A fantastic photo and loads of great information from Rob Gordon.
I’m told in the 1950’s there were 5 scouting troops in Blantyre. Rob added, “As a cub and scout, I was a member of the 3rd Blantyre Scout Troop from the age of six to eighteen (1948 to 1960). This troop was affiliated to Livingstone Memorial Church.
In the cubs I was the Sixer (leader) of the brown six, signified by a brown triangle worn on the sleeve. In the scouts I was Patrol Leader of the Cobra patrol which had black and gold coloured shoulder tags.”
Anyone associated with scouting will be aware that Ralph Reader set up the Gang Shows performed by scouts. He produced the London Gang Show annually at regular venues such as the sizeable Golders Green Hippodrome. In 1954 Blantyre had its very own Gang Show when our troop, 3rd Blantyre, mounted a gang show on 8th and 9th April 1954. The venue was the church hall of Livingstone Memorial Church.
I attach a photo of some of the cast. This was taken backstage by the Hamilton Advertiser. I am the cowboy (aged twelve) with the black gun third from the right on the front row. All the makeup was done by the Girl Guides.”
We’re lucky enough to know people in this show, who will be pictured here.
R Bell, D Croft, W Edgar, J Finlay, J Hamilton, A Laird, N Scott, T Slavin, I Brown, G Dick, B Farrell, J Fleming, R Izett, A MacFarlane, R Rogers, J Stewart, R Brown, C Dorrance, A Ferguson ,J Fleming, W Kemp, B McWilliam, D Slater, C Campbell, G Douglas, J Ferguson, R Gordon, A Kilpatrick, D Scott and B Slavin.
The programme for this event will be posted another day, along with lots of great Blantyre adverts for businesses.
