What was going on in Blantyre during Autumn 1967? Exploring some of the newsworthy stories during October that year, some 57 years ago. Anybody remember anything here?
There was some excitement in High Blantyre as a couple of teenagers were injured in a motor cycle accident. Robert Lyon (17) and Margaret Lyon (19) of 5/7 Sydes Brae, High Blantyre were slightly injured when their Moto cycle collided with a car at the junction of High Blantyre and Hillhouse Road at Sydes Brae during a Wednesday afternoon. Both vehicles were also slightly damaged. Sydes Brae in the 1960’s is pictured.
In other news, police found a man still inside the Chemist at High Blantyre 257 Main Street in the midst of a break in. A 28 year old man was charged with breaking , entering and theft, his 6th conviction.
That same week, the fire brigade were called out to an outbreak of fire in the Hay Shed at Shotts Farm. The farm owned by Robert Smellie, auctioneer of Hamilton suffered damage when the shed and 12 tonnes of hay were destroyed. Two fire engines attended had promptly put out the blaze, which happened late on the Monday night. A lean two outhouse was also damaged.
There were a number of vehicle accidents as some of Blantyre’s roads were being upgraded. On the Thursday that week a car travelling at Hamilton Road, High Blantyre struck kerb stones which had been laid out along the road prior to being fixed in position. The sudden impact of these stones causes Motor car drive John Pollock (52) to swerve but the car mounted the verge and overturned.
The next day, a single decker bus owned by David Graham bus hirers of Harthill collided with the rear of an Austin car. Both vehicles were travelling eastwards on the notorious stretch of road between Spittal and Cambuslang. The force of the collision caused the car to mount the verge and crash through railings. The driver of the car Robert Gray of Calderwood EK and his two passengers Mrs Janet Hill (24) of Farm Road Blantyre and Mrs Boag (24) of Hamilton were slightly injured and taken to Hairmyres.
On Social Media, the following comments were received on Facebook:
Margaret Stewart There’s been many a road accident at the spittle just outside Blantyre. Sadly some fatalities too.
Drew Semple went to High Blantyre Primary with Sammy Lyons and Pauline Lyons.
Liz Jack Got married March 1967.
Ann Lyon Brother and sister in law ,Robert and Margaret lyon.
Margaret Kilzer Ann Lyon My friend Janet told me at the time that we’d been mentioned in the newspaper. I thought she was joking.
Blantyre Project Margaret is this you with my mum Janet? On the back it says, ““September Weekend Holiday at Brodick 1964”
Margaret Kilzer Blantyre Project Yes, Paul it is. I think that was the first time we were allowed to go. On condition that we stay at a farm b&b(known to your gran), as our parents thought we would be safer.
Pauline Duke Margaret Kilzer your fifteen minutes of fame! I remember it happening but didn’t know it was in the papers.
Agnes Vorsterman I lived there in 1967. I remember the old railway tracks at the top of the brae. Also going too fast on our bikes!
James Stirling Agnes Vorsterman do you mean the ones at Hamilton drive???
Agnes Vorsterman i just remember them being about halfway up Sydes Brae. There was a bridge there too. Probably got mixed up it was nearly 70 years ago!
James Stirling Agnes Vorsterman that’s the tracks at Hamilton drive,and still a bit of the bridge still visible.
Isabel McCabe Went through school with Margaret Lyon, we went for a month to a camp with high blantyre primary,was an experience