Description
University of the West of Scotland (UWS) is hosting ‘Hugh McIlvanney in conversation with Graham Spiers’ at its Paisley Campus on Tuesday 4 October 2016.This event, one of a series of six being held across a range of Scottish venues in September and October, will see McIlvanney, who was once described as ‘the greatest sportswriter in the English-speaking world’, undertake a lively conversation with highly respected sports journalist and broadcaster, Graham Spiers.
McIlvanney is garlanded with awards and is held in as high esteem by those he has written about as by his readers. He remains perceptive and passionate after six decades of travelling the globe to chronicle landmark sporting events, including 11 World Cups and 10 Olympic Games. Hugh’s career has spanned generations of celebrated sporting figures - a veritable A-Z - encompassing everyone from Ali to Zidane.
This event will see McIlvanney, with his characteristic insight and wry wit, share the experiences of his remarkable career, prominent among them being his friendships with immortal football managers such as Busby, Shankly, Stein and Ferguson. He has also observed the troubled genius of players such as George Best and Jimmy Johnstone, let alone the many magical days spent in the company of the incomparable Muhammad Ali. Hugh will talk too of the times great sporting occasions were darkened by tragedy, when his background as a news reporter helped him to cope, and of the changes he has seen over the years in sports journalism.
Graham Spiers said: “It has been an ambition of mine to bring Hugh to live audiences in Scotland. It seemed remarkable to me that Hugh had so rarely taken to the stage in this way. Last year, after much persuasion, he wooed a large audience at the Assembly Rooms at the Edinburgh Fringe, and that event cried out to be repeated before wider audiences across Scotland. I should emphasise that these six events will be the only opportunity to hear Hugh reprise his amazing life and career. Personally, I feel honoured to be able to participate in these conversations.”
Commenting on hosting the event at UWS, Professor Craig Mahoney, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, said: “We are extremely proud to be the only university to be hosting this event and are delighted to be welcoming William and Graham to our Paisley Campus.
“Hugh is one of the country’s finest sports journalists and this event will provide a very entertaining insight into the career of a truly remarkable individual.”
| Period | 4 Oct 2016 |
|---|---|
| Event type | Other |
| Location | Paisley, United KingdomShow on map |
| Degree of Recognition | National |