John Cairney RIP

Legendary Scottish actor John Cairney who became synonymous with Robert Burns has died aged 93. Not only was he an iconic actor of stage, TV and film he was also a prolific writer, lecturer, raconteur and in later life a talented artist.

He had a long and varied career. Author of 23 books about the theatre, football - he was an ardent Celtic fan and his younger brother was professional player Jim Cairney- and his hometown Glasgow and its "dear green places". He also wrote books and scripts on leading Scottish icons including Scottish Baird, Robert Burns, whom he bore more than a passing resemblance to. Cairney became synonymous with Burns even having a bust of himself as the poet by sculptor Ben Scholtz in the National Museum of Scotland.

His dashing good looks, husky mellifluous voice and charismatic presence indicated he was destined for mega stardom. However, as he himself said he was always on the brink -and up against the likes of Alan Bates who pipped him to the post for the lead in "Far From the Madding Crowd."

Born on 16th February 1930 in Baillieston, Glasgow his education at St Mungo's Academy was interrupted by the war and he was evacuated to the countryside. A far cry from Glasgow's East End he was firstly sent to Sir Malcom Campbell's home in the south west and then to that of the Earl of Cluny in Perthshire.

He considered becoming a priest and was accepted for the junior seminary at the Marist College at Dumfries in 1942. However, his mother changed her mind and refused to let him go.

In his 80s he became an artist developing the talent that had been nurtured in his youth when he went to the Glasgow School of Art in 1947, winning a gold medal but failing to finish the course as he was called up for RAF National Service in Germany 1948-50. He discovered acting through the entertainment corps. He returned to Glasgow and was literally the first student at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in 1950. There he met his first wife Shiela Cowan and began a successful theatre career.

After graduating, he joined the Wilson Barrett Company as Snake in 'The School for Scandal'. Following a season at the Glasgow Citizens' Theatre he appeared in the British premiere of Arthur Miller's 'The Crucible' at the Bristol Old Vic.

He was offered a contract with the Royal Shakespeare Company but was spotted by Rank Films. Cairney's first film was the wartime 'Ill Met by Moonlight' in 1957 with Dirk Bogarde , followed by "Miracle in Soho and Lucky Jim. Significant films were 'Cleopatra' and 'Jason and The Argonauts' both made in 1963. His favourite was 'A Night to Remember' the best film about The Titanic(1958)

He returned to the Citizens Theatre several times, notably as a popular Hamlet in 1960 with crowds queuing around the block to get tickets.

He was also in the premiere of John Arden's 'Armstrong's Last Goodnight' in 1964.

Other stage work included Archie Rice in 'The Entertainer' at Dundee (1972), "a splendid" 'Cyrano de Bergerac' at Newcastle (1974), which Cairney considered a favourite role and Becket in 'Murder in the Cathedral' at the 1986 Edinburgh Festival. His 'Macbeth' in 1989 was declared "stupendous".

Amongst many television parts were Branwell Bronte, Edgar Allan Poe and Robert the Bruce. TV series included 'The Master of Ballantrae',(1962 'Dr Finlay's Casebook' (1962), 'Danger Man' (1964), 'The Avengers' (1961), 'Elizabeth R' (1971), 'Taggart' (1983). He achieved great success as schoolteacher Ian Craig in BBC2's This Man Craig (1966 -8) .He was a popular Jackanory presenter in 1965.

In 1965 he starred in Tom Wright's solo play about Burns 'There Was A Man' at the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, and at the Arts Theatre, London which was televised twice.

He met his soulmate New Zealand actor Alannah O'Sullivan in 1978 whilst playing Burns at the Edinburgh Festival. They married in 1980 and formed Two for Theatre company, and Shanter Productions, touring the world on P&O cruise ships and international theatres performing shows they wrote. They settled in New Zealand for seventeen years and he resumed painting, winning an award for 'Man in the Image of God'.

Returning to Glasgow in 2008 Cairney resumed solo shows on Burns and wrote and performed solo performances on Robert Stevenson, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Ivor Novello and others.

His 'Nine Lives of Robert Burns' paintings were exhibited in Edinburgh in 2013. He painted a number of religious subjects including his significant contemporary Glasgow Calvary, Stations of the Cross in 2013 and in 2018 the egg shaped 'Life of Mary' series of seven paintings. These were exhibited widely in the Archdiocese and filmed by Stephen Callaghan, director of Archdiocese of Glasgow Arts Project with meditations written by John Cairney. Booklets of these can be obtained see : www.AGAP.org.uk.

Cairney gained a Master of Letters degree from Glasgow University for a 'History of Solo Theatre' in 1988 and, in 1994, a PhD from Victoria University, Wellington, NZ, for his study of Stevenson and Theatre and was delighted to be known as Dr Cairney.

He had become increasingly frail in recent years and was devotedly cared for by Alannah. Suddenly taken ill early on 6th.September he was rushed to hospital but died at midday.

His funeral is on 21 September at 11am at his parish of Holy Cross Catholic church, Glasgow, and all are welcome to attend. The celebrant will be the parish priest and Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Glasgow, Mgr Hugh Bradley.

Fittingly the church commissioned one of Cairney's paintings depicting the sanctuary 'Silence is Golden' with a solitary man praying near the altar. He always said his mind was like a racing car with ideas tumbling out. Certainly, he was a great raconteur privately and on stage. However, silence - and silent prayer was deeply important to him.

It is rumoured that this icon of Scottish culture, regarded with great affection, was due to receive recognition in the next official Honours List but his death curtails this much overdue award.

Cairney is survived by his wife Alannah, five children from his first marriage, nine grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren.

Ten years ago when I first met him, John Cairney told me that he was not afraid of dying. He recalled his father saying "death was the last great adventure, adding with a glint in his eye "or perhaps the first…I was a great dier in films!"

May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

Note: It has just been confirmed by the Scottish Office that this icon of Scottish culture was due to receive recognition for his services to the Arts with an OBE in the next official Honours List. Sadly his death curtails this much overdue award.