Tillicoultry

For most of its life, Tillicoultry (from the Gaelic “Tullich Cul Tir” — “At the foot of this hills”) was an unassuming mill town on the River Devon. But that would only qualify the town as bland, not crap.

However, in the early 80s, “popular” TV sports commentator Dougie Donnelly appeared in the first of what would soon become many TV adverts for “Sterling Warehouse” — “Britain’s Biggest Furniture Centre”. Nestled in “Tillicoultry, Near Stirling” (actually about 10 miles away from Stirling), his constant promotion meant that whenever I introduced myself to anyone as being from Tillicoultry, the inevitable response was “Ah, near Stirling?” or even a rendition of the catchy jingle: “Ste-erling, the… BIG ONE!”

But surely Tillicoultry has more to offer than just a couch emporium? Erm… well, there’s a bus stop, and a library that’s open 10 hours a week. Oh, and a golf course for all the middle-classers to hang out.

For rising from anonymity to notoriety, based only upon housing an overpriced furniture store, I nominate Tillicoultry as a crap town.

Rod