The Hamilton Advertiser on 4th July 1931 published a story about the death of a well known colliery official, reading,
“It was with regret that the news was learned on Thursday, 25th June, of the death of Peter Malcolm Strachan, a very popular colliery-undermanager throughout the Lanarkshire coalfield, and the last of a very prominent official family in the Scottish Mining industry.
His late father, Thomas Strachan was a very popular colliery manager with Dixon’s Colliery Coy, at Bishopbriggs. At the time of the Blantyre explosion it was Thomas Strachan who was sent to take full charge of the rescue work.
Peter a young man then, went with his father to help with the rescue work. His brother, the late James Strachan, was general manager with the Manor Powel Coal Coy., Stirling, a colliery where he cut the first sod. It was only known to his intimate friends that Peter was known as a great Burns scholar and strong admirer of the National Bard. He was the first president of the Cleland Burns Club, and at Quarter he was heard at his best when they persuaded him at their first Burns supper to propose the immortal memory which only a Burnsite could do well as he did.
Previous to coming to Hamilton District he took a great interest in Masonic circles and was secretary of his mother lodge, St Johns Airdrie, 166. It was only to a few that it was known that Peter had travelled to remarkable heights in masonry of thirty-three degrees. A few years back he was a welcome visitor to Lodge 233 Hamilton the mother lodge of three of his sons. He had been ailing for some time back but was fit to be out up till a fortnight when he was removed to a nursing home for a slight operation. This he came through successfully, but pneumonia intervened and he passed away a week later.
Much sympathy goes out to our young townsman Robert Strachan, an employee of the Education Authority Works Department, with whom he resided in Tuphall Road. The interment took place on Saturday at Baillieston Churchyard, where the service was conducted by the Rev. Dr Andrew. “