A Blantyre school that didn’t even have a gymnasium, sent a troop of schoolgirls in 1967 to take part in an important Lanarkshire Gymnastic competition…..and they won!
The girls pictured here in March 1967 were all pupils of Calder Street Junior Secondary School and the competition was held in Springburn. They especially excelled in the vaulting events.
In fact their ability and success were so noticed, that they were immediately asked to take part in a military display being held at Glasgow Green that following weekend!
As there was no gym hall in the school back then, the girls had been training at nearby Blantyre Miners Welfare Centre, put through their paces by ex Navy gym instructor, Mr. Albert Mathers. Their training was done in their lunch breaks and outwith hours, all in their spare time.
The Blantyre girls are all known. Left to right are Ray Agnew of 4 Main Street, Joyce Paterson of 24 Stonefield Crescent, Anne Taylor of 34 Waverley Terrace, Catherine Dick of 3 Hillview Drive, Margaret Johnstone of 86 Northway and Elaine Murray of 251 Main Street.
From “Blantyre Explained” by Paul Veverka (c) 2017
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