DOC & HEALY

John Healy was born on the 1st of January 1937 to William and Mary Agnes Healy (nee Quinn) and much like his neighbour in Carfin, he too would be brought into a lively household, being one of 11 siblings! Despite age varying between the siblings, they were all close with one another and with John’s sister Margaret being born on the 23rd of December and his brother Michael being born on the 7th of January, the Healy’s utilized this to full effect by having a three-way birthday on one day celebrating all three, which was the smart way to go about things, especially with Christmas thrown into the mix too!

Mr. Healy, a Labourer that worked on the Railway lines, was born and raised in Cleland, though was off of Irish stock. Mrs. Healy (known as Maisie) hailed from Dungannon in County Tyrone before moving over to Scotland in her youth. The Healy household would be enriched in song either through singing or whistling, but despite having a Piano in the household, it was used only as furniture, though would be put through it's paces whenever a frequent visitor would arrive (The Doc!). 

With skiffle becoming dominant throughout the UK in the 1950's, it wouldn't be long before John and his friends started a group called The Heatherbells, capitalizing on the revival of the genre that would see estimations of between 30,000 - 50,000 skiffle groups in the UK alone at the height of it's craze, with Lonnie Donegan - an artist held in high regard by John, being one of the more successful acts of the period.

The group would take their act into a recording studio and have a few of their songs pressed onto vinyl, though unfortunately their efforts never fell into distribution and the whereabouts of these test pressings are unknown.

Like many young men of the time, National Service would beckon for John following it's introduction in 1947, becoming a compulsory enrolment for those that were of Military age to assist in combatting manpower shortages in the armed forces largely brought on by the Second World War and struggles for recruitment.

The young Healy would find himself in the Cameronians, based out of the Winston Barracks in Lanark, though the reality of the service would soon become apparent when he was to be shipped out to Germany. The story goes that The Heatherbells had a gig on the day that John was to be going to Germany and with him feeling uncomfortable at that journey awaiting him, decided to intentionally miss his boat and go to the gig instead! 

This would have considerable consequences for John and upon him turning up a couple of days later, he would be temporarily thrown in the cells for his actions before being told that another journey awaited him - The Malayan Jungle. That trip to patrol Germany didn't sound so bad after all!

Upon his return from service and The Heatherbells being no more, John would find himself making a go of things out on his own. Carroll Levis was a Canadian talent scout that found great success in the UK with his shows on Radio throughout the 30’s, 40’s and would then make the move across to Television in the 50’s such was his popularity. The Carroll Levis Discovery Show would be hugely popular, with the catchline “Truly, the discoveries of today are the stars of tomorrow” and Healy would find himself in the mix of it all when ­­Levis took his show up the road to Scotland. John would finish second in the competition – the winner, none other than Sydney Devine. 

John Docherty, an old School pal of Healy’s, was a factory worker and part-time musician and with Healy making his living as a Railway Signalman, it would be decided that the duo should join forces in the hope of making a go of things as musicians and, it would turn out that they would be the perfect balancing act for one another, with Healy being the extrovert showman with his theatrical performances of the hits of the day and Doc being famously shy, particularly when it came to singing during the early days, yet possessed the ability to back most that crossed their path, which was a rarity in the Clubland scene along with a rhythm section that would usually rotate over the years, but always maintaining the high standard that made Doc & Healy highly sought after.

Continuing to build both a reputation and following, the duo would find themselves becoming the resident act in the newly opened Hasties Farm. In 1967, businessman Bob Brown, who owned the buildings on Hasties Farm – which prior to 1963, was a working farm – decided to convert the old farmhouse building into a Bar and Restaurant which would become a staple for many in the Blantyre area along with attracting visitors from further afield – in part due to the high caliber of entertainment that would be showcased, with Doc & Healy being at the forefront of that, always guaranteed to pack in the crowds, so much so that you had to get yourself along early to guarantee a seat with word of mouth spreading, the duo even getting regular mentions on Radio Clyde courtesy of Lawyer-turned-Presenter Frank Skerrit. 

Michael Healy spoke of himself as being the odd one out of his siblings, being the only one to hold a driving license and this in the mind of his brother meant he was daft for motors – which wasn’t the case! Bob Brown was forever seen in Blantyre with his Rolls Royce and, ever being the considerate brother, John took it upon himself to get Michael behind the wheel of the luxury motor and upon the Hasties owner agreeing without hesitation, Michael was soon faced with the horror of driving and returning the car bump free!

