Ronnie Coburn
The Scotsman
9th July 2010
ENTERTAINER AND FORMER CITIZEN OF THE YEAR RONNIE COBURN DIES
By STAFF REPORTER, 9 July 2010 10.31am. Updated: 26 November 2012 12:30pm.
Ronnie Coburn, the Dundee entertainer known throughout the world for his Breath of Scotland touring shows, has died.
Ronnie, who was 81, was a former Dundee Citizen of the Year and was awarded the MBE for his services to entertainment. He had been battling cancer for some time and died in Ninewells Hospital on Thursday.
Close friend Lord Provost John Letford said the "lights of the city had gone out" at the news.
He said, "He was a great ambassador for Dundee and was really loved. His jokes and his quick wit were absolutely incredible.
"He had them laughing in the aisles and at the Christmas lunches the old folk were clamouring to get at him. He is going to be sorely missed and it won't be the same without him."
Originally from Edinburgh, Ronnie moved to Dundee in the 1950s. He travelled the world during a career that spanned more than 50 years, filling theatres from Toronto to Arbroath.
The Breath of Scotland show toured for decades, making regular visits to Canada, America, New Zealand and Australia. Ronnie also toured in Fiji, Hawaii and Hong Kong.
His worldwide success was matched with popularity at home and he had a regular summer slot at the Webster Theatre in Arbroath well in to the new century.
He worked with many well known stars of traditional variety shows and was part of the Royal Clansmen, formed by comedian Alec Finlay and including Dennis Clancy, Will Starr and Arthur Spink.
Ronnie also appeared on television. The Royal Clansmen made a successful series for Grampian TV in the early 1970s.
'King Henry VIII owes me a tenner'
Hollywood star and native Dundonian Brian Cox credits Ronnie with setting him on the road to fame. Four years ago the actor repaid £10 he was given to get to a London audition.
As an aspiring young actor in the 1960s, Brian spent a period working for Ronnie at Dundee's Palace Theatre.
The pair became firm friends and it was to Ronnie that Brian turned when he needed the train fare to London for his first audition, and he even gave the aspiring actor a lift to Dundee station to catch his train south.
The journey proved to be the first step on a long road that saw Brian become an international superstar.
Ronnie and Brian were reunited in 2006 when the actor took the opportunity to repay the tenner.
Never one to pass up the opportunity to raise a laugh, at the time of the reunion Ronnie recalled the story of the tenner.
"I forgot all about it until years later when my wife and I were watching a television show," he said.
"It was King Henry VIII and he was getting stuck into great big legs of pork and joints of meat.
"I thought 'I know that face' and I realised it was Brian. I said to my wife 'King Henry VIII owes me a tenner'."
Always a larger-than-life character, Ronnie named his family home in Elliot Road Vaudevilla.
He is survived by his wife Mildred, known as Middy, son Callum, daughter-in-law Wendy, grand-daughter Lauren and his brother Eric.
Arbroath Herald
15th July 2010
DEATH OF SCOTS COMEDIAN AND SHOWMAN RONNIE COBURN
WHEN a 'phone call to the Arbroath Herald began with the caller making trombone noises down the line, one knew how one would be spending the next 20 or so minutes - deep in hilarious conversation with Ronnie Coburn, MBE, entertainer.
Alas, on Thursday, at the age of 81, Ronnie died in Ninewells Hospital, peacefully after a long illness.
'Entertainer' is the only word that sums up Ronnie - he loved people, he loved laughter, and above all he loved to make people laugh.
A native of Edinburgh, who once appeared on stage in that city with Laurel and Hardy, he moved to Dundee almost 60 years ago and enjoyed a career that ranged through running theatres, managing bandleader Billy Cotton, and taking his own famous 'Breath of Scotland' show all round the world where Scottish is spoken, with many summer seasons in Arbroath.
