“Living La Vida Yoker” sounds like a good time, doesn’t it? That’s the slogan celebrating the joys of Yoker. This saying is emblazoned on T-shirts designed by brothers Andrew and Chris Reilly. These shirts are specially tailored for ex-pats. They want to celebrate their roots in this Glasgow area.
The Reilly brothers are known for their tongue-in-cheek garments. Their most successful design was the Hurricane Bawbag T-shirt. It was a real phenomenon. They have a knack for creating designs with bad puns and rubbish jokes.
Andrew Reilly said that the reaction to the Yoker shirts has been fantastic. He notes that many sales come from ex-pats abroad. People seem to have strong connections with their old neighborhoods, especially if they no longer live there.
Reilly finds it amusing that T-shirts like “Living La Vida Yoker” started as a joke. The Yoker design works well. Even if you have never heard of Yoker, it still resonates. If you are from Yoker, it has an ironic twist. The brothers also hope to create designs for Scotstoun and Whiteinch.
In other news, Yoker made headlines for a different reason. In March 2024, a major police presence descended upon Speirshall Terrace. Emergency services responded to reports of a disturbance around 7.40 pm. Footage showed a large number of police cars on the street. A sizable crowd had gathered.
Two men, aged 38 and 34, were arrested and charged. They were connected to the incident. A report was submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.
Let’s shift gears and talk about James Herriot. Although not directly related to those events above, James Herriot attended Yoker Primary School. James Herriot was born James Alfred Wight. He was a British veterinary surgeon and author. Wight is best known for his series of books. The series is set in the 1930s-1950s Yorkshire Dales. It is about veterinary practice, animals, and their owners.
James Herriot was born in Sunderland. When he was a child, his family moved to Glasgow. He lived there until 1940. According to actor Christopher Timothy, Herriot had a soft, lilting Scottish accent.
As a boy in Glasgow, Wight loved walking his Irish Setter in the countryside. He watched it play with his friends’ dogs. He was intrigued by the character and behavior of these animals. He wanted to spend his life working with them if possible.
At 12, he read an article about veterinary surgeons in Meccano Magazine. He was captivated by the idea of treating sick animals. In 1930, he decided to become a vet. The principal of Glasgow Veterinary College gave a lecture at his high school. That lecture sealed his fate.
So, from humorous T-shirts to police incidents and a famous vet’s early education, Yoker is a place with diverse stories. It is a place that evokes strong feelings of home. It’s a place where even bad puns can become a source of pride.