William Gallagher (Strongman Gallagher) had 2 Children and was living in coatbridge before he died in the early 80s. Prior to this he worked and lived in Germany, he married a German woman. William was blind for some years which ended his career in the film industry. He worked closely with Bing Crosby, Bob Hope and Tony Curtis. In the film "Houdeni", which starred Tony Curtis, there was a scene where the chain snapped as the chest was suspended over the Thames. It was William who broke the chain.
He entertained Royalty, the likes of Prince Charles and Princess Anne, bending and twisting steel bars which he kept in a bag under his kitchen table!
He did a lot of local shows in Lanarkshire, where he would carry Clydesdale horses up gangplanks, among other things.
Shortly before his death, Bing Crosby visited him at his home in Coatbridge, and he also gave him a waistcoat from Bob Hope.
Relations (in Coatbridge) : John and Mary McCann, the Lennords, McGill/(Furie), Gallaghers.

Hi,
My mother often spoke about her uncle who was called Strong Man Gallacher. He was the husband of her aunt and lived in Coatbridge. She spoke of his stunts and the most talked about was his pulling buses with his teeth! Her maiden name was McAleese and they came from Mitchell St in Old Monkland. Her mother's, my gran, maiden name was Quigley.

I am really pleased to find this post as I have been wondering about my Great uncle Wullie for a long time and wondered what happened. My gran was his sister Mary Bradley Married Thomas McConnell.had 4 children Mary, Winifred, Tommy and Jim. Jim was my dad. They Lived in Whifflet all their life. My Aunt Winifred is the only one left of the direct family link but my cousins are still around. I remember Uncle Wullie coming to my grans and we used to get the newspaper clippings out and he would tell us the stories. He was always a character to us when we were growing up. I don't remember meeting any of his family though! Family still in coatbridge/Airdrie Boyles, McLaren, Reilly, McGarry, Kearney(of the newsagents) McConnell, & Little. I actually live in England but return to Whifflet every year to visit family. I was wondering if you were the Jim Furie who had the hairdressers?

Hi
Do you have an email address I have a family member
Who wants to touch base
Gary_steel1@hotmail.com

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Your information has a slight flaw my friend, he didnt marry a german woman

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I have a copy of a book by Jack House written around 1949 "How to Clean an Elephant". It is one article in a series of short stories, 4 pages long, it is entitled "How To Be Strong" it is an encounter with William Gallacher it starts with Willie saying "I was lifting a piano with my teeth" Jack was sitting in a room and kitchen at 166 Dundyvan Road, Coatbridge.
I would love to more know more about William as I am trying to write a tribute to Tam Mckean the founder member of the Ayr Health and Strength Club and wish to include something on Tam's contemporaries of the period.
I am friendly with John Gallacher from Glasgow Strongman, now aged 81 and still competing.
To add to the Gallacher listings their was an older John Gallacher. Glasgow?, from an earlier period.
I have a photograph of him with with weightlifters Bill McConnell from Ayr and another weightlifter called Duff.
Happy to scan the article for anyone family who are interested.

I would like research William Gallacher (see my reply to Ryan Docherty). Have you any dates and place names for the shows. Again does anyone know which newpapers covered his feats and what was the date of publication. What was the relationship with Bob Hope and Bing Crosby, did he feature in any of their films?

Read your posting on Bellshill, would love to get more info from you ,lived on NEWLANDS St Whifflet tell WINIFRED That you heard from Edna U.S.A and she will tell you the family connection HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON. tHANK YOU

I recently visited the Discovery Room in Airdrie Library where I purchased a copy of "The" Raddle Volume 15 (Sept 2010. It has a 4 page article, profile with photographs, on Strongman Gallacher. The Heritage Centre in Motherwell should have photographs of him Numbers U94/00991 to U34/0999 (nine) and two more U34/01048 & U6/1434.I also managed to get a certicate of Birth via Summerlea Heritage Museum which shows Willie was born 2//12/1903 at 11 Crichton Street Coatbridge. The Raddle is a Journal which was produced by the Monklands Heritage Scciety, true tales of bygone Monklands. Looks like the article on Strongman Gallacher may have originally been a piece printed in the Airdie & Coatbridge Advertiser 17th June 1966. Written by Michael Kelly who credits Neil and Cornelius Docherty,Jean - Marie Innes, Alice Shannon, John McShane, Johnny Meechan and Joe Bradley (Senior and Junior) for information.

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Tam I gave you the wrong number sorry. You can check the records I am Neil's son and Willie's Great grandson and I need help guys.. THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF MY GREAT GRANDFATHER ARE ALMOST ALL GONE AND I HAVE BEEN APPROACHED BY A WOMAN WHO MAY BE THE LONG LOST GRANDDAUGHTER AND WAS TOLD TO BE THE DAUGHTER OF WILLIE'S SON BUT I CANNOT FIND ANY INFO OTHER THAN MY GODFATHER GERRY GALLAGHER. CAN ANYONE HELP ME FIND INFO ON MY GREAT GRANDAD?

I want to touch your base ;)

Want any ecto

Diarmuids da ?

A NEED DIARREA

DID YE AYE YA BAM, BINHEED

Hi do you still use this forum?