Journal recognises iconic Glaswegians who 'shaped the UK'

The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography is the official record of people who have significantly influenced the worlds of politics, entertainment and industry from the 1800s until 2020.

The latest edition, released on Tuesday, includes biographies of 65,230 individuals, written by more than 14,000 contributors – with several prominent sons and daughters of the city featuring for the first time.

Among them are Maria Fyfe (1938–2020), who was best known for her time as a powerhouse MP for Glasgow Maryhill between 1987 to 2001.

Maria Fyfe MP (Image: Newsquest)

She was a passionate advocate for women’s rights and her important achievements, having been the only woman among 50 Scottish Labour MPs elected in 1987, include ensuring that women comprised half the Labour candidates in the 1999 Scottish Parliament elections.

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Another addition is actor, singer and comic Johnny Beattie (1926–2020) who left school at 16 to work as an apprentice electrician and honed his stage act while working at the shipyards. The much-loved Govan-born funnyman went on to enjoy a career which spanned more than 50 years, becoming one of Scotland’s most popular stars who was loved for his versatility and quick wit. His fame and popularity reached a new generation in his later years through his role as Malcolm Hamilton in BBC Scotland soap River City.

Also in the 2024 update is Glasgow-born Tommy Docherty (1928–2020) who began his famous footballing career as a right-half for Celtic.

Tommy Docherty (Image: Newsquest)

He made his name however during a near 30-year career as a football manager, including a two-year spell as Scotland boss in the 1970s but it was his time at Manchester United from 1972 to 1977 – with a relegation and promotion - for which he will be best remembered.

A number of other Glaswegians have also been chosen to appear for the first time in 2024, alongside one of Scotland’s most iconic sons, Sir Sean Connery.

Partick man John Foster (1920–2020), was a conservationist and environmentalist who was the first director of the UK’s first national park in the Peak District while James (Jimmy) Morrison (1932–2020) was a Scottish landscape artist who was one of the iconic Glasgow Group of the 1950s, achieving worldwide recognition for his landscape paintings.

Dame Denise Coia (Image: Supplied)

Dame Denise Coia (1952–2020), the daughter of a Glasgow cafe proprietor, is included for her service as chair of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland, and later of Health Improvement Scotland, while Hillhead journalist Lynn Faulds Wood (1948–2020) also features. The Glasgow University graduate was perhaps best known for her role presenting Watchdog for eight years alongside her husband John Stapleton.

The final Glaswegian added to this year's edition is Elizabeth Vallance (1945–2020). She was a renowned political scientist who researched the role of women legislators, and was a founder of the all-party 300 Group, set up in 1980 after only 3% of MPs elected in 1979 were women. She was a founder or supporter of numerous charities and causes, including many concerning disadvantaged children, women’s rights and prison reform.