James Graham was born in 1938 and recalls the memories of the 1940s as a child. My Childhood Games High Blantyre was my place of birth, At Broompark Road near Rochead’s farm. We played there neath the railway bridge Where we felt safe and free from harm. We played beside the railway line, In farmer’s fields […]
Dr James Graham who grew up in Blantyre said, “My mother lived her life quietly and practised her Christian faith mainly within her home” The Bible in Galatians 5:22-23 gives a list of the attributes a true Christian should possess: ‘But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness […]
“The Trap” is a poem written by the late Blantyre preacher, Mr John Graham (affectionately known as The Blantyre Saint). He composed the poem for his son, also called John to recite at a Sunday School social outing. The poem dates from c 1950. Thanks to John Graham’s other son, James, for permission to share […]
Colliers Every Wan (In memory of the Blantyre Disaster, 22nd October 1877) They came fae Erin this family o’ mine, Tae Scotia’s fair land tae work underground. Wi’ promise o’ plenty ringin’ in thur ears, They fun’ only poverty, blood, sweat an’ tears. Nothing hid changed at the end o’ the day, Same bosses, same serfdom, same […]
Andrew Little’s Rolls, by J Cornfield No matter where i go, no matter what I see, My hearts always in Blantyre, where i long to be. Some things I’ve forgotten, but one Ive never forgot, The smell o Little’s rolls, especially when they’re hot. Young ones nowadays, don’t know what they’ve missed. Why eating Little’s […]
Continuing my research into all the people noted on the Auchentibber War Memorial. This time, Private Hugh Boyle. His parents, James and Mary Boyle (nee MacKenzie) came to Blantyre from Bridgeton between 1896 and 1901. Employed as a coal miner, James and his wife moved to Peesweep Row at Auchentibber with their young son, Hugh […]
A poem by Blantyre’s James Mitchell, written in 1938. It may not be November yet, but the poem is worth sharing as a mark of respect of those Blantyre men fallen. This appeared in the paper a year before WW2, so the memories are of WW1. Thank you to Wilma Bolton for sharing this here. […]