Hamilton man celebrates his 100th birthday

Dec 16 2010 by Shirley Bartynek, Hamilton Advertiser

FAMILY and friends of Hamilton man James McGhie joined with him last week to celebrate his 100th birthday.

South Lanarkshire Provost Russell Clearie also dropped in on James at his home during birthday celebrations on Wednesday, December 8.

James, one of four children, was born in Johnstone Street, Hamilton and was the son of a colliery cashier.

He moved to Larkhall at the start of the First World War.

He attended Union Street School and the Academy in Larkhall.

Leaving school at the age of 15 he got a job working in Hamilton as a junior clerk in the Health Department of the Lanarkshire Middle Ward.

James studied for several years at night school, gaining occupational qualifications which helped advance his career with Lanark County Council.

He subsequently worked in Lesmahagow and Cambuslang before finishing his career as County Sanitary Inspector (Environmental Health Officer) and retiring in 1975, a few weeks short of 50 years working in Local Government.

During the Second World War he served as an air raid warden in the ARP.

He married Myra Frame in 1940 and they lived in Kirkmuirhill.

Their son Alastair was born in 1947.

The family moved to Cambuslang in 1952 then back to Hamilton in 1963.

Myra passed away in 1970 and James later remarried Helen Brown, who passed away earlier this year in Avonhaugh Nursing Home.

James has two grandchildren, Stuart and Alison, born in 1980 and 1982.

Alastair said: “Dad was a keen gardener and also enjoyed playing golf. He played from his teens until arthritis made him give up at the age of 88.

“He was a member of Larkhall Golf Club until he joined Hamilton Golf Club in 1935. At Larkhall he was captain and club champion. He played off a handicap of three and was a team member at Hamilton.”

As a boy he supported Royal Albert and later made many trips to Hamilton to watch the Accies.

He enjoys sport on television and is a regular viewer of golf tournaments and football matches.

From the 1970s to the mid-1990s James and Helen enjoyed many holidays on their favourite islands of Majorca and Tenerife along with trips to other parts of the Mediterranean and also North America.