He was a stalwart of the variety stage. Among his greatest successes in the music hall was as a member of Alec Finlay's Royal Clansmen, which included Dennis Clancy, Will Starr and Arthur Spink. So popular were the Clansmen that they had their own series on Grampian TV almost 40 years ago. Indeed, there are clips from the show currently available on the YouTube internet site, depicting Ronnie playing drums for Will Starr, and doing a nifty dance, too.
Mention has already been made of Ronnie's immensely popular shows at the Webster Theatre over many years. However, these ended with the most recent renovation of the Webster. Indeed, if one wanted to experience a firework display without actually setting anything alight, all one had to do was mention to Ronnie one or two names connected with the theatre to experience the most entertaining character assassinations imaginable, every facet backed up emphatically by solid logic and experience.
Ronnie resisted many attempts by many people to put pen to paper and write his reminiscences.
(Read the full appreciation in this week's Arbroath Herald/Guide & Gazette) But those who engaged him in conversation have happy memories, not least about the comedian for whom he obtained a booking in Canada, and to whom he gave the firm instruction: “Keep it clean!” The unfortunate lapse while performing to an audience of nuns was recounted as only Ronnie could.
When Ronnie was made Dundee’s Citizen of the Year in 2005, the evening was both hilarious and Scottish star-studded, with famous names such as the Alexander Brothers and The Tartan Lads mingling with his many friends and admirers, not least Lord Provost John Letford.
Ronnie was honoured by Her Majesty the Queen the same year, by being made an MBE.
In his later years he would take a concert party to old folks’ homes or day care centres - because he knew it would create happiness.
One could fill this entire newspaper with stories about Ronnie Coburn, and each reader who knew him would be able to add many more. There were few like him, and none are left.
Ronnie is survived by his loving wife Middy, their son Callum, daughter-in-law Wendy, grand-daughter Lauren and his brother, Eric.
A funeral service was held at Dundee Crematorium on Tuesday, when Lord Provost Letford paid suitable tribute to his old friend.
Among the mourners were The Alexander Brothers, Johnny Beattie and Ian Lees.
GWC
9th July 2010
ENTERTAINER AND FORMER CITIZEN OF THE YEAR RONNIE COBURN DIES
By STAFF REPORTER, 9 July 2010 10.31am. Updated: 26 November 2012 12:30pm.
Ronnie Coburn, the Dundee entertainer known throughout the world for his Breath of Scotland touring shows, has died.
Ronnie, who was 81, was a former Dundee Citizen of the Year and was awarded the MBE for his services to entertainment. He had been battling cancer for some time and died in Ninewells Hospital on Thursday.
Close friend Lord Provost John Letford said the "lights of the city had gone out" at the news.
He said, "He was a great ambassador for Dundee and was really loved. His jokes and his quick wit were absolutely incredible.
"He had them laughing in the aisles and at the Christmas lunches the old folk were clamouring to get at him. He is going to be sorely missed and it won't be the same without him."
Originally from Edinburgh, Ronnie moved to Dundee in the 1950s. He travelled the world during a career that spanned more than 50 years, filling theatres from Toronto to Arbroath.
The Breath of Scotland show toured for decades, making regular visits to Canada, America, New Zealand and Australia. Ronnie also toured in Fiji, Hawaii and Hong Kong.
His worldwide success was matched with popularity at home and he had a regular summer slot at the Webster Theatre in Arbroath well in to the new century.
He worked with many well known stars of traditional variety shows and was part of the Royal Clansmen, formed by comedian Alec Finlay and including Dennis Clancy, Will Starr and Arthur Spink.
Ronnie also appeared on television. The Royal Clansmen made a successful series for Grampian TV in the early 1970s.
'King Henry VIII owes me a tenner'
Hollywood star and native Dundonian Brian Cox credits Ronnie with setting him on the road to fame. Four years ago the actor repaid £10 he was given to get to a London audition.
As an aspiring young actor in the 1960s, Brian spent a period working for Ronnie at Dundee's Palace Theatre.
