This year, as another Anniversary of the Blantyre Pit Disaster approaches, we’re exploring the little-known story of the how the Centenary memorial came to be and the talented men who were responsible for that now iconic High Blantyre landmark. The following articles over the next few days are a combination of my own research and photos and with added narrative and detail from my history colleague, Gordon Cook.
The Beginnings
In 1976, 99 years after Scotland’s worst ever mining calamity, it was brought to the attention of the local Miner’s Welfare Committee that a very important centenary was coming up. It was agreed that some sort of permanent memorial should be provided to mark the 100th anniversary of the ‘Blantyre Disaster’ and whilst there was recognition in the Cemetery, an appropriate High Blantyre monument, closer to the Disaster site and which could be more readily seen, would be fitting.
As this news of the Committee’s intentions filtered through the town, it came to the attention of local man Mr Robert Sim and his business partner of six years, Mr Donald McAllister. The two men, who were builders, had also just four years previously ventured into the manufacture of glass fibre headstones, a moulding process which they patented, and as well as providing for the home market, had customers in England, Ireland and America.
Mr Sim approached the Welfare Committee with the idea of making the proposed mining disaster monument from fibreglass, and after some discussion he was invited to produce a suitable design, which would offer not only an acceptable edifice, but also provide a viable construction plan. Perhaps Mr Sim was able to persuade the Committee, which now included the new minister, Rev. John Silcox of the Parish Church, to go with a fibreglass design when he informed them that it was the “hardy material of choice for Concorde’s nose.” It was also felt that fibreglass would also resist vandalism to a certain extent and could be readily fixed, should anything ever happen to it.
Now, the story of just how Messrs Sim and McAllister entered into the field of glass fibre manufacturing is interesting, if absurdly simple. It happened one quiet afternoon at their Cadzow Street premises in Hamilton, that Donald McAllister, while nursing a hot mug of tea, began to play with a Tic-Tac® packet and an empty matchbox, and putting the former on top of the latter, had a ‘Eureka’ moment, calling to his colleague, “What about plastic headstones?” This led to the formation of a new company, called G‧S‧M. The ‘G’ in the title referred to Mr John Green of Glenrothes, whose factory produced glass fibre baths, readers of a certain age will no doubt remember those ubiquitous avocado bathroom suites of the 1970s.
Robert Sim appeared on national television and explained the benefits of fibreglass headstones when this branch of the business was commenced under the name “Everlasting Memorials” with manufacturing taking place at Mr Green’s Glenrothes plant.
To be continued tomorrow….
