Lex McLean

Alexander (“Lex”) McLean Cameron was born on the 30th April 1907 at 6 Rosebery place, Clydebank, Dunbartonshire. He was the son of Donald (Daniel) Cameron Iron Moulder 1871-1951, and his second wife, Mary Howe McLean 19876-1948 greengrocer.

Whilst his parents hoped that Alex would become a classical musician and would enter university for an academic lifestyle, they were to be disappointed on two counts. Firstly Lex was expelled from school for being a difficult pupil and then he gave up his piano music lessons and took to the accordion.

He was so scared to tell his mother, that he fled to Belfast with just £4 in his pocket. He returned to Scotland and began to earn his living – £3.10s a week – by playing piano, sax, trombone, concertina, and bagpipes, on the sea fronts of Girvan and other Firth of Clyde holiday towns. He also busked outside the picture houses in much the same way that the legendary Jimmy Shand had in his early days.

Meanwhile, whilst Lex was beginning his entertainment career his parents were telling anyone who enquired about their son that he was on the road as a commercial traveller, such was the stigma attached to touring ‘theatrical types’.

Lex toured with variety shows and worked as a foil to other comedians, before finally becoming the lead comic. He embarked on a solo career in 1947 and got booked Edinburgh as a principal comic.