Saltcoats - On This Day In History

[meekan]

I can’t think where that could have been, seems like too small a location. Maybe it was smaller then??

[Hughie]

Kilmarnock Herald and Ayrshire Gazette
August 23, 1946

Calling Saltcoats Variety Fans!
On my way through crowded Argyle Street, Glasgow last Saturday morning I met a man who until the outbreak of World War Two was a kenspeckle figure in the entertainment word down Saltcoats way (writes & Gazette reporter).

All Saltcoatsians who liked their variety shows in the flesh instead of over the air used to be weekly attenders at the Beach Pavilion during the summer months, and all were intrigued by the modest little man in check plus fours and old-time watch chain who used to appear at the end of each performance to announce the following three days' perormance.

You will recall how he spoke in a quick, decisive manner and invariably ended with the phrase, spoken in one quick breath, "I remain your faithfully Hector Donald."

Hector is just as of yore, right down to the natty cap, the check plus fours and watch chain, and the staccato speech. Only now, instead of managing a summer variety show, he is joint editor of a fourpenny bi-weekly production about the "dugs" This is called The Big Four Star Greyhound" and carries full details of all the races in and around Glasgow. A line under the title announces it as "The most up-to- date and authentic greyhound publication in circulation."

Mr Donald, however, hopes to be returning to his first love the show busines, and to be amongst you once again at Saltcoats next summer. He hopes the Beach Pavilion will by then be de-requisitioned and that the Town Council will grant his application for its lease to house variety shows promoted by him as in the past. As its last lessee he thinks he has the moral right to it, and we feel sure the people of Saltcoats and their representatives on the Council will endorse the hope. Till that day this likeable little man remains - yours faithfully - Hector Donald.

[Hughie]

Kilmarnock Herald and Ayrshire Gazette
September 12, 1952

George Medallist in Shipyard Accident
Harry Forde (40), 30 Esplanade Cottages, Saltcoats, fell from staging into the dry dock at Ardrossan shipyard on Tuesday. He was removed to Kilmarnock Infirmary where he was found to be suffering from a broken wrist and finger. He also had abrasion on his head and shoulders and was suffering from shock. The accident occurred just on knocking-off time at 5 o'clock.

Mr Forde was employed in the Ardeer I.C.I. factory during the war and was awarded the George Cross and the McGowan gold medal when he rescued a work- mate from a danger area following enemy action. He is unmarried and is a brother of Bailie James Forde, Stevenston.

[Robert Cook]

What enemy action happened at ICI during the war.
Was it bombed?

[hahaya2004]

This might interest you, Robert

https://www.threetowners.com/ardeer-fac ... war-years/

[brian f]

I found the Helen Ritchie (wartime memories) exceptional. Reading it this evening i was sad when it ended.

[Robert Cook]

Thanks for posting that story. Found it very interesting and enlightening as I had no idea any bombs had fallen on ICI.
I had heard that a dummy factory had been constructed near Montfode farm to try and mislead the German bombers.

Robert

[hahaya2004]

The Germans knew about the explosives works early in 1941. They had a detailed map. You can see it here:
https://threetowners.net/forum/viewtopi ... ilit=nobel

[Hughie]

Kilmarnock Herald and Ayrshire Gazette
October 17, 1952

Vics. Want To Buy Campbell Park.
Saltcoats Victoria are desirous of owning Campbell Park which is at present the property of the town council. The town council have considered the club's application to purchase the ground and have decided to ask the club to submit an offer.
Any transaction would he subject to the consent of the Secretary of State for Scotland.

[Babs62]

GLASGOW HERALD
26 AUGUST 1977

MISSING GIRL (14) MAY BE HIDING SAY POLICE

Police searching for a 14-year-old Ayrshire girl who disappeared more than a week ago said yesterday that they believe she may be hiding in or near her home down of Irvine…..Four other people have disappeared within a few-mile radius of Irvine within the past 18 months, but do not believe the cases are connected.

SANDY DAVIDSON, aged three, was last seen playing with his dog near his home at St.Kilda Bank on 13 April last year.

SEAN McNAMARA, aged 8, and ANDREW LOW, aged 6, were next to disappear. They were last seen playing on Stevenston beach on July 30 last year.

On October 9 last year there was the disappearance of PATRICIA BLACK, a 22 year old factory worker from Saltcoats. She was last seen standing at a bus stop in Irvine. Her handbag weighted down with stones, was later recovered from the River Irvine.

Although the police suspect foul place in this case no body was ever found.

