Andy Stewart

b. 20 December 1933, Scotland, d. 11 October 1993, Arbroath, Angus, Scotland. This singer/comedian rose to fame initially as the presenter of Dance Party Roof, which was shown on Scottish television. He subsequently became a national figure as a member of the resident cast of The White Heather Club, a long-running BBC television show. Stewart eventually became the programme’s compère, a role he combined with a recording career which bore fruit in 1960 when the blithe ‘Donald Where’s Your Trousers’ reached the UK Top 20. Other whimsical singles, including ‘Campbeltown Loch’ and ‘Dr. Findlay’, contrasted with releases of a more romantic nature, the best-known of which was ‘A Scottish Soldier’ (1961). An ever-present kilt and homely fare ensured the artist’s popularity among home-based Scots and expatriots and his career flourished in Australia, New Zealand and Canada. In 1976 he was awarded the MBE. Recurrent ill health gave Stewart a lower profile and he underwent triple by pass surgery. He enjoyed a surprise return to the UK chart when ‘Donald Where’s Your Troosers’ was re-released in 1989. Stewart received a series of glowing obituaries following his death in 1993, having been forgiven by all, outside his homeland, for spoiling Sassenachs’ New Year’s Eve television entertainment. In Scotland his music touched many as his pride and sheer joy at being born a Scot shone through.