Alistair’s looking for
his old friend Bobby

By Sarah Johnson ALISTAIR FLEMING (right) from Lossiemouth has never forgotten his childhood friend Bobby. Growing up in post-war Glasgow the young lads struck up what was an unlikely friendship when Alistair was only seven and Bobby 11, and for the next three years they shared untold adventures. More than 50 years may have passed since they said their goodbyes but Alistair clearly remembers the special boy who transformed his early life. Now, through our appeal, he hopes to hear from his old pal, or find out what happened to him. Having moved to Drumchapel in 1955, Alistair recalled how he first saw Bobby. A tall boy was peering through his garden fence as Alistair played football in the park with his pals. Bobby continued to watch as the others played, throwing their ball back over the fence each time it landed in his garden. But Bobby had metal calipers on his legs and a brace on his back. Polio Alistair (61) explained, “We’d never heard of polio let alone seen someone so profoundly disabled, but I befriended him and from that moment he enriched my life.” Both only children, Alistair lived with his parents Nat and Renee on a new post-war scheme, Glenkirk Drive, and Bobby — whose father worked for Greater Glasgow Health Board — lived in a bungalow allocated to essential staff from Drumchapel Sick Children’s Hospital, where he was also a patient.  Alistair said, “The first time I saw Bobby he was clinging on to the fence between his garden and the play area watching us. I can still see the gaunt look on his face.  “He was about 5 ft 10 and had nasty-looking calipers on both legs and his speech was affected.  “I must have been intrigued by him, but one time after our ball went into his garden we started talking. “To me he was just Bobby. We discovered we had a lot in common and I soon learned to see beyond his disability. “Some kids would point at him but gradually that stopped when they got to know him. Since then I’ve hated the word disabled as Bobby was just a normal lad. “He was very intelligent, reading and quoting Shakespeare and enjoyed watching me learn to play a small guitar. I loved playing Buddy Holly songs and he loved listening — the perfect duo.  “Most nights when I came home from school I’d go to see him and was invited to his house for tea on many occasions. His parents were lovely people.  “Along with some others we managed to take Bobby on what I think was one of his first trips on the ‘Blue’ Alexander bus from Drumchapel to Canniesburn. “We went to the Rio Cinema. He was over the moon and the Saturday matinee was a highlight. The conductresses on the buses always took time to assist him although he didn’t like to be helped and would swing himself up on to the bus.  Strength “He had amazing upper body strength, and although he spoke with great difficulty we overcame his speech impediment.  “Our defining moment was taking the Blue Train from Drumchapel Station to Balloch. We picnicked in the grounds of Balloch Castle, rolling down the superb hill towards Loch Lomond. He loved nature, taking time to point things out to me. “Sadly his father, who I recall looked after boiler systems, was transferred to another hospital on the south side of Glasgow.  “It wasn’t easy for me to travel there and I never saw Bobby again. “We lost touch, but I’ve always wondered how he progressed and if he had other relatives who could pass on information.” Alistair, a former councillor, married Gay in 1969 and moved to Lossiemouth soon after, where he became a successful businessman and licensee. Although semi-retired, he can still be found behind the bar of The Beach Bar, which he owns.  But he’s never forgotten the boy who he says changed his life. “You start to look back at the things in your life that have made you who you are and I gained so much from that early friendship,” said Alistair.  “I’ve tried over a number of years to find out what happened to Bobby, whose surname I can no longer remember.  “My father ran a business called N. Fleming Builders Ltd and my mum was a hairdresser. She’d go round the scheme cutting hair so perhaps Bobby’s family might remember us.” Alistair, who donated £50 to our appeal, said, “I’ve been away from Glasgow for more than 35 years but I’ve never forgotten the boy who brought a terrific kaleidoscope of colour into my life.” If anyone has any information regarding Bobby or his relatives Alistair has promised a further donation to the Sunday Post Children’s Hospital Appeal if it helps him trace his cherished childhood friend.