Glasgow GG Brothers owner, 84, dies as family leave tribute

Gurdev 'GG' Gosal was surrounded by family when he died last month on Monday, February 27 at the age of 84 after a short illness.

He was just as much of an institution in Finnieston as his shop, GG Brothers, which he opened on Argyle Street when he moved to Glasgow in 1984.

Gurdev was born in India on March 13, 1938, and moved to England as a teenager.

He married his wife Gurmit Gosal on February 27, 1966. They had three daughters, Kulbinder Dhami, Baljinder Gill, and Gurbaksh Dhami and one son, Monohar 'Mani' Gosal.

Gurmit, 75, and GG have eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

GG worked as a foundry foreman until the foundry was closed down by the government in the mid-1980s and he moved with his family up to Glasgow.

Mani said: "He lost his job, was unemployed, and moved to Glasgow and opened up GG Brothers with the help of his family.

“Back in those days, it was a different Argyle Street. Gentrification has happened and we’ve seen a lot of changes but it looked like Beirut out there when he opened up."

Mani describes his dad as a "man of few words" who always had a "cheeky grin" on his face.

Mani said: “People called him Mr Finnieston because he would always be walking about, going to the bookies or going to the Grove Bar where he used to drink. That was his haunt.

"He was a friend of everybody's."

He loved a brandy and supported Celtic, watching his side win against Rangers the day before he passed.

Mani's wife, Gurdeep Gosal, said: "Even though he retired years ago, he was still showing interest in the shop. He was still the boss.

"He worked very hard. He was loved by everyone around him."

Baljinder, GG's second daughter, said: "He never said a bad word to anyone.

"He just smiled and he just nodded to everyone. Anytime anyone on the road needed any help, they knew who he was, where he was from and where to take him if any problem occurred.

"He was a gentleman."

GG saw the Finnieston locals as a big family.

She added: "He was just a personality of his own. He was really nice. Such a gentle-hearted person and a good soul.

"It's sad. We're going to miss him, but it was his time.

"We're selfish aren't we, we just want to hold on to something as much as we want it but it was his time, and he needed to go in peace.

"This is him resting in peace now."

A service will be held for GG on Wednesday, March 15. A funeral cortege will pass through Finnieston at 12pm, followed by a ceremony at Linn Crematorium at 1pm.

Anyone who would like to attend is welcome to join the family at the Glasgow Central Gurdwara after the service for Guru's Langar (vegetarian meal) and prayers.

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