Cliff Hanley facts for kids

Clifford Leonard Clark "Cliff" Hanley (born October 28, 1922 – died August 9, 1999) was a talented Scottish writer, journalist, and television presenter. He was born in Shettleston, a part of Glasgow, Scotland, and went to school at Eastbank Academy. Cliff Hanley was known for his many books, plays, and TV shows.

Early Life and Beliefs

Cliff Hanley grew up in Glasgow. In the late 1930s, he was involved with the Independent Labour Party. This was a political group that worked to improve life for working people.

During the Second World War, Cliff Hanley was a conscientious objector. This means he believed it was wrong to fight in the war. He chose not to join the army because of his strong personal beliefs.

A Gifted Writer

Cliff Hanley wrote many different kinds of books. One of his most famous books was Dancing in the Streets. This book shared stories about his early life growing up in Glasgow.

He also wrote The Taste of Too Much. This was a coming-of-age novel, which means it was about a young person growing up and learning about life. It followed the story of a secondary school student. He also wrote a book called The Scots, which explored Scottish culture and history.

Thrillers and Humorous Verse

In the 1960s and 1970s, Cliff Hanley wrote exciting thriller novels. He used a different name for these books, called a pen-name. His pen-name was Henry Calvin. These thrillers were very popular in places like the United States and Canada.

He also wrote funny poems in the Scots language. For these poems, he used another pen-name, 'Ebenezer McIlwham'.

Famous Songs

Cliff Hanley wrote the words for a very famous Scottish song called Scotland the Brave. Many people in Scotland feel this song is like an unofficial national anthem.

He also wrote and sang The Glasgow Underground Song. This was a funny song about the old Glasgow Subway system before it was updated. A recording of this song became very popular thanks to the comedy duo Francie and Josie.

Television and Film Work

Cliff Hanley also wrote scripts for television shows and films. One of his TV scripts was for an episode of a show called Between the Lines.

He also wrote scripts for important films like Seawards the Great Ships and The Bowler and the Bunnet. Another film he wrote for was The New Road.

Cliff Hanley's son, also named Cliff Hanley, is a well-known artist.