Glasgow's Godfather: The Astonishing Inside Story of Walter Norval, the City's First Crime Boss

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He became the subject of the book Glasgow’s ­Godfather after Rita urged author Robert Jeffrey to tell his story. A campaign was launched that would eventually force the authorities to clean up the area and force the landlords to improve the conditions of their houses – but it was too late for Andrea. Norval said: "When I went into prison in the early 60s, there were wee gangs of hooligans that wanted to fight but when I came out in 1967, the place had changed, they were starting to thieve.

The world is also a different, far smaller place and the rise of the internet and social media has changed attitudes. Most youngsters today view being associated with their local young team as 'a complete cringe.' Read More Related Articles Norval was only brought to justice after being betrayed by one of his most loyal lieutenants Phil Henry. They passed the coffin to his six daughters and ­granddaughter as the chorus “My daddy was a bank robber” played.

When I came out of the jail I realised we had been stupid before, that we really should be going after the cash, while still guarding our districts."

Manson died in 1997 from a painkiller overdose. Hanlon’s grieving mum, Janette, confronted Thompson about her son’s murder. He was brought directly into the court away from the other prisoners and marched between two police officers.However Mr Pearson is keen to dispel the notion that the XYY robbers were harmless Robin Hood type characters. He had dreams his boxing was going to take him far away from the mean Glasgow streets and the gangland war between his boss and crime king Arthur Thompson. a b Hollywood star is battered after being caught up in biker gang turf war Daily Record (10 June 2012) Archived 26 November 2022 (Date mismatch) at archive.today So it was fitting that Walter Norval’s coffin should be carried into his funeral to the sound of ­Bankrobber by the Clash. He’d been executed right outside his father’s notorious “Ponderosa” home in Provanmill. Thompson was on the warpath.