Vladimir McTavish: Goodbye to Chris Broomfield – comic talent and Bowie’s barber!
This morning, the Scottish comedy community will say goodbye to Chris Broomfield, a stalwart of our business for over twenty-five years, who passed away at the start of this month at the age of 69.
There is bound to be a huge turnout at Bishopbriggs Crematorium in Glasgow, and not solely from the world of comedy, as Chris was hugely respected in many other fields of life.
A hairdresser by trade, he ran a successful salon in Glasgow city centre, attracting many celebrity clients. When working as a stylist at the Steiner salon in the early seventies, he even cut David Bowie’s hair when Ziggy Stardust was in town.
So impressed was Bowie with Broomfield’s handiwork that he put him on the guest list for his gig that night, testament to the man’s skill with a pair of scissors and a comb that one as proud of their barnet as the Thin White Duke would hand out free tickets in gratitude.
Chris later ran the legendary “Broom Cupboard” night at The Tunnel, so was already a well-kent Glasgow face before turning to stand-up in his mid-forties.
I first gigged with him when he was very new to the game, but his unique comedy talent was evident even in those early days.
He had a wonderful sense of the surreal and had a naturally engaging presence. But he really came into his own when he adopted the stage persona of “The Ram of Pontypridd”, where he would perform his entire set in a Welsh accent.
About fifteen years ago, Chris took over Glasgow’s longest-running comedy night at The State Bar on Holland Street.
Although situated just off Sauchiehall Street, the club had suffered from several years of poor management and was struggling to attract an audience. Chris very quickly re-established the gig as one of the city’s go-to Saturday night venues.
Booking the acts and hosting the shows as “The Ram”, he attracted a host of big-name comics to headline, as well as giving stage time to a plethora of newcomers who went on to have successful careers in the business, such as Mark Nelson and Christopher McArthur-Boyd.
Broomfield’s affable personality made him an ideal compere, despite his deafness which never seemed to inhibit his ability to banter with the front row.
It was this strength of character in the face of adversity which personified Chris in the final years of his life. He lived with cancer for over nine years, first with a brain tumour and latterly also bowel cancer.
His indomitable spirit was truly inspiring. In June 2024, I appeared in a fund-raising show “The Night Of The Ram”. Much to everyone’s surprise, Chris took to the stage to thank us all. Although extremely frail, he was still able to turn on the old wit and charm.
While confined to the house shortly afterwards, he was still full of jokes, stories and laughter whenever I paid him a visit, always insisting on taking a selfie to post on Facebook.
Sadly, I will miss his funeral, due to work engagements in London. I hope these words of tribute will suffice.
Thanks for the memories, Chris. The spirit of “The Ram” will live forever among the legends of Scottish comedy.