Dedicated Hamilton postman loses cancer battle

Aug 12 2010 by Sandra Walls, Hamilton Advertiser

A HAMILTON man who worked as a postie in the town for more than 30 years has died after losing his fight with cancer.

Archie Gillen (70), from Milton Terrace, Hamilton, was well-known to householders and town-centre businesses.

The Milton Terrace home was his mother’s and she was the first tenant. Archie was born there, as were his five brothers and two sisters.

Son of the late Peter and Christine Gillen, Archie worked with the Royal Mail for 34 years and received three long-service awards, bronze for 15 years’ service, silver for 20 years and gold for 25 years.

Archie was 20 and his brother Gordon 14 when they were both badly injured in a crushing incident at Ibrox Stadium in 1961. Two people died.

The incident in which Archie and Gordon were hurt happened on Stairway 13, the scene of the 1971 Ibrox Disaster, in which 66 people lost their lives.

Archie and Gordon were both left unconscious and bruised following the crush, which occurred when Rangers scored a goal in the final minutes of a match against Celtic.

The two men recovered and, with their brother John, later became season ticket holders at Hamilton Accies.

Four years ago, Archie was diagnosed with liver and bowel cancer and given around two years to live. He was told by doctors at the time that “if there was anything in life that he wanted to do, do it now”.

He underwent a variety of treatments, including chemotherapy and radiation therapy as well as an untested-on-humans trial drug over the last two years of his life.

His brother Gordon, now 65, said: “He was asked if he wanted to take part in a new drug trial over three phases as the chemotherapy had run its course and was ineffective in reducing the tumours.

“He agreed, and lived two years longer than expected, but we don’t really know if it was anything to do with the trial drug or just a misdiagnosis of the time he had left.”

Archie latterly attended Hairmyres Hospital and over recent months, the Beatson Unit, and St Andrew’s Hospice.

His brother John (77), added: “Archie was given a scan and it was thought then that the trial treatments had not made any difference.

“He was taken to St Andrew’s Hospital in Airdrie on Tuesday, July 27 to be cared for in his final days and died on Saturday, July 31.

His funeral service took place last Wednesday August 4, at Fyfe’s Undertakers, Peacock Cross, and he was buried in the family plot at the West Cemetery as a piper played “The Black Isle” and “Amazing Grace” at the graveside.

Gordon and John and sisters Jenny (80) and Christine (67) and the rest of the family this week thanked the doctors, nurses and care staff from the Oncology Unit, and the Beatson Unit, near Gartnavel, for the loving care and attention given to Archie during his illness, and to St Andrew’s Hospice for their care in his final days.