What lovely memories of a lovely man!

This site is such a lovely idea and the pictures and memories are fantastic and show just how much people thought of Stan. I will always remember how welcoming Stan and Rose were when they lived in Maclachlan Road and later in William Street. I later used to visit with my daughter Isabel and she too loved Stan - in fact one of our last memories of him, even when he was quite poorly, was him insisting of getting out of his 'special chair' so she could ride up and down on it. RIP Stan - I hope you are having fun up there.

Maria Lyle nee Ellis

Uncle Stan

I grew up two doors down in Maclachlan Road from the Grieve family and have very fond memories of both uncle Stan and auntie Rose. They were always very welcoming when I was round playing - their door was always open. Uncle Stan was funny, full of jokes and always happy. Theirs was the best house to go to at Halloween with ducking for apples and treacle covered scones. Don't know who enjoyed it more the kids in the street or uncle Stan. Stan will be greatly missed he was a lovely man full of character. Love to auntie Rose, Laura and Julia xx

Linsey Duncan (nee McLellan)

Dear Rose and family,
Wonderful memories we treasure of past holidays with you in Maclachlan Rd. Always lots of laughter with Stan. Say hello to Billy for us Stan. RIP
 

Cath & the Burke family

Dear Aunty Rose, Laura,  and Julia,

Thinking of you on this sad day.  We're so sorry to hear Uncle Stan has passed away.  He was a wonderful man - one of a kind and always put a smile on everyone's faces.  He will be really missed.  Our thoughts are with you and the family.  

All our love, Jacqui, Sascha, Alex, Zachary and Imogen, the Offers and the Codds xxxxx xxxx xxxxx

Helensburgh's Muhammad Ali

Dear Auntie Rose, Laura & Julia (and all those who loved Stan),

The world is a poorer place with the loss of Uncle Stan. He was such a wonderful, kind, gentle & funny man. He brought light into our lives and, of course, his antics were legendary....

When Uncle Stan came to Chicago, he told everyone – shopkeepers, servers etc.- he was Sean Connery’s brother (“Aye Lass, I’m Sean Connery’s wee brother, ken…ye can tell by the heed lass” (slapping his bald patch)– and they believed him! Later he changed it to Billy Connolly – (“Aye lass, I’m the Big Yin's big brother”). Auntie Rose just rolled her eyes. At one point she said “ Stan, if you say that one more time, I’m leaving you !”. Auntie Rose, you were long-suffering !

When we were young kids living on the Glade Estate, he would always be the biggest kid of all; always out in the street playing football. On one occasion (in the early 1970s), he set up a pretend boxing ring at our house (using the stakes for the foundations for our new garage as the "ropes"). He pretended to box with all the kids. It was in the Ali v Frasier era, so, of course, he was Ali, with the “motor mouth” and all the “patter” & fancy footwork. I was about 6 years old and he annoyed me so much by "stiff-arming me" & holding me away at arms’ length that when he turned around for a rest, I bit him on the backside! Of course this brought great shrieks of laughter from all the kids and most of all from Stan. (BTW...during this time he was supposed to be helping my Dad and Granddad on the construction, but Stan much preferred larking about & "entertaining the troops"…)

Whenever he want into town (Glasgow), he seemed to come back with Viyella shirts and Jaeger sweaters for my mum and dad. I think he kept my Dad in shirts for years!

Stan, we all miss you enormously and I wish we were able to be there tomorrow to celebrate your life and to say goodbye properly. We will be there in spirit.

With Love & fondest memories,

Scott, Sonia, Cameron and Dexter Offer xxxx

Dearest Laura.
We are so sad to hear that Your Dad has died. Lovely lovely Stan!
He was such a gorgeous person, and although we only met him a few times he always treated us like long lost friends, and was an absolute joy!

I will always particularly remember when I came up to Helensburgh with a previous ill fitting boyfriend to visit. It was the weekend when your cat Alice got run over and Tam Seibold had to bury her with a spoon!! I remember Stan telling me what had happened with tears in his eyes and then giving me a huge hug. I never knew if the hug was really for me or for him... But I felt so privileged that I got it!!
He really was a lovely man.
Please do remember us to Rose and send our love to her.

Paul and John
X x x

 Sorry for the loss of Stan. I remember meeting him at Auntie Theresa's house, when he was wearing his Tarten Beret and playing his Bagpipes. Thinking and praying for you all.

Love Becs

Dear Stan

 Having met Rosie and become firm friends on our very first anti-natal vist to the Queen Mother's Hospital late 1968 early 1969 the inevitable happened. Expectant parents were 'invited' to visit the labour suite at the hospital. The four of us duly turned up full of 'expectation' so to speak ! Sadly poor Stan was rather overcome by his surroundings and my only worry was that Kenny might have to give him mouth to mouth resusatation or worse, gas and air ! 

