Who is Steven Hastings?

Steven giggles: “What dʼyou mean….Who is Steven Hastings? What kinda question is that?”

I explain that we know each other, but we donʼt really know each other, if you see what I mean…

He and I first met online at Clydesiderʼs Zoom meet-ups during the pandemic, where he was quick-witted and “cheeky” - in the good sense of the word.

Heʼs like lightning for naming articles, suggesting themes for the Clydesider photo competition as well as titles for various projects: ʻHelp, Hope & Know-How in West Dunbartonshireʼ is one of his.

He often comes up with the theme for the year ahead: People and Places in West Dunbartonshire was his too.

When you try to give him credit for it, he bats it away: “Itʼs no big deal, itʼs easy.”

Recently he has been judging the photo competition on Clydesider TV: his comments are always spot on.

Getting to Know Each Other

Zoom was a good and bad way of meeting folks. We regulars on Clydesider Zoom got to know each other quite well.

Or did we?

I learned about Stevenʼs sense of humour online. He can take a joke very well and he can crack a joke, but canʼt really take praise.

Over the years, I have gradually learned a lot about Steven.

He loves drawing: “I have drawn since I was a kid. Itʼs really good that Clydesider has given me the chance to really use it…”

Steven is Clydesiderʼs regular cartoonist: he began with the Clyde and Baxter cartoon, which has since evolved into a comic strip.

Steven thanks Clydesider editor, Amanda, for seeing his drawings on Facebook and giving him the chance to develop a passion heʼd had from his childhood.

Steven explains: “It was originally going to be a dog but then I drew a wee man. The name Clyde came from Amanda…And I gave him a dog called Baxter. My sisterʼs got a dog called Baxter…”

I ask if cartoon Baxter resembles his sisterʼs dog?

Steven takes a fit of laughing: “No, no, the real Baxterʼs not a Westie, heʼs a border terrier.”

“Must be hard finding ideas…” I interject, and Steven admits it is hard but he has been developing as a writer since joining Clydesider.

“I had always enjoyed writing and had written wee poems. My first piece for Clydesider was about Tai Chi” He used to go there too and interviewed his Tai Chi instructor, Chris.

Always Enthusiastic

When Amanda asks Steven to attend any course, festival, exhibition or community event, or cover a certain assignment or interview, his answer is invariably ʻYesʼ - he loves to challenge himself.

A couple of years back, Steven joined a creative writing class organised by Working4U and West College Scotland.

When Council funding came to an end, they secured a grant from the National Lottery of Scotland and became a constituted group: Castle Valley Writers.

“Our classes as a group are going well, going forward weʼre aiming to get more involved with the local community.”

Steven teases me about Creative Writing and all the classes I have NEVER joined: Tai Chi, Folk Club and Castle Valley Writers. I agree.

Steven follows things through and joins all these clubs, whereas I constantly deliberate about things and put them off.

Steven seems to be loving Castle Valley Writers:

“You could come to Castle Valley Writers: you donʼt need to worry about reading your writing out to the group,” he reassures me.

“Michael the tutor has it on his laptop and brings it up on the screen. He may read it sometimes, but we donʼt have to. And if you really donʼt want anyone to see it, you donʼt have to, he could give you private feedback and not show anyone…”

This little reflection shows me how perceptive Steven is and how well he knows me and can empathise with the way I feel about my writing.

Future Creations

Steven is also enjoying the social life of Castle Valley Writers: “Recently we had a wee trip to the Denny Civic to a play called, ʻUp a Closeʼ. The writer, Tina Conway is coming to our group next Tuesday…”

“And what was the play about?” I enquire

“Somebody up a close…..” he jokes and I pull a face.

“Iʼm kidding you on!” Steven chuckles, “Itʼs about a woman reflecting on her past whilst waiting for her husband to come home.”

“Youʼre interested in writing a play, arenʼt you?” I ask Steven.

“Yeah, Iʼve kind of written one but itʼs difficult to get started as l donʼt have an organised writing schedule…Late at night could work…”

Steven wants to be a published writer.

I joke that he already is, with Clydesider.

He has a childrenʼs book on the back burner: a poem written around Christmas time that someone at Clydesider suggested he turn into a book.

The writing group are publishing an anthology and Steven has various pieces that he has submitted…So watch this space.

Man of Many Talents

Steven also has his own TikTok which he started in 2020 and has nearly 100,000 followers. Check him out over on TikTok @Legowheelz20.

He worked on Clydesiderʼs Cost of Living project and was so incisive at film-making and interviewing, I nicknamed him Steven Spielberg (I think he liked it).

He loves performing and has been on River City, done photoshoots for VisitScotland at University of Glasgowʼs Hunterian Museum and, most recently, the Commonwealth Games. This was filmed up in the Merchant City, which hasnʼt been viewed yet so no spoilers.

He has an agent for his acting and photoshoots.

