Stevenston - On This Day In History

[down south]

19TH JANUARY 1970

A special visitation for local country dancers from one of their leading members: Mr Alistair Aitkenhead, well-known by many Stevenstonians from his days as PE teacher at Stevenston High.( See http://www.threetowners.net/forum/viewt ... 059#p93059 ).

And he's pictured here a few weeks earlier, when the N W Ayrshire branch held its 21st anniversary party at Seamill Hydro:

Susan

[Penny Tray]

I think the lady second from the left is a Mrs Ferguson who was a gym teacher at Eglinton School, Ardrossan, at one time. She taught the girls country dancing circa 1960-1963.

[morag]

I wonder if my country dance teacher, Hannah Gordon, was a member? She was a large lady but so light on her feet.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
25 JANUARY 1912

STEVENSTON RAILWAY STATION EXTENSION

For some time Stevenston Parish Council has been urging the Glasgow and South-Western Railway Company to provide additional waiting rooms and a booking office on the south platform of Stevenston Railway Station.

The Council claim that there is a population of 3,000 in the south side of the town, and the accommodation provided is insufficient.

At a recent meeting of the Council a letter was read from the railway company declining to grant the council's request.

It was then decided to call a public meeting which was held in Ardeer Hall on Tuesday night - Mr James Patrick presiding.

After the object of the meeting had been explained by the Chairman, Mr George Sinclair (County Councillor) moved that the directors be thanked for the improvements carried out on the north side of the station, but that the meeting was of the opinion that no improvement, which did not include a booking office and waiting rooms on the south platform, was inadequate.

Mr D Lawson seconded, and the motion was unanimously carried.

[down south]

10TH FEBRUARY 1950

The old bridge at the foot of Townhead Brae, Stevenston , is being demolished this week to allow a road-widening scheme at the Cross.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 10th February 1950

This presumably is the one:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nayesterda ... 2752963661

Susan

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
11 FEBRUARY 1912

A BRAVE SCOTTISH WORKMAN

Last night's "LONDON GAZETTE" states that his Majesty has been graciously pleased to award the Edward Medal of the second class to KENNETH McNAB, under the following circumstances:-

McNab is an assistant foreman fitter in the factory of Messrs Nobel's Explosives Factory at Ardeer in Ayrshire.

On November 11, 1910, a man named Richard Morgan was repairing an electric wire on the top floor of a four-storey building when he was overcome by poisonous fumes given off by an overflow of acid on the ground floor. The fumes, which were dense and suffocating, soon filled the building, and McNab and two other workmen went up an outside staircase provided for cases of emergency, in search of Morgan, but receiving no reply to their shouts descended. McNab then, learning from other workmen that Morgan was on the roof, went up the staircase again, but without success. The sound of breaking glass and shouts were heard from the top floor, and McNab went up for the third time, and succeeded in entering the room where Morgan was. Crawling on his hands and knees he managed to grasp Morgan's hand and drag him out to the landing where he obtained assistance in carrying Morgan downstairs.

McNab showed presence of mind and persistent bravery in face of danger, though his efforts to save Morgan's life were unfortunately unavailing, as Morgan succumbed after some hours to the effect of poisonous fumes.

[down south]

14TH FEBRUARY 1975

Retiral of a popular local doctor. I see he came from Stevenston originally, something I was never aware of . A picture of him can be found here.

He died in 1980 at the sadly early age of 62.

A correspondent writes:

Mr Edmund Leahy, a well-known local practitioner, retired from his practice last week. He had not been enjoying the best of health recently and his early retirement is in fact on medical grounds.

He was educated at St John's school, Stevenston; St Michael's College, Irvine; and St Aloysius College, Glasgow; before going on to Glasgow University where he graduated MB, ChB.

He joined the Royal Navy Medical Corps in 1943, served overseas, and retirned to Scotland in 1946 with the rank of major. Dr Leahy then came to work in the Ardrossan and Saltcoats district, and his patients and friends will forever be indebted to this dedicated man.

A public testimonial will be presented to Dr Leahy, and donations are accepted at branches of the Clydesdale Bank.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 14th February 1975


14TH FEBRUARY 1975

An opportunity for a look round the newly-refurbished Glencairn Primary School ( formerly Stevenston High ) :

NEW LOOK FOR OLD SCHOOL

The former Stevenston " Higher Grade " school, now Glencairn Primary, has been transformed into a new look open-plan primary school. Next Thursday former pupils and teachers of the old Higher Grade will be given the opportunity to see over the school now that the conversion is complete.

Head teacher, Mr David Malloy, told our reporter this week of the reasons behind the " at home " afternoon. He said that over the last decade teaching methods and the attitude to the teaching of primary children have undergone radical changes. He felt that this was clearly shown in Glencairn now that the alteration work has been completed and that former pupils and teachers would be interested, if not surprised, at the changes to the old school.

" It is a clear case of a new primary school being built without the bother of clearing a site and such like, " he said. The work started last May and was completed at Christmas.

Gone are the old stone floors, wooden floor boards, regimental rows of desks, and indeed classrooms. In their place are vinyl floor tiles, desks and tables arranged within a large teaching area . ( Most of the old classrooms have been knocked into a number of large areas. )

The whole arrangement is based on a " family unit " idea with each unit being virtually self-contained. Outside toilets have been replaced by modern ones indoors.

" This arrangement gives both teacher and pupil plenty of scope without having to search for space, " says Mr Malloy. " A science lesson could go on in one corner and a history lesson in another; before, a space would have to be cleared and valuable time wasted in the changeover from one subject to another. "

The old science room has been converted into a small assembly hall and TV room. In this hall, the local education sub-committee met recently , and Mr Malloy said that this was interesting because they had met in the building which had been used by the former Stevenston School Board, and had in fact used the same chairs and tables that the board had used. " The building will be 100 years old this year.

" I am sure it will prove to be an interesting afternoon for former associates of the school and underline the changes which primary education has undergone in recent years, " concluded Mr Malloy.

On Friday afternoon, parents will be given an opportunity to see round the school.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 14th February 1975

Susan

[John Donnelly]

Did they not go decimal in Stevenston ?

JD.

[Meg]

Did they not go decimal in Stevenston ?

JD.

Well, the last round I bought in The Grants at the committee meeting at the end of Jan was £1.12/6 so not sure JD

[Penny Tray]

JD,

That was January 1971

[John Donnelly]

Well, according to Susan, they're still using L. S. D. in Stevenston.

BTW, it was feb. '71.

JD.

[ardrossanrentboy]

I heard they'd moved on to crystal meth and crack cocaine, but my sources are a bit iffy, they come from Saltcoats