However, all was well at the end of the day and little Laura was consequently delivered safely. When Stan 'phoned to tell us of Laura's arrival, I sat on the staircase and wept wishing that it would 'soon be all over for me!' Little did I know I had exactly one more week to the day to go before our daughter Fiona was born. 

On another famous occasion we were innocently walking down Sauchiehall Street with Rosie and Stan to dine at a local Italian. For some inexplicable reason Stan decided he had lost the key of the 'cludgie'. Not a buddy in that area was in any doubt that this guy was in dire need. Both Rosie and ourselves made a quick getaway for the said restaurant and left him to his ramblings. Oh, how we could go on and on with similar stories. 

Stan's passing will leave a huge void in our lives, but also a wealth of wonderful happy memories. He was much loved by ourlelves, our children , our parents and friends both young and old. 


Patti and Kenny 
 

Fond memories of the Nutty Professor

I have to say I shed a  tear or two when Laura sent me the news about Stan.

I remember my first trip to Helensburgh, Laura was describing her parents to me - she said my mum looks a bit like Sheila Grant from Brookside and my dad is a cross between Eric Morecambe and Alistair Sim with a bit of Bilko thrown in. As you can imagine I wasn’t sure what to expect - she was spot on!

Stan was one of the kindest, gentlest, funniest, eccentric men I’ve ever met – he welcomed me into the family like I was one of his own and I’ve always felt a strong connection to the Grieve family.

I have such fond memories of him, the funny man; the doting father, grandfather and husband; the nutty professor; the annoying child J.

There was never a dull moment when he was around!

Sometimes being on the other side of the world seems a long way away, I would have loved to celebrate his life with you all and say my goodbyes in person.

Rest assured I’ll be there in spirit.

Much love to you all

Gill xxxxx

So sorry to hear about your Dad – he was a smashing guy, and will be missed by so many people.  He had such a great, infectious personality – just a pleasure to be around.  Susan and I were having a giggle earlier on at how he would wander along the road towards us and as soon as he spotted us, do a comedy about turn as if he didn’t want to speak to us.  And not forgetting of course the time he gave me a beamer in Tesco by shouting across the checkouts “Watch out for him – he’s a shoplifter!”….I wouldn’t have forgiven many people for doing that!  So many other great memories too – I’m sure you’re really proud of how well thought of he was.

Roddy Mackenzie

It was many years ago (about 25) when I met Stan. He welcomed this friend of Geds into his home and treated me immediately as one of the family. I remember his humour and obvious love and warmth for his family.
I will be thinking of you all on the 6th

John Davidson

Stan "the man"

Words seem inadequate to express the sadness we feel about Stan's passing. We are here to support you in our thoughts and prayers. 

With sincere sympathy, big hugs
- Annmarie & Laurie

Farewell big yin.....

 'Who is the mad jock?!' ....the lads used to say when you came to watch us on a Sunday morning in the Birkenhead Sunday League. It is difficult to remember anyone with such enthusiasm for others' endeavours. Watching Birkenhead Sunday League fourth division football is the ultimate proof! I bet every one of them would remember STM now even though most only met him a couple of times. That is my testament. Shared my love for sport of all kinds and the need to endlessly debate things we cant change! Farewell big yin.....

Chulla Byrne

Uncle Stanley

We were so proud of Uncle Stan! Everyone he met remembered him. Our friends loved laughing with him at his daft jokes and impenetrable Scottish rhymes. He was a fan of physical humour too - adopting poses guaranteed to make you giggle. He was a gentleman amongst the loud rogues of our family and a soothing balm on the fiery tempers of the three women he loved most in his life. Kev and Robbie injected so much life into his final couple of decades and this was such a gift from Ken and Jules. He was endlessly proud of his family and loved to visit Laura and Amy and looked forward to their visits home. As inevitably happens, the perpetual motion of life continues no matter how much we want to lengthen those moments we have shared with those we love. The world is a smaller place without him but we are bigger people because of him.

Lucie BD

Happy Memories

 So many fond memories. For me, those of the very warm welcome always afforded to me by the whole Byrne/ Monaghan/Grieve clan. A real lesson in family. For Heather, of her Mum laughing at your Dad's jokes literally all the way from Mill Lane to Chester as they travelled together to Lucie and Paul's wedding reception.

Our love and thoughts are with your Mum, you, Julia and your families. I'm raising my cup of tea to your Dad.

Karen, Heather, Charlie and Rory xx

I only met this lovely man a few times on his visits to Greasby when he was in better health. I loved him - so warm, friendly and funny. What's lovely though is how much I saw that Lucie, Paul and all the Byrne clan here loved him. That in itself speaks volumes about the kind of man he must have been. The love others offer you is the true measure of who you are I think. He was clearly a mighty and wealthy man -but I'm sure he was modest about such a great achievement. With love to all of Uncle Stan's family

Annie Geady