Scotland At The Movies

23 March 2009, 12:32

In On a Clear Day Peter Mullan stars as a labourer in the shipyards on the famous River Clyde, laid off when more jobs need shedding.

The shipyards were an integral part of the Glasgow landscape until recently, when shipbuilding on the Clyde became increasingly uneconomic.

Towards the end of the 19th century the Clyde gained a reputation for being the best location for shipbuilding in the British Empire, and grew to become the world’s pre-eminent shipbuilding centre.

Clydebuilt became an industry benchmark of quality, and the river’s shipyards were given contracts for prestigious ocean-going liners as well as warships, including the Queen Mary and the Queen Elizabeth 2 in later years, all built in the town of Clydebank.

Today, two major shipyards remain in operation on the Upper Clyde; they are owned by the Global defence contractor, BAE Systems Naval Ships, who focus principally upon the design and construction of technologically advanced warships for the Royal Navy and other navies around the world. 

On the Lower Clyde, the privately owned Ferguson Shipbuilders at Port Glasgow is the last survivor of the many shipyards that once dominated Port Glasgow and Greenock - its mainstay being the construction of car ferries.

In the film, Frank realises that he needs some focus in his life after a violent panic attack, and - after a booze cruise along the English Channel - decides to focus his efforts on swimming across the arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic.

He dips his toes into the ice cold water of Loch Lomond, in order to train for his Channel swim.

The sport of Channel Swimming traces its origins to the latter part of the 19th century, when Captain Matthew Webb made the first observed and unassisted swim across the Strait of Dover swimming from England to France on 24 August 1875 to 25 August 1875, in a none-too-shabby 21 hours and 45 minutes. Hmm, how long do you think it would take doing the doggy paddle?

On a Clear Day is on STV on April 5.

Last updated: 26 March 2009, 13:07