Ardrossan - On This Day In History

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GLASGOW HERALD
31 MARCH 1943

CASUALTY OF WAR

Mr and Mrs Thomas Bell, 27 Barrie Terrace, Ardrossan, have received official intimation that their son, Sergeant William Bell, flight engineer, R.A.F., previously reported missing, is now believed killed in action.

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GLASGOW HERALD
1 APRIL 1910

ELECTRIC LIGHTING – BOARD OF TRADE INQUIRY

A Board of Trade inquiry in connection with an application by Mr George Balfour, London, for a Provisional Order to supply electricity for lighting and power purposes within a district embracing the burghs of Ardrossan and Saltcoats and the special lighting district of Stevenston, was held in the Town Hall, Ardrossan, yesterday.

Mr T. W. Pelham sat as Commissioner for the Board of Trade, and heard parties. Lord Kinross, advocate, appeared for the promoter.

Formal objections were submitted by Ardrossan Harbour Company, represented by Mr D. B. Murray; the Glengarnock Iron and Steel Company, represented by Mr Pitman, advocate; Nobel’s Explosives Company, for whom Mr Moncrieff, advocate, appeared; the Caledonian and the Lanarkshire and Ayrshire railway companies, represented by Mr D. L. Forgan; and the Glasgow & South-Western Railway Company, represented by Mr Anthony S. Murray.

The Town Council of Ardrossan also objected as owners of the local gas undertaking.

An agreement was reached between the promoter and all the industrial concerns mentioned.

In connection with the opposition of the Town Council of Ardrossan the Commissioner said he could not recommend the Board of Trade to refuse the Order merely because the promoter would be in competition with the Corporation.

The decision of the Board of Trade will be announced in due course.

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GLASGOW HERALD
1 APRIL 1911

THE REV. WILLIAM McGILCHRIST INTIMATES HIS RETIRAL

The Rev. William McGilchrist has suggested to his congregation that he should now retire from the active ministry. In a statement made to the members of the church he points out that he is beginning to feel that he has not now the measure of physical and mental vigour he once enjoyed.

Mr McGilchrist has been Minister of Park Church for 38 years.

The matter will be before the Presbytery next week.

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CLYDESHIPS.CO.UK
1 APRIL 1911

LAUNCH OF THE RIVIERA

The RIVIERA, later to become the LAIRDS ISLE, which plied between Ardrossan and Belfast between 1933 and 1957, was launched by Denny & Company, Dumbarton, on 1 April, 1911.

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GLASGOW HERALD
1 APRIL 1912

DEATH - McMILLAN

At the Western Infirmary, Glasgow, on 30th March, Elizabeth T. McMillan, beloved wife of Alexander McMillan, Gourock, and daughter of Robert Breckenridge, Ardrossan.

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GLASGOW HERALD
1 APRIL 1913

AN ARDROSSAN PIER INCIDENT

An action at the instance of James Welsh, 4 Hill Street, Garnethill, Glasgow, against the Caledonian Railway Company, originally raised in the Small Debt Court for £3 3s, has been decided by Sheriff Substitute Thomson.

The sum sued for was in respect of loss and damage sustained by the pursuer through his having been detained on the night of Fair Friday of last year at Ardrossan Pier while on his way to Isle of Man. Pursuer purchased from the defender a return ticket from Glasgow to Douglas, and travelled to Ardrossan by the 10.45 p.m. train. On arrival at Ardrossan he and other passengers, numbering about 200 or 300, were unable to get on board the steamer in respect that it already had its full complement of passengers. They were accordingly forced to spend the night on Ardrossan Pier, as there was no train to convey them back to Glasgow.

In a note, his Lordship states that one has great sympathy with the pursuer, but he felt compelled to sustain the view represented by the defender.

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GLASGOW HERALD
2 APRIL 1849

GLASGOW, KILMARNOCK, & ARDROSSAN RAILWAY COMPANY MEETING

On Friday the ordinary half-yearly meeting of the shareholders was held in the Company’s offices, George Square, Glasgow, and subsequently adjourned to Carrick’s Royal Hotel – James Graham, Esquire, of Fereneze, Vice-Chairman, in the chair.

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GLASGOW HERALD
2 APRIL 1855

SHIPPING NOTICE

As the steamer ISLE OF ARRAN is about to be laid up a few weeks to undergo repairs for the season, on and after the 3rd April, and until further notice, the Ardrossan steam tug will leave Ardrossan every Tuesday and Saturday about half-past twelve o’clock, and to return to Ardrossan same days.

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GLASGOW HERALD
2 APRIL 1862

BANKRUPTCY – SEQUESTRATION

WILLIAM McJANNET, shipbuilder, Ardrossan - Creditors to meet within the George Hotel, Kilmarnock, 9th April, at one o’clock.

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GLASGOW HERALD
3 APRIL 1908

ARDROSSAN BOAT ACCIDENT - TWO YOUNG MEN DROWN

A distressing accident occurred at Ardrossan yesterday, whereby two young men were drowned.

Three young men, named respectively Muir, Gillies, and Stewart, went out in a rowing boat to lift lobster creels at the Horse Island.

About 150 yards from the island the boat foundered in a heavy sea. Muir, an excellent swimmer, pluckily took hold of Stewart and managed to take him to the rocks at the south end of the island.

Afterwards he returned in search of Gillies, whom he was unable to find.

To his horror he discovered on swimming back to the island that Stewart had been washed away.

Muir then endeavoured to attract the attention of the people on the mainland by waving his clothes, and was at length perceived by some seamen at the harbour.

The pilot boat and tug were at once despatched, and Muir was taken off in a state of complete state of exhaustion.

No trace was got of the others.

[Family intimations in the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald indicate that the deceased were Alexander Brodie Gillies, son of James and Jane Gillies; and Ronald Stewart, son of William and Mary Stewart.]


ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY – BRONZE MEDAL CITATION - CASE 35954 - AMAND R. MUIR - 2 APRIL 1908

"On the 2nd of April 1908, a boat with three persons on board got into a rough sea about a mile from Ardrossan, and one of them, named Stewart, was washed overboard. Muir at once jumped after him and swam with him 150 yards to Horse Island.

Returning, he found the boat capsized and the third man washed away, and again reaching the island he found Stewart had also been washed from the rocks and drowned."

[hahaya2004]

[Family intimations in the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald indicate that the deceased were Alexander Brodie Gillies, son of James and Jane Gillies; and Ronald Stewart, son of William and Mary Stewart.

Alexander Brodie Gillies was the grandson of Alexander Brodie, Harbour Pilot. "Auld Aleck" was well-known and well-liked in his day.There are some references to him on the forum.

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GLASGOW HERALD
4 APRIL 1911

ARDROSSAN SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

At the meeting of Ardrossan School Board, the Rev. J. K. Cameron was appointed chairman.

Provost J. B. Chrystie was proposed, but three voted for Mr Cameron and two for Provost Chrystie.