These men had a real difficult job in front of them in October 1977 when they gathered in the High Blantyre Old Parish Church Hall to judge the efforts of the town’s young artists.
For this was the climax of the competition, open to Blantyre schools, organised as part of the commemoration of the centenary of the Mining Disaster. The judges were all members of the committee set up to organise the commemoration events. The competition, which they hoped to run every year, attracted over 200 entries, and the theme was mining safety.
Categories covered essays, painting, science projects and sculpture. After a lot of hard decision-making the judges came up with these winners… and a lot praise for the youngsters. I’ve transcribed the winners here. Recognise anybody?
ART: Winner – Patrick Harvey, 54 Wheatlands Avenue, Blantyre, John Ogilvie H.S.
Merit: Brian Bartle,1 Fyne Court, Hamilton, age 12, John Ogilvie H.S. Elizabeth Connolly, 57 Bourtree Road, Hamilton, age 16, John Ogilvie H.S. Jim Farrell, 2 Small Crescent, Blantyre. Lesley McCormack, 14 Columba Path, Blantyre, Blantyre H.S, Brendan McGhee, 57 Auchinraith Terrace, Blantyre, age 15, John Ogilvie H.S. Carol Mudie, 59 Semple Street, Burnbank, age 14, John Ogilvie H.S. Veronica Payne, 51 Livingstone Crescent, Blantyre, age 15, John Ogilvie H.S., Alan
Sommerville, 22 Greenhall Place, Blantyre, Blantyre H.S.
SCIENCE:
Winner Class 2.9 Blantyre H.S
LITERATURE:
Winner- Heather Neil, 61 Hillview Drive, Blantyre H.S.
100 YEARS OF SAPETY AND IMPROVEMENT IN THE MINING INDUSTRY:
Winner. – Jacqueline McSorley, Fernslea Avenue, Blantyre, age 14, John Ogilvie H.S.
