Tom McBride travelled the world during a high-flying career that took him from Mexico to the Far East.
But his heart always remained in his home village of Renton.
When hit by homesickness thousands of miles from home, Tom would jot down notes on hotel pads about life back in Renton to bring him comfort.
Those notes now form the basis of his first book, Renton – Fly…or You Cry, which launched last week and is a work of fiction inspired by his journey as a child of the 50s through to adulthood as Renton moved into the 1970s.
And Tom said the book has been a 20-year labour of love.
He explained: “I grew up in really hard times where we didn’t have enough food, money or clothing. I went on to become a very successful businessman. I worked as a director for big, blue chip companies.
“I travelled extensively all over the world, in the Far East especially. But also in America, Canada and Mexico.
“I could cope with all the hard decisions; shutting places down, growing business and working in different areas.
“But when I was travelling I always found one thing. When I was travelling to remote locations in China, Indonesia, India and Malaysia I would always wake up around 2am in these strange hotels because I was homesick.
“I started to scribble wee notes on hotel notepads. It had to be any memory about Renton. It didn’t have to be a happy memory; it could be sad or bad.
“If I did that I could go back to sleep. If I didn’t do it then I wouldn’t sleep.
“After a year or so I had a suitcase full of these wee scribbled on bits of paper.
“I was asked when I was going to throw them out, and I said never. I didn’t want to chuck them out, I wanted to keep them.
“That’s when my daughter and wife suggested that I write a book. So I did.
“Business was intense, I was on conference calls with Boston from Hong Kong at 1am and things like that. There were years where I left the book to one side, but I still wrote the notes.
“What kept me going was the fact that I spent 20 years in that mode. No matter where I was in the world I would write a wee note about Renton.
“I started putting them into chapters and categorising them, before finally writing the book.”
The 70-year-old, who retired four years ago having worked for companies including Polaroid and NCR, is determined to give something back to the community that shaped him – with all proceeds from the book going to local charities.
He continued: “Renton is a very close-knit community.
“There is a strong Rentonian culture where people are proud of where they come from. There’s a sense of belonging there, and that’s certainly something I’ve always felt.
“I was looking for a foodbank in Renton to support, but I couldn’t find one. At that time I found Cornerstone, who are a very deserving cause, and proceeds will also go to local foodbanks.
“Having been brought up with nothing myself, and now being in the position to give something back, I wanted to give something back to the local area.”
Tom was determined that the book would paint a true image of Renton during his childhood, both for good and bad.
He said: “This book has everything; from true love, primary school,
religion, fishing, dancing, Craigandro Youth Club, court appearance, friendship, hardship, football and gangland culture. It’s ultimately survival in very difficult times.
“I think some of my family have fallen out with me for writing this because they are so goody two-shoes!
“The fact is, if you’re from Renton then you rebel against things, you fight back, you never give in and you stick up for yourself.”
And he’s thanked everyone who helped him along the way, including local author Paul Murdoch for pushing him over the line.
Tom added: “If it hadn’t been for him, then I’d still be writing the content. He’s given me such good advice.”
Fly…Or You Cry officially launched last week in the Carman Centre, with over 120 people packing out the venue, and the books Tom had with him quickly selling out.
He added: “We’re due a new batch of books at the end of this week, we’ve got a waiting list and delivery information will go on Facebook as soon as they arrive.
Fly...Or You Cry is now available from:
The Carman Centre, Renton, Loch Lomond Gift House, Balloch, Asda, Dumbarton (on a Tuesday and Thursday between 10am and 2pm) and online via PayPal – PayPal.Me/RentonBook @ £12.99 including post and packaging.
