Down Memory Lane - January 17 2008

Jan 28 2008 By Hamilton Advertiser

10 years ago

January 18, 1998

HAMILTON MP George Robertson stepped into the bitter row over plans to close two old folk’s homes in the town. In December, South Lanarkshire Council announced plans to shut Hietonbank Home in Carlisle Road and Braedale Home in Wellhall Road. The cash saved by the closures would go towards upgrading the council’s eight remaining homes. Many people wrote to the Advertiser criticising the council’s decision to axe the homes. Mr Robertson said: “South Lanarkshire have come up with the most cost-effective and humane solution to the dilemma.”

20 years ago

January 15, 1988

A £2500 COMPUTER print-out machine was stolen during a raid on Stonehouse Hospital. Police said the machine was no good to anyone on its own. Thieves broke into the medical records office and stole the machine, a Farringdon make, which was used to print labels for bottles of medication. Entry to the hospital was gained by breaking glass of the office’s front door and although the room was ransacked, medical records were not affected. Also taken during the raid were 28 tins of baby food and a number of baby drops and fluoride drop jars.

30 years ago

January 20, 1978

AN underpass built to improve road safety in Burnbank, could have become an accident blackspot. The source of the danger was not cars or heavy lorries, but youngsters. Pensioners and children using the underpass were having to brave the dangers of youngsters skateboarding. The young enthusiasts have grown used to using the underpass as a “run” and residents claimed it could result in a tragedy. Community council chairman Frank McMenemy said: “There have been quite a few close shaves. It’s just a matter of luck that no one has been hurt — yet.”

40 years ago

January 19, 1968

A LARKHALL couple died within five hours of each other in Stonehouse Hospital. They were Mr and Mrs John Clark, 21 Shawrigg Road, who were in their late 70s. Mr Clark had been a patient since September and was visited by his wife every Saturday. Later that same day she became ill and was taken to hospital where she died the following evening. Mr Clark died five hours later. A native of Larkhall, Mrs Clark was a past Matron of the Eastern Star. Her husband was born in Hurlford but had lived most of his life in the town. He was an fireman at Ferniegair colliery until his retirement in 1948 and a past master at Lodge St. Thomas No. 306. The couple had a family of one son and four daughters, all married and celebrated their golden wedding just over two years ago.

50 years ago

MR William McLaughlan, timekeeper, 98 Fernlea Avenue, Blantyre put his car, a 12-year-old saloon, into his lock-up near his family home at 9pm. At midnight it was found burning on the Eaglesham-Kilmarnock road by two farm workers. Thinking that the driver might have been thrown from the car, the two men searched the surrounding area but found no one. It is believed that the thief ran away when the car caught fire after skidding. Mr McLaughlan, who was paying for the car under hire purchase, still had two installments to pay. His insurance did not cover fire and theft. A married man with three children, he was wounded at Arnhem during WW2 when a mine exploded under him. He was expected to feel the loss of his car “acutely.”

75 years ago

THE prompt action of a bus driver saved a little girl from serious injury in Union Street before 9am. A “Chieftain” bus belonging to John Laurie, Hamilton, was on its way to Peacock Cross and when passing the junction of Hope Street and Union Street, a little girl on her way to school stepped out onto the road. In order to avoid hitting the girl, the bus driver had to swerve quickly to the right and in doing so he mounted the pavement on the other side of the road, colliding with the wall of a residential property. The mudguard and the steering-gear of the bus were damaged and a stone lintel of the building was uprooted.

100 years ago

A PAY dispute at Eddlewood and Neilsland collieries led to a critical state of affairs. Having failed to reach an agreement with management, the Lanarkshire Miner’s Union advised the men to “lift their graith” in the days following their return to work after the holidays. The Executive Committee recommended that the colliery stay idle for a day to allow managers to consider their position. At a meeting in the Town Hall, Mr David Gilmour, the secretary, submitted a report on the negotiations and announced the recommendation from the Executive Committee. The recommendation was unanimously supported and he insisted that anyone attempting to break the decision would create more conflict at the colliery.