I laugh, “An agent? Of course you do!” I think heʼs kidding me on again, but heʼs not.

He does have a real-life agent who books “gigs” for him.

Learning About Osteogenesis Imperfecta

And heʼs also been an ambassador for Historic Environment Scotland and other heritage organisations.

“Sometimes they need me to test things out for the disabled…”

And Bingo! I remember why we are here again.

I am here to interview him about a recent award he got from the Brittle Bone Society in Dundee.

One of the things I didnʼt learn from Zoom meetings is that Steven is disabled. He uses a wheelchair to get about.

So I have learned many things about Steven over the years - his drawing and writing, his folk club and love of performing, oh and his beloved family who are all his champions: his sister, nephews, brother-in-law and especially his devoted Mum and Dad who recently accompanied him on a caravan holiday where both he and his Dad won cash prizes.

However, I didnʼt learn much about his disability: Osteogenesis Imperfecta, or OI for short.

“OI means your bones break more easily,” explains Steven.

“Sometimes itʼs called Brittle Bone disease. I donʼt like the disease part.”

I have to agree with him. We decide a more acceptable word is ʻconditionʼ.

I will call it OI. Steven rarely speaks about it.

It is a very rare condition which affects one in 15,000 people. There are estimated to be 5,000 people with OI in the UK.

I feel my way carefully, as I sense OI is not really up for discussion, although Steven does tell me of numerous breaks as a child and how easily bones can be broken.

“You can sneeze, or laugh, or do nothing at all and break a bone.

“During Covid, I broke my leg in the first week, I woke up and it was broken…. I donʼt get X- rays or casts or anything. They could make things worse …so I just created quizzes.”

I am in awe: “Quizzes? What are you like? Life gives you lemons, so you make lemonade.”

Home of Brittle Bones Society

In the interview, Steven tells me very little of his childhood but later texts me his achievements - winning a talent show in Majorca telling jokes and opening the Gartocharn Football Clubʼs Pavilion, both around age nine.

In P6, he was the captain of a spaceship in a school play about the Broons in Space and aged 11, he was the winner of a Burns competition.

Steven doesnʼt want to speak about his childhood with OI. Only that he didnʼt like to go to the meet-ups in Dundee “as a wee kid.” Now as an adult, he doesnʼt mind them, although he does get nervous.

Why Dundee, Steven?

“Itʼs the home of the Brittle Bones Society, the worldʼs first charity for people with Osteogenesis Imperfecta.”

Wishbone Day is held on 6th May every year, an international awareness day for OI to raise public knowledge about the condition. People are encouraged to wear yellow on the day.

“Margaret Grant from Dundee founded the UK Brittle Bones Society in 1968 and initially wrote an article in the Sunday Post to highlight her condition.”

I have a million questions about OI.

Steven thrusts a magazine in my direction: “Read this!”

Itʼs a graphic novel produced by Dundee Comics Creative Space (DCCS) as a souvenir edition for the 50th anniversary of the Brittle Bones Society in 2018: a very informative and beautiful production.

Steven alludes to how hard it was as an adolescent with OI.

He jokes that he spent “two dark nights” at his local secondary and then transferred to Ashcraig Secondary, a special school instead.

“It was hard going as a teenager….” is all he will say.

Mental Health Advocate

Steven is passionate about Mental Health but his own mental health and “hard times” are something he doesnʼt dwell on too much.

He gives credit to Stepping Stones for helping him. “I was so low at the time I was desperate for help…”

He currently attends a social group at Stepping Stones and is thinking of volunteering himself.

“Iʼm kind of becoming a volunteer with them as well as a supporter.”

“Youʼll be brilliant at that..” I say, and Steven knows I mean it.

Heʼs keen to give of his time and energy to others and is always an encouraging companion, despite his “cheek”. Heʼs full of mischief.

In Clydesider, he is one of our most creative participants, always full of ideas.

Steven, John, another volunteer and myself have known each other for a wee while now and there is an ease and a relaxed banter which we all enjoy.

We just “get” each other.

At Clydesider, we are all justifiably proud that Steven was given an award by the Brittle Bones Society last July.

I presume it is an “OI Can” award, though he has hardly spoken of it.

I prise the following details out of him:

The ceremony was held in the Apex hotel, Dundee. He was presented with a lovely glass plaque with a gold star on it.

“Another two guys got it as well, Mark and Jamie.”

“How did you feel?” I ask, excitedly.

“Alright” says Steven, totally unfazed. “I think it was for speaking to Paramedic students about my condition.”

This was at Glasgow Caledonian University in both March 2024 and 2025 and heʼs speaking to them again this year.

“I also did a talk to my Writing group in May on Wishbone Day.”

When I suggest that his talk must have been inspirational, he states: “That word inspirational gets bandied about!”

“Aye but in your case, itʼs true!” I quip, getting the last word at long last.

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