Eddie McConnell

Eddie McConnell (15 May 1936 – 12 January 2018) was a Scottish documentary film-maker and cameraman. He was known for his camera work depicting Scottish industry and for his ability to tell authentic stories about the normal, working-class people of his home-town, Glasgow, and later on in his life of those in other parts of the world. A collection of his work from over the last fifty years is held by the National Library of Scotland's Moving Image Archive in Glasgow. A special screening of his films was shown at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in August 2007.

In 2007, McConnell was honoured for his 'Special Contribution to Scottish Film' at the BAFTA Scotland awards ceremony. He won a variety of other awards throughout his lifetime and even participated in an Oscar-award winning short Seawards the Great Ships (1961) as a cameraman. and grabbed the attention of Scottish documentary pioneer John Grierson, who helped him name his film company, International Film Associates (Scotland). This was a particularly significant moment for him as Glasgow's Celtic F.C had won the cup for the first time ever. He is said to have taken great pleasure in the applause he received as he left the plane back in his hometown following the event.

McConnell continued to make films up until he died, some experimental, many about trains - which he loved. Of particular note is McConnell's A Line for All Seasons (1981) narrated by the actor John Shedden, which shows the history of Scotland's West Highland Railway Line. McConnell's passion for trains is demonstrated in his work profusely, especially considering his last broadcast works included the likes of The Emotive Locomotive (1990) and Steaming Passions (1993).

During the final years of his life McConnell dedicated quite a bit of his time to drawing and painting in watercolour. One of his works is hung in Ubiquitous Chip, a restaurant in Glasgow's Ashton Lane.

Filmography As director The Glasgow School of Art (1957) Glasgow Taxi Drivers Outing (1960) A Kind of Seeing (1967) Topliner: The Manufacture of Industrial Refractories (1968) A Line for All Seasons (1970) Benno Schotz: Sculptor and Modeller (1973) The Pine Tree (1974) Second Glance Hands (1983) Shell Shock (1991)

As cameraman Prosperous Path (1959) Pleasure Island (1960) - assistant cameraman Loch Lomond (1967) Look to the Sea (1970) Sea City - Greenock (1974) In Great Waters (1974) The Boat (1975) Consequences (1976) - lighting cameraman A Stone in the Heather (1976) Giving Voice: A Writer in the Classroom (1976) Communication (1977) I am (1978) Love, Love, Love (1978) The Cromarty Bridge (1979) The Spirit of Scotland (1979) They're Always Picking on Us (1980) Male and Female (1980)