No wonder Bill Cunningham, warden of the Livingstone memorial looks confused in this great picture from February 1980!

The book that arrived in the centre explaining the life story of David Livingstone was written entirely in Japanese. Bill explained, “we had a request from an author in Tokyo who wanted to bring Livingstone’s story to the people of Japan. We obliged in 1979 and of course he sent us a complimentary copy of the final book.”

The centre over the years had many similar requests including French and German.

Featuring Blantyre Project Social Media with permission. Strictly not for use by others on or offline, our visitors said:

Jiae Jiae Was this gentleman, Marlyn Cunningham’s father?
Margaret Sanderson Jiae Jiae Yes, he was
Margaret Nimmo Lehmann Sadly Marilyn passed away about 15 years ago, she and I were second cousins
William Mullen Cushy heed
Brian Weaver I remember Bill well. Worked for him, went out with his daughter, knew him when he became an elder in church at the same time as my dad. Fine man.
Elizabeth Weaver Yes they were great friends of Mum and Dad, weren’t they? A lovely positive man, full of enthusiasm.
Violet Elder Lovely memories of a fine gentleman
Betty McLean In Japan they also have a Japan Scottish Society. For a number of years we spent 4 to 6 weeks in Japan and what a surprise to be invited to attend one of their gatherings. A Scottish woman married a Japanese man who was studying in ‘Glasgow and after marrying him lived in Japan during the war years. He studied the making of Whisky…
Bill Hunter Bill was a true Gentleman and his family were very lovely people.
Eddie Mcguire Cushion heed lol Stu Ross caught having a shite in the dorke hoose according to tyre lol