This book describes and analyses the connections between Glasgow and South Africa historically and more recently in the ultimately successful struggle against apartheid. It is available on Kindle here
It describes how Glasgow was the first city in the world to award freedom of the city to Nelson Mandela in 1981 and captures his visit to Glasgow in 1993 to accept the Freedoms of nine UK cities in pictures and words.
The book looks back at Glasgow’s 19th century connections with South Africa and the role of Scots in the founding of Lovedale and the University of Fort Hare. Following the death of Nelson Mandela the book shows the continuing warmth felt for the man and the people of South Africa and the continuing connections between the city and Mandela’s land and people
Author Brian Filling accompanied Nelson Mandela on his visit to Glasgow in 1993. Brian became involved in anti-apartheid campaigning as a student at Glasgow University in the late 1960s. He was a founder of the Scottish AAM Committee in 1976 and served as its Chair from 1976 to 1994, when he became Chair of ACTSA Scotland.
He was a member of the Executive Committee of Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA) from 1994 to 2011 and is now Honorary Consul for South Africa in Scotland. He was awarded the National Order of Companions of O R Tambo, the highest award made to non-South Africans, by the Republic of South Africa in 2012.