The Knowhere Guide

Local Heroes in Bathgate, Lothian*

Bathgate, Lothian Famous Residents

Cringing Cult of Celebrity (Famous residents and ex-residents.)

• Jamie Dolan former football star of motherwell; livingston etc.
• Michael Caton-Jones, film director went to secondary school at St. Mary's Academy, Bathgate (although the torag was unfortunate enough to hail from Broxburn). Went on to direct..."Scandal" (John Hurt, Bridget Fonda, Britt Eckland...about Profumo/British politician sex), "Memphis Belle" (Harry Connick Jr.), "Doc Hollywood" (Michael J. Fox, Woody Harrelson), "Rob Roy" (Liam Neeson, Jessica Lange), the remake of "The Jackal" (Richard Gere, Bruce Willis, Sidney Poitier), "City By The Sea" (Robert Di Niro), "This Boy's Life" (Robert De Niro, Leonardo Di Caprio), "Trinity (TV series). I'll echo the other guy's comments regarding Martin Metcalf and Goodbye Mr. Mackenzie...the band that gave rise to Shirley Manson of Garbage.
• Zsa Zsa Gabors sister Eva used to be married to an ex owner of Kaimpark Hotel.
• i think Isla Fisher comes from Bathgate
• James Young (Parraffin Young) was a Glaswegian, however he DID discover paraffin in Bathgate, opened the worl'd first oil refinery here. He is a seperate person entirely to James Young Simpson, who was born in Bathgate and discovered the anasthetic proerties od Chloroform in Edinburgh!
• Anyone remember the big aussie bar-maid at New Royal Bar? She was a laugh and a half...what ever happened to skippy?
• Some of the Gladiators have visited, some famous footballers live nearby and Lee McGrorty Britains Judo Champion who will be taking part in the Commonwealth games and hopefully the next Olympics.
• Bernard Gallachers lovely daughter Kirsty Gallacher, u no the 1 who presents RISE in morning also stayed in Bathgate.
• shanon who used to be in home and away
• David Beckham
• Martin Metcalfe of the late goodbye mr mckenzie stayed here before reaching the dizzy heights of fame....
• Paul Roden, bass player, ex Wild River Apples, ex Baby Stafford, ex Shakespear's Sister, ex Licia's Attic ................ did not manage a smile on TOTP though....concentrating too hard !
• Billy Idol........yeah, your'e not seeing things. Rumour has it that he lived in the 'Gate for a spell in the late 70's with then local punk legend Rab Cherrie. Can anyone shed any light on this??
• There is a guy from Bathgate called David Tenant who is about to be in a movie with Johnny Depp. He was also in that "Duck Patrol" programme with Richard Wilson and he was in "Taking Over the Asylum" which won a BAFTA. Another claim to fame is Sandy McDonald who was the Moderator of the Church of Scotland two years ago.
• My boyfriend informs me that BOTH Shannon AND Sally are from Bathgate. I stand by lovely Sally!
• It was Shannon from Home and Away that was from Bathgate, not Sally Eric Brown, the first Captain for the Ryder Cup hailed from Bathgate Bernard Gallagher, former Golf Captain also a Bathgate Bairn Dave McPherson, who played for both Hearts and Rangers also lived in Bathgate
• Eric Brown, Golfer, 1st Captain of Ryder Cup, born in Bathgate. Alexander Fleming, inventor of penicillan, born in Bathgate Paraffin Young, inventor of paraffin, born in Bathgate
• First of all the "some famous person" Sir James Young Simpson, was the man who discover the anaesthetic properties of Chloroform. Also it is Shannon in Home and Away that is from Bathgate, not Sally. Bernard Gallacher the Golfer is also a Bathgate Bairn. Robert the Bruce had a castle on the now golf course in Bathgate. One of the two Tartan Lads are also from Bathgate.
• Bathgate is the birthplace of Sir James Young Simpson (some famous bloke).
• Sally of "top" soap Home and Away is a Bathgate girl. Surf's up...
• This town should be world famous as the birthplace of top Scottish band, Goodbye Mr Mackenzie.

Buskers, Street Entertainers

• Accordionist appearing outside Boot's, every Saturday (weather permitting)!!! If you like the music, please give generously!!! Stop by & say hello-he's very friendly!!!
• Bathgate now does have a couple of guys, who usually perform on a Saturday morning. One regular used to be a very good accordionist; we now have a Bob Dylan type - good on the guitar and not a bad singing voice, either.

The Knowhere Guide started out as a list of places to skateboard in the UK. It is a compilation of (unedited) information and views supplied by users like yourself. It is not a conventional tourist guide!

In most cases, the information in each section has been submitted by more than one contributor (the credits at the bottom of the page list some, but not all, of the contributors) and some of it dates back to the 1970s.

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Credits

Last updated: 2006-11-01