Collection OM/472 - Thomas O'Beirne papers

Thomas O'Beirne was born in 1910 and educated at Alan Glen's School in Glasgow. He aspired to a career in journalism, but was obliged to enter the family engineering business, A. Cockburn & Co. Ltd of Dennistoun. The firm, which manufactured specialised safety valves, had been jointly established by O'Beirne's father. While working as a draughtsman there, O'Beirne commenced evening classes in engineering at the Royal Technical College in 1928. He joined the Evening Students Representative Council and served on the Committee for the student magazine, 'The Mask' in session 1933-1934. He was then appointed Associate Editor in session 1934-1935, becoming the first evening student to hold an editorial position (a caricature drawing of O'Beirne as Associate Editor appears in 'The Mask' vol.XIX, no.1 (October 1934), p.19, and a portrait photograph appears facing p.168 in 'The Mask' vol.XX, no.6 (March, 1936)). He subsequently served as Editor during session 1935-1936. O'Beirne also wrote regularly for the magazine, contributing pieces under the pseudonym 'Squeebs' and penning two regular features, 'Round the Pubs With Me 'n' Henry Horsecollar' and 'Domestic Pets' with a fellow student, Dan Stewart. He qualified for the National Certificate (Higher) in Mechanical Engineering in 1934, and eventually took over the business from his father. O'Beirne married another student of the Royal Technical College, Alexina Hossack Weir, in 1942 and they had two children. He died in 1975.