Down Memory Lane - 12th June 2008

Jun 12 2008 by Lesley Brown, Hamilton Advertiser

AN action was raised in Hamilton Sheriff Court by Annabella Weir, of Holytown, who sought to recover compensation for injury sustained whilst employed by farmer Thomas Denholm, of Cleland.

While working as a casual labourer during harvest season, Annabella received a prick to the middle finger of her right hand. Thinking nothing of the incident, Miss Weir returned home but became increasingly unwell and days later a doctor diagnosed blood poisoning. Mr Denholm denied liability, arguing that he could not be held accountable for an accidental injury. Sheriff Thompson ultimately disagreed, and granted Miss Weir compensation at the rate on 6 shillings per week.

ADDRESSING Fife miners at their annual gala on June 10, 1933, Mr Duncan Graham, MP for Hamilton Division, appealed for unity amongst miners.

He referred to the recent British Miners’ Federation conference, the object of which was to consider ways of compelling employers to act in a reasonable way towards employees.

Graham said that if employers were not prepared to enter into an agreement by which miners’ wages were regulated nationally, then Parliament should introduce legislation.

At present there is no such thing as an eight-hour working day in the mines, and Mr Graham attributed this to a lack of unity among miners.

THE Fifth District Council, at a meeting on June 9, 1958, were told that the telephone service at Caldervale would be withdrawn at the end of the month. In a letter to the council, the Post Office Telephone Service stated that during the past three months 14 large panes and 29 small panes of toughened glass had had to be replaced, and they could not continue meeting the cost of maintenance. Mr James Jack, at the meeting, said that the kiosk had not been wisely sited. He explained that since the telephone box stood by a gable wall, it was to be expected that children would play ball games in the vicinity. He suggested the council ask the Post Office about re-siting the telephone to an area what would not interfere with children’s play.

AN unexploded bomb was discovered by two teenagers in Hamilton on waste ground which had just recently been excavated.

Tom Keenan (16) and Gary Burns (14) were taking a short-cut through waste ground at Mill Road when Gary tripped over something, which Tom then picked up.

The boys couldn’t agree whether the object was a bomb, and Gary threw it away. Tom, who had seen bombs in films, felt sure they’d come across a real one, so the boys picked it up and took it to Eddlewood police station.The bomb was locked in a dog kennel and the bomb disposal squad was called. Later the boys were informed that their suspicions had been correct, and that it was an unexploded mortar.

HAMILTON District Council came under fire this week from Amateur Photographer, Britain’s top-selling photographic magazine, for the rules and prize money of their recent competition.

Amateur and professional photographers throughout the county claim that the £10 first prize barely covers the expense of taking photos for the council’s “Blossom-time in Clyde Valley” contest.

In this week’s Amateur Photographer, editor Martin Hodder said: “Hamilton District Council should know better. Prizes for the best three photographs are a magnificent £10, £5 and £3.

“In exchange for the chance of winning one of the prizes they expect all entrants to sign over copyright to Hamilton District Council.”

HAMILTON’S champion guzzler, John Kenmuir, was challenged by the Guinness Book of Records to set another world first... for eating turkey. They wanted the 29-year-old to eat 3lbs. 12oz. of turkey in as fast a time as possible. Never one to say ‘no’ to a gastronomic challenge, John, who already held world records for eating haggis, boiled eggs and pizza, was looking for a Hamilton restaurant to provide the necessary fare.

At the time he said: “I want this record to be set in Hamilton. I hope a local restaurant will be prepared to sponsor me by providing a nice moist dish of turkey off-the-bone.”

HOLLANDBUSH Nursery this week received a brand new computer package thanks to Hamilton publican John Carrigan.

The £900 package was delivered to the Hamilton nursery thanks to fund-raising efforts, including football matches and bingo, from pub staff and customers.

Head teacher Margo Butcher said: “It is a fantastic package.

“We got the computer, printer, scanner, interactive materials and other extras.

“We are delighted with what staff and customers of the pub have done for us.

“All the children have used the computer and it was really nice of the people involved to do this.”