Stevenston - On This Day In History

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GLASGOW HERALD
11 MAY 1903

CRICKET
ARDEER v. WEST OF SCOTLAND TECHNICAL COLLEGE
At Ardeer

Result: - Ardeer, 34; Technical College, 12.

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CASUALTY OF WAR
10 MAY 1915

Died on service, Private JAMES McFADYEN, (19), 2nd Battalion Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders, Theatre of war – France and Flanders – son of Mr William and Mrs Mary McFadyen, Boglemart Street, Stevenston.

The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald subsequently reported: -

“Official notice from the War Office has been received by the parents of Private James McFadyen, Boglemart Street, Stevenston, that their son was killed on 10th May, in France.

The soldier was but a lad of 19 years, the son of William McFadyen, miner, Boglemart Street, Stevenston. He followed the same vocation as his father, and was a quiet and industrious lad.

We sincerely sympathise with the bereaved family, who for months have been hoping that rumours carried in May would not be confirmed.

The only comfort we can extract from the loss of young lives is that the sacrifice will not be in vain.”

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GLASGOW HERALD
12 MAY 1902

CRICKET – AYRSHIRE LEAGUE

Ardeer played their first home match on Saturday, and succeeded in snatching two points in the league by defeating Irvine by 25 to 23.

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GLASGOW HERALD
12 MAY 1905

PROPOSED AYRSHIRE TRAMWAY SCHEME

At a meeting of the Northern District Committee of Ayrshire at Kilwinning yesterday – Mr W. D. Russell, Maulside, presiding – a communication from agents in Edinburgh was laid before the meeting with reference to the inauguration of a tramway system between Ardrossan and Stevenston.

It pointed out that the scheme had now taken a definite shape, and it was the intention of the promoters to apply for a Provisional Order in November next.

A meeting was therefore suggested with the view of coming to an agreement with the Council as to the route within its jurisdiction.

A plan was also submitted to the meeting pointing out the suggested route, and Mr Williamson, the clerk, explained that it started at a point between Ardrossan and West Kilbride, and continued through Ardrossan, Saltcoats, and Stevenston, terminating near the Glasgow & South-Western Railway bridge.

A committee consisting of Messrs Adams, Lundholm, Christie, and Aitken, was appointed to endeavour to arrange matters satisfactorily and report.

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GLASGOW HERALD
15 JANUARY 1909

SERIOUS RAILWAY ACCIDENT AT STEVENSTON
DRIVER KILLED AND THREE MEN INJURED

Yesterday morning shortly before seven o’clock a collision took place on the Glasgow & South-Western Railway about 300 yards east of Stevenston Station.

A workmen’s train, which leaves Ardrossan at 6.25 for Stevenston, had discharged its passengers and gone to the points to change to the other line to get back to Ardrossan. While it was stationary a mineral train also from Ardrossan crashed into it. The mineral train was travelling at a fair speed, drawn by a light pilot engine going tender first, and when it struck the passenger engine the tender tilted over, broke the cab, and crushed ROBERT WILSON, the driver against a wheel of his engine and killed him.

The fireman THOMAS BELL, was also injured on the head, shoulder, and leg, but managed to walk to the station.

The two guards, JAMES STEWART and JOHN SCOTT, on the mineral train were also injured.

On the passenger train the driver, the fireman, and guard escaped injury but suffered from shock.

During the day large numbers of people visited the scene of the collision watching the removal of the damaged engine.

Shortly before 9 a.m. the first train got through, and before noon both lines were worked.

The following is the list of casualties: -

KILLED

ROBERT WILSON, 36, engine driver, 209 Glasgow Street, Ardrossan.

INJURED

THOMAS BELL, fireman, Winton Street, Ardrossan – dislocated left shoulder and leg bruised.

JAMES STEWART, guard, Glasgow Street, Ardrossan – cut on face, which had to be stitched.

JOHN SCOTT, guard, Glasgow Street, Ardrossan – leg injured

GLASGOW HERALD
10 FEBRUARY 1909

STEVENSTON RAILWAY ACCIDENT INQUIRY

A public inquiry under the Fatal Accident Inquiry Acts was held before Sheriff Mackenzie and a jury at Kilmarnock yesterday in regard to the death of ROBERT WILSON, engine driver, who resided at 209 Glasgow Street, Ardrossan, and who was instantaneously killed in a collision between two trains on the Glasgow & South Western Railway at Stevenston on the morning of January 14.

At the close of the evidence the Sheriff gave it as his impressions that the collision was very largely due to the violence of the storm.

The jury returned a formal verdict without attributing blame to anyone.

GLASGOW HERALD
12 MAY 1909

STEVENSTON RAILWAY COLLISION – A NEGLIGENT SIGNALMAN

Major Pringle’s report of his inquiry into the circumstances of the fatal collision which occurred on January 14 between a mineral train and a train of empty carriages at Stevenston, on the Glasgow & South-Western Railway, was issued by the Board of Trade yesterday.

