Clydebank actor James Cosmo recalls his 'fabulous' schooldays

The Braveheart, Trainspotting and Game of Thrones star admits he feels very ‘lucky’ to have spent his school days at Clydebank High and credits the area as being key in his rise to one of the most sought-after actors in the UK.

Born in Dumbarton in 1947, Cosmo and his family moved to Dalmuir not long after his birth, to a community still feeling the after-effects of the Second World War.

And, speaking exclusively to the Clydebank Post amid the launch of his new whisky, Storyman, the 75-year-old revealed he is proud to be a Bankie.

Cosmo has had many big roles in films such as Braveheart and Trainspotting and fantasy TV show Game of Thrones (Image: Newsquest archive)

Cosmo's new whisky is described as a 'sipping' blend (Image: Newsquest archive)

He said: “I always considered that I was very lucky to be brought up there.

“Because, although it was an area that had had a very hard war, the community was extraordinary.

“The warmth and the friendship were absolutely vital.”

The actor and his family left Clydebank for London when he was eight years old on a journey taken in a horse-drawn wagon. And it was during this trip he first discovered the pastime of old stories being told over a dram or two, which would later inspire him to start Storyman.

“A great dram brings out a tale or twenty,” he added.

He returned to the riverside town when he was 11, and it was here he really fell in love with the place, making friends for life and learning lessons that still stand with him now.

Cosmo continued: “It was a huge part of my life, the influences that I was brought up with, they are things that last all your life.

“The school I went to, although it was a deprived area, my goodness it was a fabulous school.

Cosmo grew up in Clydebank and went to school in the town (Image: Newquest archive)

“They turned out tremendous scholars, the work ethic was truly wonderful, and I always felt very privileged to have been there.”

When asked if he remains a Bankie at heart to this day, Cosmo passionately replies: “Oh my goodness, yes! Of course, yeah. Absolutely.”

Cosmo explains how the Storyman whisky came about after a chance Hogmanay phone call to business partner Andy over a dram with the intention just to wish each other a Happy New Year.

That progressed into an idea of starting their own blend and Cosmo sought the help of Dumfries and Galloway-based distillery Annandale, makers the veteran actor had worked closely with during the filming of Robert the Bruce movie Outlaw King.

 “Then Annandale really committed to blending as fine a whisky as they could, which they have done,” he said.

“So yeah, it grew generically, it’s just happened organically.

 “The depth of knowledge that they have of whisky is astonishing.

“So, it’s a wonderful thing to have seen happen.”

Over three years later and Cosmo explained he believes he has a ‘wonderful’ blend, not only one that must be drunk slowly and sensibly, but one that’s best accompaniment is a good old catch-up with an old friend.

He finished: “From people that know, who taste whisky a lot more than I do, and that know much more about it, it’s a sipping whisky.

“It doesn’t have a strong peaty or smoky flavour, it’s delicate and refined but absolutely gorgeous.

“Obviously, one encourages people to drink it sensibly, but it is truly a wonderful whisky.

“As an actor, I’ve told stories all my life, as characters.

“And it’s the sort of whisky that you want to sit and listen to a good story.”