The pair became firm friends and it was to Ronnie that Brian turned when he needed the train fare to London for his first audition, and he even gave the aspiring actor a lift to Dundee station to catch his train south.
The journey proved to be the first step on a long road that saw Brian become an international superstar.
Ronnie and Brian were reunited in 2006 when the actor took the opportunity to repay the tenner.
Never one to pass up the opportunity to raise a laugh, at the time of the reunion Ronnie recalled the story of the tenner.
"I forgot all about it until years later when my wife and I were watching a television show," he said.
"It was King Henry VIII and he was getting stuck into great big legs of pork and joints of meat.
"I thought 'I know that face' and I realised it was Brian. I said to my wife 'King Henry VIII owes me a tenner'."
Always a larger-than-life character, Ronnie named his family home in Elliot Road Vaudevilla.
He is survived by his wife Mildred, known as Middy, son Callum, daughter-in-law Wendy, grand-daughter Lauren and his brother Eric.
Arbroath Herald
15th July 2010
DEATH OF SCOTS COMEDIAN AND SHOWMAN RONNIE COBURN
WHEN a 'phone call to the Arbroath Herald began with the caller making trombone noises down the line, one knew how one would be spending the next 20 or so minutes - deep in hilarious conversation with Ronnie Coburn, MBE, entertainer.
Alas, on Thursday, at the age of 81, Ronnie died in Ninewells Hospital, peacefully after a long illness.
'Entertainer' is the only word that sums up Ronnie - he loved people, he loved laughter, and above all he loved to make people laugh.
A native of Edinburgh, who once appeared on stage in that city with Laurel and Hardy, he moved to Dundee almost 60 years ago and enjoyed a career that ranged through running theatres, managing bandleader Billy Cotton, and taking his own famous 'Breath of Scotland' show all round the world where Scottish is spoken, with many summer seasons in Arbroath.
He was a stalwart of the variety stage. Among his greatest successes in the music hall was as a member of Alec Finlay's Royal Clansmen, which included Dennis Clancy, Will Starr and Arthur Spink. So popular were the Clansmen that they had their own series on Grampian TV almost 40 years ago. Indeed, there are clips from the show currently available on the YouTube internet site, depicting Ronnie playing drums for Will Starr, and doing a nifty dance, too.
Mention has already been made of Ronnie's immensely popular shows at the Webster Theatre over many years. However, these ended with the most recent renovation of the Webster. Indeed, if one wanted to experience a firework display without actually setting anything alight, all one had to do was mention to Ronnie one or two names connected with the theatre to experience the most entertaining character assassinations imaginable, every facet backed up emphatically by solid logic and experience.
Ronnie resisted many attempts by many people to put pen to paper and write his reminiscences.
(Read the full appreciation in this week's Arbroath Herald/Guide & Gazette) But those who engaged him in conversation have happy memories, not least about the comedian for whom he obtained a booking in Canada, and to whom he gave the firm instruction: “Keep it clean!” The unfortunate lapse while performing to an audience of nuns was recounted as only Ronnie could.
When Ronnie was made Dundee’s Citizen of the Year in 2005, the evening was both hilarious and Scottish star-studded, with famous names such as the Alexander Brothers and The Tartan Lads mingling with his many friends and admirers, not least Lord Provost John Letford.
Ronnie was honoured by Her Majesty the Queen the same year, by being made an MBE.
In his later years he would take a concert party to old folks’ homes or day care centres - because he knew it would create happiness.
One could fill this entire newspaper with stories about Ronnie Coburn, and each reader who knew him would be able to add many more. There were few like him, and none are left.
Ronnie is survived by his loving wife Middy, their son Callum, daughter-in-law Wendy, grand-daughter Lauren and his brother, Eric.
A funeral service was held at Dundee Crematorium on Tuesday, when Lord Provost Letford paid suitable tribute to his old friend.
Among the mourners were The Alexander Brothers, Johnny Beattie and Ian Lees.
GWC