The accident, which resulted in the death of ROBERT WILSON, the driver of the mineral train, occurred in the early morning during a heavy storm, and Major Pringle says the responsibility lies with the signalman, ANDREW PATTERSON, whose duty it was to assure himself that the empty carriage train had passed over a cross-over before sending the “out of section” signal for the train to another signal-box, where as the report points out he took no action to satisfy himself upon this point beyond replacing the points and locking the bar.

It is possible the window panes were blurred by the rain and sleet, but Major Pringle considers that if he (the signalman) had put his head out of the window he could have seen the standing train quite clearly.

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CAUSAULTY OF WAR
12 MAY 1917

Died on service, Sapper ADAM WILSON – 3rd Tunnelling Company – Canadian Engineers – Theatre of war, France and Flanders – son of the late Alex, and Mrs May Wilson, 32 Townhead Street, Stevenston.

The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald subsequently reported: -

“While writing a letter to a friend, Private Adam Wilson, Canadian Army, was killed by a stray shell.

After being previously wounded he visited Stevenston, alas, for the last time.

From boyhood he was engaged in the mines, until adventure sent him roaming to Canada. Shortly after the war broke out he joined the Canadian Forces, and now he has joined the great majority.

Our sympathies are with his widowed mother and sisters in their time of bereavement.”

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GLASGOW HERALD
13 MAY 1904

NORTHERN DISTRICT COMMITTEE MEETING

A meeting of the Northern District Committee of the County Council was held in the Conservative Club Rooms, Kilwinning, yesterday – Mr W. D. Russell, of Maulside, Beith, in the chair.

Doctor MacDonald reported that all smallpox cases occurring within the last quarter – 11 in number – had been dismissed cured, except one convalescent case, and he expressed the opinion that the prompt precautionary measures adopted had been the means of preventing the outbreak from assuming epidemic form.

In connection with the depositing of sailors’ hammocks in the Clyde, the Clerk read letters from the harbour authorities of Ardrossan, Greenock, and Troon on the subject, the general effect of which was that the powers they possess for preventing what was complained of would be kept in view.

Amongst the plans for new buildings was one for a manse at Shore Road, Stevenston, for the Ardeer United Free Church; also a chapel, school, and dwelling-house at the Moor, Stevenston, for Roman Catholic trustees, and a golf club-house at Seamill, West Kilbride, for the West Kilbride Club.

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CASUALTY OF WAR
13 MAY 1917

Died on service, Private JOHN KERR, Service No. 252041, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders – Theatre of war, France and Flanders – born at Stevenston; enlisted at Paisley.

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GLASGOW HERALD
14 MAY 1900

FOOTBALL – NORTH AYRSHIRE CUP FINAL
BEITH v. KILWINNING EGLINTON
At Stevenston

Result: - Eglinton, 2; BEITH, 1.

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GLASGOW HERALD
5 APRIL 1901

FATAL ACCIDENT ON RAILWAY

Yesterday afternoon JAMES COCHRANE, (43), brick-work labourer, was run down by a pug engine on the branch line to Ardeer Iron Works, Stevenston, and killed.

Deceased was a widower, and resided with his brother in New Street, Stevenston.

GLASGOW HERALD
14 MAY 1901

FATAL ACCIDENT INQUIRY

At Kilmarnock Sheriff Court yesterday there was a Fatal Accident Inquiry into the death of JAMES COCHRANE, aged 43, a labourer, in the employment of the Glengarnock Iron & Steel Company Limited at their brick-works at Ardeer, who, while walking on a railway lye in Ardeer Iron Works, belonging to the company, was accidentally knocked down by a pug engine and instantaneously killed on 4 April, 1901.

The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the evidence.

[Hughie]

Kilmarnock Herald and Ayrshire Gazette
May 15, 1942

The King, it was announced last Friday, has awarded the Imperial Service Medal to Robert Hunter, Stevenston.

Bob who retired from service in the G.P.O. recently after about forty years service, is now employed at Ardeer as a sort of P.M.G. to the I.C.I.
In his spare time he plays the cello in constable Millar's Orchestra.

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GLASGOW HERALD
15 MAY 1906

PUBLIC HOUSE TRUST LICENCE FOR AYRSHIRE

At the adjourned sitting of the Licensing Court for North Ayrshire, held yesterday in Kilwinning – Mr W. D. Russell, Maulside, in the chair – interest was chiefly centred round the continued application by Andrew Ballantyne, Scotstoun, Glasgow, on behalf of the Public house Trust (Glasgow District) Limited, for a public house at the corner of New Street and Portland Place, Stevenston.

After arguments, Mr Lundholm, Stevenston, moved that the licence be granted. For his part he was rather in favour of trusts. In Glasgow there were very respectable people connected with them, and they did some good. They go greatly for temperance, and that was what he was greatly interested in.

Mr Alpine, Stevenston, seconded. The trade was here to stay with us, and while it was here they must regulate it.

Mr Adams, West Kilbride, moved that the licence not be granted. He could not agree that two licences had been given up for the Trust, nor could he admit the good that was said to be done in Glasgow.

Mr Allan, Kilbirnie, seconded.

The licence was granted by nine votes to three.