Farmeloan Road

Farmeloan Road, Rutherglen, Glasgow., G73 1EE. Demolished.

Crozier’s. 1991.

Publican, rugby player and golfer; Born July 8, 1957; Died February 6, 2008.

GEORGE Crozier, who has died aged 50 just six months after the death of his father, Sheriff George Crozier, was a publican of the old school who valued his customers and treated them as personal friends.

The ever-cheerful, former Old Aloysian rugby prop owned and ran licensed premises in Glasgow, Lanarkshire and Dunbartonshire, and made many friends. He engaged with people from all walks of life by virtue of his friendliness, quick wit and mischievous sense of humour.

Educated at St Patrick’s Primary School in Dumbarton and St Aloysius College in Glasgow, Crozier trained for hotel management with the Stakis organisation, under the guidance of Maurice Taylor at the Beacons Hotel on Glasgow’s south side.

His forebears on his mother’s side were already in the licensed trade and Crozier was given the responsibility of managing the family business at the popular Vogue Bar in Rutherglen, where he held the tenancy for 10 years. He then opened Croziers in Farmeloan Road, before moving to Chapmans on the corner of Rutherglen’s Main Street. His entrepreneurial spirit also led him to purchase the Railway Tavern, one of Dumbarton’s best-known public houses, and, more recently, the Georgian Hotel in Blairhill, Coatbridge.

Crozier had great integrity, earning the trust and respect of all who knew him, and was regarded as one of the most popular people in the Scottish licensed trade.

He supported community-based organisations, including football teams and youth groups, and raised funds through pub events and sports outings, mainly to rugby and golf events.

Crozier appreciated the loyalty of his customers and good friends, many of whom had known him from college, and he reciprocated by arranging Christmas lunches for the pensioners and regulars. He entertained them, too, on occasion by singing a few signature tunes he made his own.

Golf was a great passion for Crozier and he held membership at Cathkin Braes and Gleneagles, and played regularly with fellow publicans on golf outings organised by the Glasgow Vintners’ Association.

He took life one day at a time and brought laughter wherever he went. His oft-quoted ipse dixit was: “No problems, just solutions.” And he stuck by that.

Married to Anne for 30 years, the couple had three sons: Michael, Brendan and Christopher. Despite his busy schedule, Anne and the boys came first for Crozier, and he was an ever-present and vociferous supporter of every youth team the boys played for.

When Crozier was diagnosed with cancer just three months before his death, he set a wonderful example of acceptance, courage and trust. His good humour and generosity prevailed and his visitors usually left reassured with a smile on their face. The care he received at the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice in Glasgow from medical and nursing staff was of the highest possible standard and his personality lit up the place.

Crozier was one of eight children.

Do you remember Crozier’s Public House? If so please leave a comment.

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