Hi does anyone know what happened to SEAN McNAMARA, aged 8, and ANDREW LOW please?

[Penny Tray]

I don't know the final outcome, but the original Glasgow Herald report on Monday, 2 August 1976, didn't over much hope; and their reference in the 26 August, 1977 report implies that the boy's bodies had not been recovered at that time.

GLASGOW HERALD
2 AUGUST 1976

THE HUNT ALONG HEARTBREAK BEACH

A new warning was issued by coastguards yesterday to parents about the dangers of allowing their children to use inflatable airbeds, dinghies, and air rings – unless they were tethered to something on the shore.

He was speaking after the tragedy in Ayrshire, where two children are presumed drowned after playing with an inflated inner tube of a bus tyre on the beach at Stevenston.

Sean McNamara, aged eight, of 24 George Street, and Andrew Low, aged seven, of 2 Carmyle Place, both Stevenston, disappeared from the beach on Friday night.

The tyre they were playing with was recovered at Newton-on-Ayr on Saturday as a Navy helicopter, lifeboats, and yachts searched the Firth of Clyde for the two boys.

[down south]

Further to my discovery of an unsuspected paper, here's a derby match from November 1971.

6th NOVEMBER 1971

WINTON " BOGEY " BEATS SALTCOATS

SALTCOATS VICTORIA 1 WINTON ROVERS 4

Scorers : Saltcoats - Nicol ( pen ) 84 minutes; Winton - Sanderson 60 mins, Monan 75 mins, McCall 79 mins, Kyle 89 mins.

Winton hadn't won an away match this season although they had thrashed Vics in the first game of the season, so the form book pointed to an overwhelming home win. But someone had forgotten to remind Vics that a win was not a mere formality, that they would have to play for full points.

In the end, In the end, it was the home side's lack of aggression that lost them the match,not Rovers' ability, because the Ardrossan side should have been well beaten by an on form Saltcoats team.

It could be said that Saltcoats beat themselves but some of the Campbell Park faithful would maintain that it was a Winton Rovers bogey that was the victor.

" They could put out 11 jerseys and still win ," said one Saltcoats supporter , referring to Winton's uncanny regularity of upsetting Vics when the odds were stacked against them.

Indeed, considering the feckless uninspired way the Saltcoats players set about Winton it would seem that they half believed that they were battling against a fixture hoodoo.

In the first 45 minutes there were few incidents that anyone who was at Campbell Park will care to remember. Saltcoats had more of the ball than Winton but seemed uncertain of what to do after gaining possession. Rovers attacks were made to look clever by the hamfisted, panicked clearances of the Vics back four.

The nearest thing to a goal came eight minutes from the interval when Stein drew Armstrong from his goal. The keeper pushed the ball away from the winger's feet, McPike gathered and slammed a shot at the open goal. But Rowan had raced back and neaded out from under the crossbar. Two minutes later Stein again drew the keeper out of goal but pushed the ball wide.

Saltcoats restarted with McConnell replacing the injured McPike but such was Vics' disorder that the referee had not been told of the substitution and the unfortunate McConnell had his name taken.

Winton seemed to realise that they could profit from Saltcoats' uncertainty and became more adventurous in their attacks. Wilson and McCall both had good efforts before the opener just on the hour.

Anderson slipped through the home defence only to be stopped at the edge of the penalty area by Lowe and Smith. The referee gave a free kick, much to the anger of the home fans, and Anderson placed the ball round the defensive wall and out of Lowe's reach.

Fifteen minutes later the home defence only half cleared a cross from the right. Monan picked it up and placed the ball over Lowe's hands.

Struggling Saltcoats threw on Ken Sanderson for Young in a desperate salvage attempt in the 77th minute but two minutes later Rovers dashed any hopes of a revival when McCall scored from the left wing.

McCall was the culprit five minutes later when he fouled Stein inside the penalty area. Nicol scored from the spot.

Could Vics bring off a dramatic fightback ? No, and with only a minute to go Kyle hammered in the final nail and Rovers' fourth goal.

Saltcoats Victoria - Lowe; Thomson and Smith; Sheridan, Caughey and Hepburn; Stein, Young, McPike, Shaw and Nicol.

Winton Rovers - Armstrong; Rowan and Anderson; Alexander, Young and McCall; Newman, Sanderson, Kyle, Wilson and Monan.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 12th November 1971.

Some confusion as to whether Anderson or Sanderson scored the first goal for Winton; I suspect Sanderson, since he was a striker and Anderson a defender.

Susan