This is a tribute website – perhaps the tribute site for the man, the legend, the smoker: John Smeaton. Along with other brave souls he joined the fray when terrorists attempted to attack Glasgow Airport on Saturday the 30th of June. His subsequent TV interviews were headline news across the World, and even featured subtitles when shown in Australia.
Pride
This site was launched soon after to honour him in all his Glaswegian glory, and reflects a mix of dry Scottish (Scotch?) humour, fantastical hero worship, and very genuine pride in his actions, both on the day and since.
If you want to see THE videos, you’d do a lot worse than starting with the first blog post of all. We also have a Links page, taking you to much of the other Smeato goodness that has been spread all over the web. We got videos, we got newspapers til the cows come home, we even have a song.
Call of Duty, Call to Action
It’s been a whirlwind for the man they call The Smeatonator ever since that fateful day. He’s been revered throughout this bonny land and Worldwide. Over 1,400 people have paid through this website to buy him a much deserved pint of beer, then he went and gave nearly all the money away to good causes.
Memorial
Smeato is now in America for a week, and will be present at Ground Zero on Tuesday 9/11. This website, I hope, has helped people in Scotland and further afield deal with – and have a laugh about – something that could have been terrible. But this is in no way meant to minimise the horror and pain of 9/11 or other terrorist attacks. Our thoughts and best wishes will be with the people of America and especially those of New York in the days to come.
Mark Tortolano
Johnsmeaton.com admin
September 11th, 2007 at 8:40 am
HOW ABOUT BRINGING JOHN OUT AT THE OLD FIRM GAME!
AM SURE BOTH SETS OF FANS WOULD LOVE IT!
September 12th, 2007 at 4:16 am
John,
You truly are a hero to all Americans and those around the world determined to stamp out terrorism. As a fellow New Yorker I can say that I am proud to have you visit our city and not think of us as rude snobs as we’ve come to be perceived by many around the world. I can only hope that I will get the chance to show such courage as you did. It is an honor for us Americans to have you visit our country and you deserve every bit of recognition that you get for your selfless actions. You can’t imagine what it means to us that we’re not alone and that others who did not have to deal directly with the horrors of 9/11 are by our side. Do not feel humble, you deserve honors for your bravery. You are welcome here anytime and I hope you have a pleasant stay. Enjoy New York City, it truly is a beautiful place. Let me buy you a pint.
Sincerely,
Mark Darnell
November 18th, 2007 at 9:12 pm
John has been in Plymouth this weekend attending a charity dinner in aid of SSAFA.
Everyone who met him was bowled over by his excellent attitude and demeanour.
A great guy.
December 20th, 2007 at 12:26 pm
Dear Mr Smeaton,
Thank you for doing what many others wouldn’t
Thank you for putting your own life in danger to save potentially thousands of others
Thank you for being in the right place at the right time
Thank you for not thinking about health and safety
Thank you for not thinking….
Thank you for doing
Thank you!
Andy Feast
December 25th, 2007 at 8:15 am
I first heard of the heroics of John Smeaton on SkyNews. But it was just a few days ago that I finally found the time out of my busy schedule to visit his website. I live in Nigeria far away from Glasgow but the news of his heroics have reached us here via satellite televsion. We in Nigeria too are facing a sort of terrorist way especailly on our city streets like in Lagos our commercial capital. The terrorists we face here are armed robbers the roam the streets at times in broad day light depriving people of their valuables (and at time their lives) at gun point. When ever there is a traffic snarl (which is very regular) theses terrorists stroll from car to car with dangerous arms snatching valubles like mobile phones, mone, jewelry e.t.c. At time theyr smash the winscreen of cars and at time shoot innocent people. The trgedy of it all is that our police is largey under equipped and manned by very ill-motivate men so most of the time the police are unable or unwilling to tackle these dangerous thugs. The citizen is left on his own!! The last time I was unfortunate to witness these terrorists attack cars in a traffic jam they were just 3 thugs with locally made pistols as we all abandoned our cars and ran for our lives it occured to me that those of us who were running away were about 20 and here we were running away from just 2 guys!! It was then that i recalled the courage of John Smeaton in Glasgow and felt I nneded to read more about him on this website. I think we Nigerians need to hear more about Smeaton. We cannot keep allowing few thugs to strke fear into our hearts and grab out hard earnd money nd valuables just because they are holding a few guns. The Police are not going to protect us so we must begin to protect ourselves. If Smeaton could face terrorist with explosives why can’t we tackle thugs with pistolds ort even machine guns?? We need heroes like Smeaton desperately.
January 4th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
All the best in 2008.You deserve it.Had a few laughs from friends overseas due to our similar names but unfortunately I had to tell them we are probably only related through drink.Again all the best .
September 26th, 2008 at 1:11 am
hi mark ,
just back from nashville, remember last year when we got the us army to shout smeato smeato smeato at a concert . well i was out for dinner with wayne jackson of the memphis horns ( Dock of the Bay , Stax , Aretha Franklin , Blues Brother etc etc etc ) and Miranda Louise , Nashvilles Queen of the Blues and we were talking about Smeato , they love him and respect him . The Smeat has made a much bigger impact on america than i think we realise and indeed has raised the entire respect for scots.
nashville and tennessee is based on scottish immigrants from the highland clearances who fought and died for the confederate south , i was taken to a scottish confederate cemetery , with the scottish asnd united states flags flying , smeato has made them again very proud of their scottish roots . so starting with your really hilarious and typically glaswegian response to a terrifying incident has morphed into something different and smeato and scotland should thank you for exposing this in the way you have and restoring national pride in scotland and especially abroad. well done !! the americans love the true grit of smeato and now reflect on whether they have it too in their genes.
regards and look after yourself
stewart , condorrat , cumbernauld
May 5th, 2009 at 10:58 am
Have just put up a great interview Smeato did for STV on Susan Boyle. He is so down to earth and lovely and offers some great advice to Susan. http://entertainment.stv.tv/home/94295-john-smeatons-advice-to-susan-boyle/