Whatever happened to Billy McColl

From the Glasgow Herald 08-02-14

Our communities should not take their local heroes for granted
Saturday 8 February 2014
IN every local community, I suppose, there is a rather special person who serves us well but fails to get the gratitude that is due.
I am thinking in particular this day of Billy McColl, postmaster-cum-newsagent in our “village” of Netherlee, on the southern border of Glasgow.
For 20 years or more Billy has been the central figure in our community life, the cheery face, the helping hand - and yes, the local hero who knows all 3000 of us, makes us feel better about life and is quietly adored by all.
And if we have never told him so, it is high time we did. For Billy is giving up that place in our midst. And suddenly there is a palpable air of deep concern that he will no longer be with us. For this is the man who is here all day, up and about by 4am to make sure we get our Herald delivered on time. And if the papers are late for the paper-boy, he is liable to come round with his car.
Billy has had a varied life, starting as a professional footballer with Ayr United and Clydebank, where he partnered that legend of the game, the great Davie Cooper. But Billy McColl has become our legend, even if we have been slow to acknowledge it. So this may be a lesson for other communities to appreciate that special person - the one we are so readily inclined to take for granted.
Jack Webster,
58 Netherhill Avenue,
Glasgow.