J& A Smith– Established in 1877, this long serving funeral directors and motor hirer was located at 10 Broompark Road, High Blantyre and in 1930 were leasing land at number 4 Broompark Road, near the junction of Main Street.
They also owned land at West Park, Blantyre in 1930 and at that same time, owned and occupied a garage and lockups and stores at 250 Main Street, in a small one-storey building directly across from the Co-operative Buildings.
In the 1940’s Andrew Smith was the sole proprietor. Their phone number was Blantyre 44. They were still at Broompark Road, this time at number 10 in 1950, although their branch office in the 1950’s was at 267 Glasgow Road.
The business later moved into the Anderson Church Hall, where is still run successfully today in 2016. At Easter, Smiths along with Potts Funeral Directors annually collect chocoloate Easter eggs to give to underpriviledged children in Blantyre.
Can you tell me anything else about smiths Funeral Directors and Motor Hirers?
From “Blantyre Explained” by Paul Veverka (c) 2016
On social media:
My dad worked for Mr Smith up until 1957 – his name was Ted (Eddie) Clarke and he was mechanic, “hatch, match and despatch” man along with Guy Andrew. Like Billy Andrew, we lived at No 10 Broompark Road, on the ground floor. One side of the garage was for repairs etc, and the other side housed all the coffins for the funerals. My mum, Jean, and Billy’s mum Betty, were the best of friends, and even when we left to move to Waverley Terrace we still went up to visit them on a weekly basis. Great times were had there – as a wee girl, I would go into the garage and “borrow” the ginger bottles from the mechanics and take them to Mrs Sweeneys shop for my sweeties.