Books That I have Read- Billy Connolly Windswept and Interesting.

Here is the autobiography of Billy Connolly A Glasgow born Catholic who is famous for his comedy sketches. He was described as Windswept and Interesting by a singer who he knew. He describes people who are “Windswept and Interesting” just have to be it … they don’t care what people say about them, they don’t buy new clothes , they’ll  try on a tea cosy when no-one is around and tell their story their own damn way.

“Billy” was born in November 1942 in a Glasgow tenement to a father who was away at War and a young Mother. Their mother abandoned them when he was four years of age and was placed in a children’s home but was taken out by his Aunts on his father’s side, He went to live with his Aunts in a rather cramped house. He got a rather tough upbringing, one of his Aunts used to  beat him till he stood up to her years later, he also got a trashing from the nuns which continued when he went to the “big” school. He told his classmates that he wanted to be a comedian and they all laughed !

He was abused by his Aunt and sexually abused by his father who he had to share a bed with when he came back from the War. “Billy” didn’t do well at school, he couldn’t do his homework with the situation at home and was regularly bashed by his teachers.. He apprenticed  as a welder at a Glasgow shipyard but his heart wasn’t in it and dossed alot.

He started to play at  a folk hall with a banjo and began telling jokes to the audience. He was a “stand by” act if someone didn’t show up. His career in comedy begin to take off and played at larger and larger venues.  He experienced his marriage break up but his career kept going, He lived and worked in Los Angeles and New York  and starred in a few films.

He is now in his late Seventies  and suffers from Parkinson’s, he lives in the Florida keys and says he hasn’t done bad for a welder who got away with it.