As Docherty became more comfortable singing in front of their audience and growing into the renowned performer that he would become, the two would go their separate ways, with Doc going out on his own with his Trio, though Healy would still very much be a presence in the circuit, still packing out venues on his own and being held in the highest regards of the communities he was a staple in over the decades, namely Craigneuk, Cowie, Hamilton, Shotts and Newmains among many others.

Sometime in the 70’s, there were rumblings of Healy entertaining the idea of putting out an album of the songs that were staples of his over the years, though unfortunately it never came to fruition, at least in an official capacity distributed by a label. He would however, find himself on Television, briefly being featured on a BBC production that was filming inside Hasties Farm. 

Dan Muir, often seen being M.C. at many Charitable events over the years and was instrumental in raising funds for Heart Start Scotland, had spoken at a Tribute Night for Healy in Cambusnethan following his passing, raising money for his family as a result, about the charitable nature of Healy himself, even at the later stage of his life, where Dan mentioned:

“He sang for charity and he loved every minute of it. The last night he was here, he came out of Law Hospital and his Mrs. wheeled him from the door right down to the front of the stage and he sung his heart out – he was brilliant.”

Looking at articles from decades past, you will struggle to find Healy’s name without being involved in Charity events to help others, particularly raising money for Law Hospital with the Doc also included in these charitable endeavours. John’s brother Michael had mentioned about him doing a lot of work for St Vincent De Paul over the years, doing anything he could to help others and it’s great to see that when in later life, the communities he was part of did all they could to return the help and support he gave so many over many years.

Even though Doc & Healy went their separate ways, they were very much still part of one another's lives and always maintained the close friendship that they had since they were at School together. Sporadic reunions would take place over the years too, with Healy joining the various incarnations of Doc's band, reminding people why the two of them worked so well together and still after so many years, packing out the venues whenever they were advertised.

Healy battled ill health later in his life and while it may have restricted him performing to his full abilities that he showcased over the years, it never stopped him doing all he could to raise money for good causes, still doing charity work and singing right up until he no longer could, and was even able to perform at a few fundraisers that were organised for his family for after he passed. At the Tribute Night in Cambusnethan, his friend Dan Muir commented that Healy was scheduled to perform at that too, but unfortunately had passed not long prior. It speaks volumes on the sort of man Healy was, able to soldier on and still do the things he enjoyed despite the limitations that presented themselves near the end of his life.

John Healy would pass on the 16th of August 1989, departing way before his time at the age of 52, but is a testament of what the man achieved throughout his life that he made such a sizable impact on many, his stories are still being shared on to younger generations all these years later. Doing all he could throughout his life to help others, the Healy family would receive a letter of thanks for all the Charity work that John did from the Motherwell Clergy following his passing. 

Robert McAllan, friend of both Doc & Healy, could remember the Saturday that followed Healy's passing at Cowie Bowling Club, where Doc played the song that would be a staple for the duo over the years, The Way Old Friends Do.  Robert mentioned that John "could not disguise the emotion in his voice at the sad loss of his long time friend who was weel kent aboot the Bowling Club in former years", echoing what Healy's brother Michael had mentioned that Cowie had a special place in John's heart over the many years that the duo would be the resident act, making a lot of friends in the Village. Upon the Tribute Night in John's memory being unearthed in 2024, John Doc played The Way Old Friends Do once again as a tribute, taking on a bit of creative license with the lyric at the end, giving the song an entirely different meaning now that they have both passed: "We will meet again..."

While recordings of the duo together may be non-existent, the impact that they had was to such an extent that 60 years on, their performances are still etched in the memory of those fortunate enough to see the two of them in action.

If you or any Family have recordings of Doc, Healy or either of them solo, or even wish to share any stories of the duo, you can reach out to us here.

"All the people I've mentioned, I'd like to thank them publicly, as that's what we intended on doing with John Healy tonight, but sadly he's not with us. I wish he was. We meant to say to him: Thank you for everything you’ve done right through the years. Thanks for all the pleasure you gave us." - Dan Muir

Rest in eternal greatness John Docherty and John Healy.