Dossier 3 - Interview with Tom Bowden, Colin Thomas, Gerald Hawkins and Derek Charles

Ronald Johnston was born and brought up in Glasgow. He worked in various manual jobs before embarking on an academic career in social history, advancing to Reader at Glasgow Caledonian University. His main research interests lie in 19th and 20th century British history, especially the history of work and of occupational health. He is the author/co-author of three academic books and over thirty journal articles.

Johnston left academia in 2011 to concentrate on independent research and writing. His first novel, 'The red list', draws on his extensive knowledge of the West of Scotland during the period when it gained the title 'Red Clydeside'. His pen name is James Johnston.

Arthur McIvor is professor of social history at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, and a specialist in the history of work and occupational health. He is the joint author, with Ronnie Johnston, of 'Lethal work: a history of the asbestos tragedy in Scotland' (2000) and 'Miners' lung: a history of dust disease in British coal mining' (2007).