Here’s an interesting story. David Humm was born in 1847 to David Humm Sir, a farm servant and Sarah Seabrook.
As an adult advancing through the ranks and being a former Military minister, sometime after 1875, Mr David Humm found himself in the role of the High Blantyre School Board Officer.
Now, during early 1895, David Humm in carrying out his enforcement of pupil school attendance, decided that for a particular family constantly breaking the rules, that their children should be taken to Hamilton for punishment. This was due to the children’s non attendance at his school at Hunthill Road.
On 10th May 1895, David however, had received a serious fright at his home on Stonefield Road, when the father of those children not only threatened him with words, but with violence too. The altercation caused David to run to shield himself from blows directed by the angry parent.
Unfortunately, David suffered from a heart affliction and this fright was enough to send his heart racing beyond its capability. To the shock of the pursuing parent, David collapsed and died at 6.45pm, there on Stonefield Road. He was 48 and his death certificate was signed by Andrew McQuater, a neighbour.
At the monthly meeting of Blantyre School Board on Tuesday 11th June 1895, the members met to discuss whether the widow of Mr David Humm should receive a pension. The widow was Jane Ann Humm (nee McGowan). Many felt that the man would have still been alive had it not been for having to carry out his duties as School Board Officer, and thus ,the Board members thought they were entitled to do something morally and legally to help the widow and her family.
In Britain, Government officials, police and soldiers were pensioned. A pension of between 10s and 12s per week would come to around £25 a year, which a tax of 1d per £ would cover given the number of people in the Parish. As Mr Small made the motion, nobody seconded, citing the rates increase no matter how small would be deeply unpopular and wouldn’t be assisting the school or the children.
Mr Andra McAnulty did want to second the motion, but ultimately didn’t thinking that the matter was for the Parish Council to resolve, rather than a School Board. The motion failed, the subject dropped.
Mrs Humm, did later write a letter of thanks to the letter she had received from the Board expressing their sympathy and unfortunately had known nothing of the debate to give her a pension, until she read the Board minutes which a reporter published In June 1895 in the Hamilton Herald newspaper.
On Social Media, the following comments were received on Facebook:
William Morley That’s this country for you nobody wants to pay you what you’re worth or give you a decent pension for your services and loyalty