Continuing a look at Malcolm Dow’s recollections from his life. Born in 1915, Malcolm wrote his own story, so these words are his.
“My grandfather, William was a railway ganger and had a small croft in Bridge of Dee of 3 fields, 6 cows, 6 pigs and poultry as well as 2 cottages – Rose Cottage, their home, and one on the same plot let out to tenants. However there was an acre of ground at the back of the cottages which provided the house with loads of vegetables. The sons as they left school started work in neighbouring farms and the daughters went into “service” with the local “gentry”. My mother, Mary started at twelve in Dildawn house, Rohnhouse about one mile from home as a maid servant. She later moved to Glasgow as a general maid and nannie to a house in owned by Sorley (later Laing) the well known Glasgow Jeweller. Next she got a job as a Lady’s maid at Crossbasket house, High Blantyre owned by a merchant banker.”
My father had served his apprenticeship with a butcher in Burnbank, Hamilton and then with John Colquhoun in his shop in Main Street, High Blantyre.
My father took over John Colquhoun’s business as a Master Butcher in 1906. One of his clients was the Crossbasket House, catering for the family and the staff and also for the many social occasions held at the house. He met my mother at a Christmas dance and they married at Bridge of Dee in Castle Douglas just before the Great War. My father at that time had been treasurer of Lodge Blantyre Kilwinning 557 since joining in 1907.
I was born in January 1915 in the same tenement as my father had his shop but round the corner in Cemetery Road. Just 6 months later my father went to fight in the “War to end all Wars”. He served in France, Belgium and Germany as bombardier in the Royal Artillery. After the armistice he had to serve on the “Watch on the Rhine” till demob in 1920.
He restarted business where he had left off in 1915 and continued as a successful Master Butcher until he retired. He was too busy re-establishing his business in 1920 to return to 557 but in 1927 the Lodge went into decline and at the election a new set of officebearers was appointed including my father and many other prominent townsfolk and businessmen. He became RWM in 1934, year of Lodge Diamond Jubilee, and year of my initiation and start of masonic career.”
Continued on Part 3 soon.
