Profile - Uncle Hamish

In late 1970s Britain, national stereotypes were commonly used as a source of 'humour' in the media. Thus, while the portrayal of Cheeky's Uncle Hamish seems rather shocking to us now, we must bear in mind that the times in which Cheeky Weekly was being published were very different.

Uncle Hamish had a curiously uneven presence over Cheeky Weekly's run. His first appearance was in the 07 January 1978 comic (the 12th issue), in which he was the first across the threshold at Cheeky's new year party, but he didn't appear again until issue 62 (13 January 1979), when he turned up at the next new year bash. After his second appearance, he featured in all but 7 of the 54 issues remaining until the comic's demise, and of those issues, in 11 he featured on more than one page. In total, Hamish graced 50 issues.

First appearance - 07 January 1978
The label on Hamish's suitcase is a reference to the
1978 World Cup, held in Argentina in June.
Scotland had qualified, while England hadn't.
Art: Frank McDiarmid pencils

Second appearance 13 January 1979.
The label, although tattered, is still there despite Scotland
having been eliminated in the first round.
Art: Frank McDiarmid

Most of the jokes associated with Uncle Hamish referred to his parsimony. His speech was liberally sprinkled with Och Ayes, Ye Kens, and The Noos.

Art: Mike Lacey

Hamish was the subject of The Burpo Special in the issue dated 27 January 1979, only the fourth issue in which he had appeared. In addition to The Burpo Special, Hamish featured on each of the 2 Saturday pages in the same issue. This and the 28 April 1979 issue were those which featured the highest number of pages on which Hamish appeared - 3 each.

Art: Mike Lacey

In the 10 February comic, Hamish was in possession of The Mystery Comic, and made the toothy funster pay for it (the price he demanded was not revealed).

From the 31 March 1979 issue which contained
a knitting pattern for Cheeky's jersey.
Art: Frank McDiarmid

Hamish, under the influence of Hypno-Tessa, was seen whipping a £5 note from his sporran and handing the cash to a busker in the comic dated 28 April 1979.

From Cheeky Weekly dated 05 May 1979.
A referendum held in March 1979 asked Scottish
voters whether they wanted a devolved
Scottish Assembly. In a controversial interpretation
of the results, the answer was deemed to be 'no'.
Art: Frank McDiarmid

It won't be a surprise to learn that Hamish was first across the threshold again at Cheeky's 1980 new year party.

In the final issue of Cheeky Weekly, Uncle Hamish was seen coveting the combined cash of Mustapha Million and The Bumpkin Billionaires, as the fun-folk from Cheeky Weekly met their Whoopee! counterparts prior to the merge.

On 24 March 1979's Pin-Up Pal poster, Hamish was seen fleeing in terror from Do-Good Dora's collecting tin. The shock was so profound that it brought on an attack of Cheeky Weekly Inconsistent Hair Colour Syndrome, turning the locks of the scampering Scotsman, previously depicted as ginger on the cover of the 13 January 1979 comic, a bright yellow. The change proved permanent, as a yellow-haired Hamish was seen on the cover of the issue dated 10 November 1979.

Uncle Hamish never appeared in the 'Ello It's Cheeky strip in Krazy.

Another Uncle Hamish appeared the issue dated 28 October 1978. This was Hamish McPotts, relative of the Potts family, and he was featured in that issue's 6 Million Dollar Gran strip.

See also; Shorty.

Character	Total Issues	First Appearance	Final Appearance
Uncle Hamish	50	07-Jan-1978	02-Feb-1980

Count of elements by artist

Character	Artist	Total Elements
Uncle Hamish	Frank McDiarmid	35
Uncle Hamish	Mike Lacey	19
Uncle Hamish	Frank McDiarmid pencils	4
Uncle Hamish	Barrie Appleby	3
Uncle Hamish	Bob Hill	1
Uncle Hamish	Not known	1
Uncle Hamish	Dick Millington	1