Down Memory Lane- 21st February 2008

Feb 22 2008

100 years ago...

THE tramway extension that would link Wishaw, Larkhall, Hamilton and Motherwell with Balloch and Loch Lomond was being pushed on rapidly.

Already the tramway poles had been placed in position to within a few hundred yards of Balloch Station.
The journey from Hamilton Old Cross would involve a change of tram at Cambuslang, Queen Street (Glasgow) and Dalmuir. Given a good summer day — and an effort was being made to have the Balloch connection opened for the summer traffic — a journey by tram from Hamilton to the Dunbartonshire terminus would provide a most inviting and interesting prospect.

75 years ago...

A MOTOR cyclist who had committed six acts of omission and one of commission, he latter being an attempt to elude two representatives of the law, was deprived of his licence at the Sheriff Court.The court was told that his failure to carry significant insurance for his vehicle was regarded as the most serious of his offences.

He was, incidentally, the first motor cyclist to lose his licence at Hamilton and even in court he succeeded in adding to his list of omissions.When asked to hand his licence into the custody of the court he confessed lamely that he had forgotten to bring it along with him that day.

50 years ago...

WELLHALL’s oldest resident, Mr William Watson, celebrated his 94th birthday. He enjoyed a party with family and friends at the Church of Scotland home in Hamilton. Born in Coatbridge and educated there, he gave over 50 years’ service to the local foundry of Messrs WVV Lidgerwood as a moulder and core-maker.

After retiring, he and his wife moved to Largs where his wife died a year later. He then moved back to Lanarkshire to live with his daughters. Comparing modern-day with life as he remembered it at the beginning of the century, Mr Watson said: “We were as happy and contented then on our 36s a week as they are nowadays even though the wages are much higher.”

February 23, 1968

A 13-year-old Hamilton boy had given up his leisure time to buy a horse. Every morning and evening he delivered papers to save enough money to get a pony.He was at last offered a pony by the RSPCA, but then found out he would be unable to accept it as he had nowhere to house the animal.

John Gilroy, Roseberry Place, Earnock, started his paper round to earn enough money to feed a pony and his brother James even offered to help him.John first got interested in horses when he did a milk round and the owner had horses. John would get up at 5am and exercise one of the horses before he delivered the milk. He joined the Clyde Riding Club in Carluke where he did well in gymkhanas. John’s dream was of becoming a jockey.

February 24, 1978

PEOPLE in the Motherwell/Lanark district of Lanarkshire Health Board were being urged to take a test for the potentially fatal disease tuberculosis.The move came as the latest figures published showed that the rate was twice as high as the number of recorded cases in  the Hamilton/East Kilbride district.

TB was once the most feared killer disease in Scotland, with 108 people in Lanarkshire being killed by the disease in 1950. By 1976 it was largely under control, and only 13 people in Lanarkshire died.

February 19, 1988

THE 3D’s discotheque in Keith Street, Hamilton, which was completely destroyed by fire the previous year, was to be rebuilt. The newer version of the building was to include not only a discotheque, but a snooker club too.

Plans for the new three-storey building were unanimously approved by Hamilton Town Council’s planning sub-committee. The disco would be on the ground floor, with the snooker hall occupying the upper floors. The application attracted one letter of objection from a neighbouring proprietor on the grounds that access for deliveries was too narrow.

February 22, 1998

SCHOOL sweethearts Louise Fernie and Shaun Morrison got engaged, despite being just 15 years of age.
The pupils, from Earnock High School, took time out from studying for their Standard Grades to reveal their happy news to stunned classmates.

Shaun popped the question to Louise at his home in Mauchline Court, Hamilton. He had bought blonde Louise, of Barnhill Drive, a £150 ring.

Shaun’s mother, Lynda, said: “Myself and my husband are quite happy. There was no opposition, but neither are we encouraging it. We are taking a very middle-of-the-road attitude.

“I don’t think age is a factor in our day and age. These are two of the most level-headed teenagers you could meet.”