1921 Auchinraith Silver Band
A dramatic river rescue took place on Sunday 20th May 1923.
The Auchinraith Silver Band, Blantyre had set off from Calder Street and had the luxury of travelling to Airdrie by motor bus that day. As they left Blantyre, heading down the Whistleberry Road towards Bothwell Bridge, the passengers heard screams coming from the nearby River Clyde.
The bus halted at the edge of the road to investigate and James Barrie, a bandsman from Blantyre jumped from the vehicle when heard screams in the river, this time more loudly. A small lad was being carried out to midstream near Bothwell Bridge.
James at once jumped into the river with no thought for his own safety, and succeeded in bringing the lad to safety, amidst the applause of his fellow bandsmen standing on the verge and a growing large number of spectators.
James Barrie was a hero that day, his story remembered here. The Auchinraith Silver Band are pictured 2 years earlier, many of these bandsmen must have been witness to that rescue and perhaps James Barrie himself is in the photo?
From “Blantyre Explained” by Paul Veverka (c) 2018
Featuring Blantyre Project Social Media with permission. Strictly not for use by others on or offline, our visitors said,
Henry Hambley l thought it was. It was just that the title indicated ‘High Blantyre’.
Helen Lawson Taylor Looks like Auchinraith School .
I have a picture of the auchinraith silver band .Can anyone identify the members .Apparently my grandfather Frank Allen played trombone. Would like to identify him
HI Sean – feel free to send it over. I may be able to identify a few people? It can be emailed to paul@blantyreproject.com thanks.