Published: Tuesday, 6th May, 2008 16:30
Our Tele keeps us up-to-date
By Elaine Bowers
Print Article
FAMILY AFFAIR: Catching up on all the local news in the Tele are Charles Phillips, his daughter Lesley and her daughter, Caitlin Kane.
Pic by: George Munro
LIKE lots of families across Inverclyde, the Phillips hate to miss a copy of their favourite local newspaper.
They eagerly wait for 4pm every night when their copies of the Tele drop through the letterbox of their homes in Branchton, Greenock.
Dad Charles, 59, loves reading about the ships on the Clyde, while his daughter, Lesley, enjoys keeping up to date with local news and granddaughter Caitlin Kane scans the pages to find £50 prize dog Scoop and to check what films are on at the cinema.
Lesley, 28, a member of Larkfield, Branchton and Braeside Community Council and vice chairwoman of Branchton Community Centre, said: “We are in the Tele a lot because we do lots of stuff in the community. I like the Tele because it gives us the local news and keeps us up to date.”
Charles, who is originally from Port Glasgow but has been living in Branchton for 30 years, added: “I have been reading the Tele since 1960 and I read it every day.
“I like reading about what ships are coming in. I also like reading about Morton.”
Charles used to work with the fairground, building and operating the rides, but is now retired. He turned to the Tele for help 11 years ago when his partner, Mary, died.
Charles said: “The Tele did a story about me getting evicted with my 14-year-old daughter.”
The problem stemmed from the fact Mary’s name was on the rent book. When she passed away Charles had no right to the house. However, after the case was highlighted he was able to stay in the house with Sandy, who was then 14.
Last year the story appeared in our ‘10 years ago column’ and today Charles has the clipping tucked in to his wallet.
He said: “I carry it with me so I can prove what I have been through. The Tele helped me.”
Wee Caitlin, 10, has kept up the family tradition of always reading the Tele. Mum Lesley said: “She started looking at the pictures when she was three.”
Caitlin added: “I always look for Scoop on a Friday but I have never won. I like looking at the Tele when it has lots of babies in it because they are cute.”
As an infant, Caitlin featured as an entrant in the Tele with Lesley in our mother and baby competition which has since been replaced with the TeleTots.
Caitlin was also photographed, a couple of weeks ago, with footballer Derek Ferguson, who visited Sacred Heart Primary as part of the Show Racism The Red Card campaign.
She said: “The teacher said ‘we have a surprise’. I got a signed Scotland poster from him.”
Caitlin, who wants to be an actress when she grows up, also likes the adverts. She said: “I like to see what films are on. I like reading about Megastars and went to see it.”
Lesley said: “I like looking at people’s graduation pictures. I like to see people doing well and achieving.”
But Lesley does not like reading about crime. She said: “ I don’t like stories about murders.” Charles added: “I think there is too much about people carrying knives. There are lots of stories about Damien’s Law and I think that is good but the courts are not listening. You see a story of a boy carrying a machete through the town and he just gets community service.” Lesley does not like people criticising Branchton and was annoyed when someone described the area as ‘like Beiruit’. She said: “I am over the moon with Branchton, not just because of the new houses but because of what is going on in the community centre and what Branchton is doing for people. They call us Branchton Mansions now. People are jealous of Branchton and want to come and live here.”
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