Iconic Glasgow teenagers reunited

Published on 23/06/2012 23:46

FOR almost half a century they have been simply “The Castlemilk Lads”. But now the identities of the teenagers pictured in one of Scotland’s most iconic photographs can be revealed.

An investigation by Scotland on Sunday has discovered that the schoolboys, who are the subject of Oscar Marzaroli’s famous portrait, are Charlie Gordon, Peter Jackson and Robert Carnochan.

When the picture was taken in 1963, the three were pupils in Castlemilk. They are now grandparents in their early sixties. Gordon lives in Birmingham. Jackson and Carnochan are in the Glasgow area.

Italian-born Marzaroli went on to become one of Scotland’s most celebrated photographers, acclaimed in particular for his work chronicling life in the Gorbals. He died in 1988. The Castlemilk Lads was taken near Glenwood Secondary, now demolished, and shows them returning from a cross-country run. The boys were never named.

The photograph was later used on the sleeve of Deacon Blue’s Chocolate Girl single, and since 1987 has been in the collection of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, where it is one of the most popular photographs.

Though they had not been in contact since leaving school at 15, Gordon, Jackson and Carnochan were reunited a week ago by Scotland on Sunday.

“After 50 years, I didn’t know what to expect,” said Gordon. “It was a shock to the system, but they’d hardly changed. The whole thing is strange. I was at school and the next thing I know this great photographer has taken our picture, then all of a sudden you’re on the front of a record and in the paper.”

The emotional meeting was also attended by two of Marzaroli’s daughters and by his widow Anne. “It was one of the best days of my life,” said Marie Claire Marzaroli. “I see that picture every day, so it was overwhelming to actually meet them. I know my father felt there was a level of intrusion in a photograph and he didn’t want to intrude too much into their lives, but I think he would have found that meeting very special.”