Jimmy Reid’s 1972 Glasgow University Rectorial Address now officially historical

At the funeral service today (19th August 2010) for Jimmy Reid, the inspirational workers’ leader at Upper Clyde Shipbuilders and former Rector of Glasgow University, First Minister Alex Salmond pledged to make the union leader’s renowned 1972 Glasgow University Rectorial address available to every secondary school pupil.

After the funeral in Glasgow, Education Secretary Michael Russell confirmed the arrangements that will mean a new section on the Learning Teaching Scotland (LTS) educational website,containing the address and other material.

Mr Russell said: ‘The First Minister’s initiative in ensuring that a speech described by the New York Times as ‘the greatest speech since President Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address’ is made as widely available as possible – and in particular that it is made easily accessible to secondary school pupils in Scottish schools – will be warmly welcomed throughout the country.

‘Jimmy used to say that he had to discover Scottish History for himself as it was not taught to pupils of his generation. Fortunately, that is no longer true but we always need to keep updating what is studied and read, and I have no doubt that Jimmy’s vision, humanity and wisdom are a lesson to us all. They have great relevance to our past, present and future.

‘The Rectorial Address, along with biographical and other material, including video and audio clips, will be brought together over the next few weeks to form not just a comprehensive tribute but also a comprehensive learning resource.

‘I will also ensure it is promoted to teachers as very suitable for inclusion in cross curricular activity within the Curriculum for Excellence. In that way, it will match the many other new resources for Curriculum for Excellence already on line or being developed’.

Anyone wanting to celebrate the man today by reading what, alongside his address to the workers about to start their work-in at Upper Clyde Shipbuilders, is his historical signature, can find a link now to the full and unedited text of his rectorial address to Glasgow University in 1972 – and additional information on Jimmy Reid – here at Thoughtland, Big Ideas from a Small Nation.