Jim explains.

"He said ‘that’s not a bad idea’. I read his book and at the start, he talks about how the highlight of his life was March 1992 when he had his first world champion.

"So, I thought that will be the play."

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He continued: "[Haudin The Jaikets] tells the story of the dynasty and how it came to be and it’s pretty emotional at bits.  

"It’s about Glasgow as well. This is a Glasgow family and I believe they’re the world’s most successful boxing dynasty."

Haudin’ The Jaikets, so called because Tommy never boxed and was "the guy holding the jackets at the side", started off as a one-man play with Tommy talking to the audience about the Gilmour dynasty while watching the fight.

However, Jim says he was inspired to bring in Tommy's dad and grandad after reading an interview with Tommy in an edition of the Evening Times from March 1992.

Discussing his late grandfather and late father, Tommy said: "They’ll be watching down. I know that somewhere up there my grandfather and dad will be watching, I just hope I don’t let them down."

Jim took that quote and "made it a play", having the pair join Tommy at the side of the ring.

Jim explained: "I thought it would be quite funny to bring them back from the afterlife to watch the fight with him.

"When you do that, the comedic possibilities are endless – where have they come from, why have they come, what’s it like where they’ve come from?

"So, the three of them get to chat about the Gilmour dynasty as opposed to just one of them.

"The grandfather used to box in boxing booths back in the day at the circus, it’s a really hard life, so he’s got that to talk about and how things have changed and then dad's in the middle and you’ve got a banter between the grandfather and the dad."

He added: "Although it’s based in fact it’s a fictitious story so there’s some artistic licence in there to make things up.

"Hopefully Tommy doesn’t give me a doing afterwards."

A rehearsed reading of the play will take place at Websters Theatre on Friday and Saturday, with James McAnerney (Outlander) playing Tommy, Benny Young (Shetland) starring as Jim and Matthew Gallagher portraying Tommy Snr.

Tommy will be in the audience on Friday night, along with Pat Clinton, and will be seeing the story for the first time.

He saw an earlier version of the script but has “refused to read” the most recent one because he wants to be "surprised".

He said: "I’m looking forward to it very much.

"It will be nice to see my father and grandfather coming to join me at the ringside."

He added: "If nothing else, it will be a different way of watching the fight where we’re able to laugh rather than full of anguish.

"We know the result now, but it still brings a tear to your eye."

Haudin’ The Jaikets will be at Websters Theatre on April 19 and 20 for a rehearsed reading.

It will be followed by a Q&A with Tommy Gilmour MBE on Friday.

You can find out more at webstersglasgow.com/whats-on/event/haudin-the-jaikets/.