Continuing the article from yesterday when Blantyre Joiners went on a day trip to Ayrshire on Saturday 18th August 1894. Using actual photos of the event, I’ve been researching some details around what was clearly a great, memorable day out. A good read, continued from yesterday….
“On leaving the hotel [in Ayr] the party proceeded to the station , where according to arrangement, a char-a-banc and a number of brakes were drawn up in readiness to convey them to the birthplace of Burns at Alloway over that track which marked that fearful and wonderful midnight gallop of the immortal ‘Tam o Shanter’ compared with which John Gilpin’s ride was a pleasant canter. From the poet’s birthplace it is only about a quarter of a mile to the ‘Auld Kirk of Alloway’ now in ruins and having got there the enthusiastic guide, old Mr Campbell graphically expatiated upon the various points of interest attaching to the ruin, quoting largely from the poem, ‘Tam o Shanter’ in elucidation of his remarks.”
” A stone throw from the ruin ‘where ghaists and howlets nightly cry’ is the poet’s Cenotaph, erected 1820-1823 at a cost of £3,350 on an eminence overlooking the River Doon. Amongst the many relics preserved in the monument the most interesting seen were perhaps the bible presented by Burns to Highland Mary, bearing an inscription in the poet’s own handwriting, which has only lately been recovered in Canada and two rings containing a lock of hair of the poet and his wife. While at the monument, no one could leave without visiting the ‘auld brig’ where ‘Grey mare Mag’ came to grief and there admiring the scenery of the ‘banks and braes of Bonnie Doon’.“
“Whilst admiring nature in her sweetest grace, indulging in fine sensibilities and studying the aesthetics of nature, probably no-one was interested in the question ‘Get yer hair cut’. Not so, however was the question ‘Get your photo taken’. This was a matter of burning importance and according to a pre-arrangement that at the historic memorial, a souvenir of the first annual excursion , a permanent photographic record of those who took part should be preserved and so it was decided it would be done there and then. Surely a more suitable place for this purpose could be found than by the banks of the classic Doon. Accordingly the mandate went forth, ‘Be ye gathered together’ and it was so. In the twinkling of an eye, young and old, grave and gay, sober and ………, together with the ubiquitous funnyman were suitably grouped together and Mr Hendrie’s all powerful glass eye directed upon them. And so it came to pass that a photograph was taken [which I showed in yesterday’s article]. It is hoped the photographer may get a good negative result and that a good positive proof of his usual excellent skill in that direction be produced forthwith.”
“Mr Hendrie clearly not happy until he got it. (the photo). It may be mentioned that the photograph was taken by that well known firm of cosmopolitan photographers ‘W.F Hendrie and Son’. The char-a-banc etc having been resumed the return journey to Ayr was made via Race Course Road and Miller Place. The classic capital having been reached about 5pm between which and the hour of returning home, the harbours, pier, auld and new brig of Ayr and other places associated with the name of Burns were duly visited.”
“Auld Ayr, (Wha’m ne’er a toon surpasses for honest men and bonnie lassies), was departed from at 7pm and apparently indicating that some of the ‘hewers of wood’ were delirious of prolonging the pleasant memories of a visit to the ‘land of Burns’ and who probably felt that the limits of a compartment in a railway carriage were too circumscribed, got themselves planted on the footplate of the locomotive , there to enjoy the homeward trip, airing themselves to the fullest extent, the salubrious breezes of the Ayrshire coast.”
“Blantyre was reached at a timeous hour before 11pm, the excursionists returning home with many happy memories of a day spent in the classic capital of Kyle and with expressions of regret that such a happy meeting should come to an end. It may be mentioned that much of the success of the outing was due to the indefatigable exertions of Mr John Cameron who upon his way home, endured the other party members providing the epithet of merit, “he’s a jolly good fellow” for that “He’s a jolly good fellow, that nobody can deny.”
