On February 8, 1893, Blantyre Curling Club celebrated winning the Royal Caledonian Curling Club challenge shield with a grand supper at Struthers Hall, attended by 71 members and guests. Speeches, toasts, and prize presentations marked the occasion, showcasing camaraderie and achievements in curling. The event was filled with song and enthusiasm.
Back in October 2021, I took this photo at High Blantyre Cemetery. I’ve written a lot about the obelisk in the middle, the memorial to the miners who died in the Pit Disaster. However, around the obelisk are smaller ones, remembering prominent figures of Blantyre community life gone by. One such obelisk in the tall […]
I had previously been contacted by Graham Glen who told me his grandfather, James Benson had made the beautiful stained glass windows for the former building on Glasgow Road. In February 2017, I was contacted by Ean Brown, Bill Holdsworth and Bill Andrew, who each confirmed that the windows had been carefully removed in 1977 […]
These are all Blantyre adverts from 142 years ago. James Hazels the plumber, Robert Stewart the slater and plasterer, Robert Davidson sawmills at Auchinraith and David McNaughton had opened the Livingston Tavern. However, my favourite, if only for its excellent detail is JB Struthers who had just opened the hall at High Blantyre, the hall […]
On Saturday 9th December 1978, Bro George A.B.MacDonald was ‘installed’ as R.W.M of Lodge Livingstone 599. Pictured here that year, George was 38 years old at the time, married with 2 daughters living in Burnbank. An office manager at Carfin Bonded Warehouses, George was also an organist at the Congregational Church. Educated at Gateside Primary […]
In August 1979, Blantyre Masons gathered to honour a man with 50 years of service to his lodge. Lodge Livingstone 599 was the venue and George McDonald presented David Straiton with his certificate. Mr Staiton’s long membership included 6 years being Depute Master. In 1946, he was elected Lodge Secretary, a position he held […]
These photos are from the 1960’s. Taken on High Blantyre’s Main Street, the buildings in the background are the Masonic Buildings and the little one storey cottage now derelict but still standing. The 2 storey tenements in the foreground, now demolished. The pipe band marches westwards back up to High Blantyre Old Parish Halls. […]