Sandy O’ Connor was born in Stirling, Scotland and grew up in a small town nearby called Alva. His parents moved to Stoke after the local coal mine where Sandy’s Dad worked closed. Sandy recalls first moving to Stoke, “I hated it. I missed my girlfriend and pals. I was 13 and it was a difficult time, we had to live in one room. I couldn’t understand anyone, it looked like an old- fashioned town.”

After meeting other friends from Alva who moved to the area Sandy began to settle in Stoke-on- Trent, “I married when I was 21 had two sons and a littler tinker bell (daughter). Now I’ve got used to Stoke-on-Trent I’m quite happy.” Sandy worked as fitter (maintenance man) for the National Coal Board and did training to become a man rescuer, which he fortunately never had to use.

Unfortunately, when Sandy was 25 years old he had a motorbike accident which led to deteriorating eyesight and after 3 operations a fake left eye. In spite of this he is now comfortable living in Biddulp, north of Stoke but Sandy has always missed Scotland, “I still go back to Scotland now and again to visit family. I miss the things I would do as a child like fishing in the glen. It was beautiful with waterfalls.” Sandy regularly attends a men’s group for over 50’s at The Zone community centre in Biddulph.