80-82 Cowcaddens and 183 Garscube Road, Glasgow.
This photograph of W T Doherty was taken in 1963, it was situated at 80-82 Cowcaddens. This pub was also known as the Symposium Bar.
William Thomas Doherty the proprietor took over the licence in 1913 from James Shanks who held the licence since 1872.
William T Doherty was born in Airdrie in 1879, he was first apprenticed to the licensed grocery trade and for a period was located at Blackridge, West Lothian, around 1905 he was transferred to the Cowcaddens Ward. He then took over Mr Shanks public house in Cowcaddens in 1913. Mr Doherty became heavily involved in the Scottish De fence work and became a member of the committee, he was also a director of the Scottish Legal Life Insurance Society, having offices in Bothwell Street and was elected to the town Council in 1920 to 1939. He was one of the first lab our councillor’s on Glasgow Corporation and became a magistrate and deputy chairman of the Corporation. He was the first Roman Catholic to be convener of the Corporation education committee.
He was associated with the Glasgow Vintners since its inception in 1920, being its first vice-president, then becoming president. In the 1930s William took over another public house at 183 Garscube Road.
William T Doherty and his wife 1956.
Mr & Mrs Doherty celebrated their diamond wedding in 1966, their two sons William and Hugh were both engaged in the family business of W T Doherty & Co Ltd., William as chairman and Hugh as secretary and manager. William died two years later at the age of 89.
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Corporal William T Doherty (see portrait on the right) was with the Royal Air Force, he was well known as a representative with Thomas Usher and Sons, Ltd. William was the eldest son, he was educated in Abbey School, Fort Augustus, his first situation was with a well known Glasgow firm of stock brokers where he remained for three years. Thereafter he decided to enter the trade and assumed a position with Messrs Watson and Middleston Ltd, Glasgow of “Ballochmyle” Scotch Whisky fame, later he joined the firm of Usher’s, acting as one of their representatives for the West of Scotland. In the early days of the war he took an interest in civil defence and during the blitz of 1941 he had some thrilling experiences while on duty as a special constable.
He joined the Royal Air Force and was stationed in India as an instructor in the R A F Radio Location Section.
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Trooper Hugh Doherty (see portrait on the right) was with the North Somerset Yeomanry, he was wounded in action and was lucky to make a full recovery. Educated like his brother in the Abbey School, he assisted his father in the running of the business in Cowcaddens. He then became a probation Officer under the Glasgow Corporation. He volunteered for military service when the war broke out. He enlisted in the Scots Greys and after a period of training in this country was sent to palestine where he acted as dispatch rider to head quarters. He took part in the battle of Syria and was then sent to Iraq. He was transferred to the North Somerset Yeomanry and was later sent to El Alamein and joined the famous 8th Army, he went through the desert fighting and also the Tunisian campaign.
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Glasses of Champagne for the customers of W T Doherty, 80 Cowcaddens, 1967.. The occasion was after Celtic F. C. had won the European Cup. Seen filling the glasses was Bill Tennent, Scottish Television personality. The customers had been watching the television broadcast of the match in the premises and naturally, there was jubilation as they saw Celtic put on a tremendous performance to win the trophy. The S T V cameras were in the premises for a live broadcast of the programme “Here and Now” immediately after the game. Viewers was Bill Tennent and Mr Doherty also behind the bar interviewing some of the customers, asking them what they thought of the game.
A group of Glasgow Vintners Golf outing, just after the war in 1946.
The outing this time was to Millport, left to right front Joseph Kelly, Vintners secretary, J A McCreadie, Club Hon. Treasurer, Bailie W T Doherty, President, John Ward, Club Secretary, James McMenemy jun., Captain.
Middle row Messrs james Gunning, Thomas Milligan, John Quinn, James Rice and P Quinn.
Back row Messrs A V Handon, John Urquhart, J McBride, James Lockhart and James Reilly.
W T Doherty, 183 Garscube Road, 1933. To read more Click here.
Here are some principal personalities who attended the smoker dinner held at Belmont House, Glasgow, by the Cowcaddens Ward of the Glasgow Association in 1962. Left to right: Mr G Ramster, Glasgow Association Office; Mr H Doherty, Symposium Bar, Cowcaddens Street; Mr N Jones, Cross Keys, St. Peter’s Street; Mr J Dougan, Dougan’s Bar, Springburn Road; Mr R Lemon, Lemon Tree, Parliamentary Road (Ward Convener); Mr W J Bennet, Port Dundas Road; Mr W B Gow, Bristol Bar, Cowcaddens; Mr J Lanagan, Maitland Street; Mr T F Flynn who succeeded Mr Gow as president of the Glasgow Association; Mr D McNiven, Argyll Arms, Kennedy Street; and Mr W J McDowall, Secretary, Glasgow Association.
William Thomas Doherty. 1930’s.
A portrait of W T Doherty by Somerville Shanks, R.S.A. R.S.W, which was included in an exhibition held by the Royal Institute of Fine Arts in the McLellan Galleries. 1933. Mr Somerville Shanks was a good friend of Mr Doherty, the portrait was presented to Mr Doherty a few years later when the exhibition was complete.
William T Doherty.
William T Doherty jun. 1944.
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