Son of migrant appeals to find Glaswegian shopkeeper who took him to Rangers games

[ian1964 10,724]

A GRATEFUL Glaswegian has launched an appeal to find a Springburn shopkeeper who made his childhood memorable - by taking him to Rangers games.

 

Atif Rashid shared a heartfelt post on Facebook to find the man, who goes by the name of Mr Johnstone, after the UK voted last week to leave the European Union.

 

In the post, he appeals to the public to help him find Mr Johnstone who owned a newsagent on Hawthorn Street.

 

Atif said: "Please help me find Mr Johnstone - share this far and wide!

 

 

"He once owned a newsagent in this row of shops on Hawthorn Street in Springburn, Glasgow - opposite Ashfield Stadium. That's all I know about him.

 

"He was a good man who did an amazing thing for me in my childhood. To my regret, I did a poor job of keeping in touch. I'd like to find him and let him know how grateful I am.

 

"Here's why: all this ‪#‎Brexit‬ business has gotten me thinking about the divisions in our society. And it reminded me of times when I felt no such divisions, as a child growing up in north Glasgow. Then I realised maybe these divisions were always there but I just wasn't aware of them. And it got me thinking how extraordinary a thing Mr Johnstone did for me.

 

"My dad migrated here in 1962 with two pounds to his name, but by the early 1990s, he was an owner of a successful wholesale business employing over 20 people. Which was great, except that it left him with little time to be a dad. I wanted for nothing materially, but he just wasn't around much as he was always working.

 

"Mr Johnstone was a customer of his, and they must have struck up a good friendship. For somehow, they came to an agreement that Mr Johnstone would take me to see a Rangers game. I just didn't get to do things like this as a kid so this was a huge deal to me. I remember the excitement of just walking to the stadium, seeing all the crowds, the songs and the camaraderie of the fans, seeing my heroes in real life running around on the pitch! The crowding on Glasgow's subway. Sitting in the massive stadium. The whole thing was amazing.

 

"And, being a kid, I think I took it all for granted. But now I can see how odd it must have looked to everyone else there - here's white-haired, white-skinned Rangers fan Mr Johnstone with this random wee plump Asian kid in tow! And yet I never sensed any animosity or strange looks or rude comments from others. The race thing just felt 'normal' to me, but I realise now that it can't have been normal for him, or those around him.

 

"In the end I went to three games with him. Dundee Utd, Kilmarnock and St Johnstone. They were always a delight. He was incredibly kind to me - I don't know what motivated him to go to the trouble of taking someone else's kid to a football match.

 

"But I realise now that he displayed in this kindness the best of humanity. He did it just to make a kid smile. And skin colour, religion or whatever else meant nothing. How I miss those days!

 

"Please, if you know where he is today, let me know! I'd love to meet him again to say thank you, and to reminisce.

 

"Share, share, share - someone out there must know him! Please share!"

 

The post has had hundreds of shares and received comments from Facebook users.

 

Debbie Lafferty said: "Beautiful story, I wish you the very best of luck finding Mr Johnstone."

 

Do you know Mr Johnstone, contact the newsdesk on 01413027506

 

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/14583996.Brexit__Son_of_migrant_makes_appeal_to_find_Glaswegian_shopkeeper_who_took_him_to_Rangers_games/

[gisabeer 409]

a cracking story!

[SteveC 150]

Thanks for posting this, Ian, it is a good read.

[Billy Bones 2]

Great see story.