Saltcoats - On This Day In History

[down south]

16TH JUNE 1922

Hard times for Saltcoats council workers:

Saltcoats Town Council agreed at their monthly meeting to reduce the weekly wages of their workmen as follows: Foremen, from £3 11s to £3 10s; carters, from £3 8s to £3 2s; bucketmen, from £3 6s to £3; labourers, from £3 to £2 15s.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 16th June 1922

16TH JUNE 1972

Bill Young, remembered here, was a much admired work colleague of my father's at ICI. A reminder of the blight cast on lives by the thankfully now vanished scourge of polio.

OBITUARY: MR WILLIAM YOUNG

Mr William Young, who has died in hospital aged 43, was a notable example of courage in the face of adversity. Crippled by polio from an early age, he fought the physical and psychological effects of the disease to gain an honours B Sc at Glasgow University, before entering the research department of ICI Nobel Division in 1953.

To everything he did, Bill Young brought a sense of purpose, and his work for the disabled in Ayrshire can only be described as dedicated. He was closely concerned with the formation in the late 1950s of the West Coast Disabled Club ( No 9 Area ) , the first organisation to cater for the disabled in the county, and was its chairman for 14 years.

A gifted amateur musician ( a licentiate of the Guildhall School of Music ) he distinguished himself too on the rifle range. He was a former Scottish junior champion and his performance in winning the Duke of Westminster Challenge Cup while still a junior has yet to be equalled.

Mr Young, whose home was at 77 High Road, Saltcoats, leaves a widow and three young daughters.

CONTRIBUTED

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 16th June 1972

Susan

[down south]

17TH/24TH JUNE 1949

So understandably great was the need for housebuilding and repairs after the Second World War, that there were severe shortages of materials, and our local councils found their housebuilding plans subject to " rationing ":

Saltcoats Town Council invited tenders for the erection of 100 houses at New England, but the Department of Health have approved acceptance for 18 houses only. The acute shortage of timber was blamed for the situation.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 17th June 1949

The Secretary of State has informed Ardrossan Town Council that the number of houses allocated to be built by them in 1950 is 30 for general needs.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 24th June 1949


17TH JUNE 1972

On this day, the recently-opened St Andrew's Academy held their first sports day:

Somewhat belatedly, the A&S Herald reported on it a couple of weeks later:

A gala and sports day was held by the Parent-Teacher Association of St Andrew's Academy, Saltcoats, to celebrate the completion of the first academic year of the new academy. The event was held in school grounds and, despite the cold and blustery weather, there was a good turnout of parents and their families to watch and take part in the very numerous sporting events. The event raised £590.

Mr Finn, rector, introduced Provost Barnett and Mrs Barnett, who opened the proceedings. Provost Barnett congratulated the association on their efforts. He was very pleased that the Catholic communities of Saltcoats, Ardrossan and Stevenston had now their own comprehensive school and he had every expectation that, with the completion of the extension due to begin in the autumn, there would be an academy with facilities as good as any in the county.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 30th June 1972

And here are the sports champions pictured with their trophies, including the future Scotland footballer Roy Aitken:

http://www.threetowners.net/forum/viewt ... 838#p92838

Susan

[down south]

22ND JUNE 1972

The short-lived Maritime Museum at Saltcoats Harbour wasn't always unloved; on this day it was visited by a record number of visitors:

A record number of 679 people visited Saltcoats Maritime Museum last Thursday ( 22nd June ) . On the previous Sunday when a sea angling competition was held 270 people visited the museum.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 30th June 1972

22ND JUNE 1973

The reckless career of a drunk driver leaves a trail of mayhem through Saltcoats and Stevenston...

70MPH CHASE ENDED IN CRASH

After a road accident in Saltcoats last Friday ( 22nd June ) , a motorist failed to stop when waved down by police officers, led a police vehicle on a 70 mph chase into Stevenston, collided with two cars, and careered through a garden wall and into a shrub garden.

This was stated by the depute procurator fiscal, Miss Caroline McNaughton, at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on Monday when 26-year-old Saltcoats labourer J... J... admitted eight road traffic offences and was jailed for six months, banned from driving for five years and ordered to re-sit the driving test.

The accused admitted that in Pirnmill Road, Saltcoats, he drove while unfit through drink, while under disqualification and without insurance, and drove without due cre and attention whereby he collided with a car. He also admitted failing to report the accident and failing to stop when signalled to do so by a police officer; and that he drove without due care and attention in Kilwinning Road, Stevenston, whereby he collided with two motor cars; and that his car had a defective tyre.

The fiscal said that the first collision in Saltcoats occurred when J...emerged from a side road without indication. Although both vehicles were extensively damaged he drove off. Police officers tried to stop him in Glencairn Street, Stevenston, but he halted mementarily and as the police approached, accelerated away at high speed.

A chase followed with the accused driving on the wrong side of the road and although the police vehicle drove at 70 mph it did not catch up with J...'s car. He was still on the wrong side as he approached a zebra crossing and he struck a car, spun round, narrowly missed another, struck a second car, and went through a brick wall into a shrub garden.

The fiscal added that a man, the driver of one of the cars struck by J..., had sustained spine and abdominal injuries. Other people suffered from shock and cuts. The accused had cuts and an ankle injury.

An agent said that J... was single and earned £25 a week. His only explanation for the offences was that he was very drunk at the time.

Sheriiff Reginald Levitt said that he had no alternative but to jail J...for his offences.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 29th June 1973

Susan

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
23 JUNE 1914

LODGING IN FISHERMEN'S BOATS

Complaints having been received from fishermen that their smacks while moored in Saltcoats Harbour were being used by people at night, who slept in the fishermen's bunks, a raid was made by the police on Sunday morning, and two men were found on the smack RENOWN.

At the Burgh Court on Monday - before Provost Millar - they were convicted under the Trespass Act, and one who had been previously charged was fined 20s, or 10 days', and the other 10s 6d, or seven days' imprisonment.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
24 JUNE 1912

BOY SCOUTS' RALLY AT SALTCOATS

At Saltcoats on Saturday afternoon the North-Western District of Ayrshire Scouts Association held a rally and display.

Compeitions in ambulance, signalling, and tent pitching took place.

The challenge flag presented by Dr Carrick Allan, Ardrossan, was won by the Saltcoats Troop, while the silver bugle was gained by the Eglinton Castle, Kilwinning Troop.

The scouts were inspected by Sir Frederick Nathan who expressed satisfaction with the smart appearance of the boys and the efficient manner in which the various tests had been prepared

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
24 JUNE 1914

SALTCOATS

The weather is promising. Visitors are here in considerable numbers for June, and homes are well taken up for July. With smooth seas boating is now a favourite pastime. The golf course is in good trim and attracts many players, while the bathing pond is visited daily by large numbers of swimmers.

[down south]

28TH JUNE 1918

A new head teacher for Kyleshill School:

At a meeting of Stevenston School Board, Mr Arthur E Mackey, science master of Stevenston Higher Grade School, was appointed headmaster of Kyleshill School, Saltcoats, in succession to Mr George who retires shortly.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 28th June 1918

Susan

[down south]

29TH JUNE 1969

It doesn't always rain in the Three Towns:



Susan

[down south]

30TH JUNE 1972

We've heard in the past that there was something of a parting of the ways when Robert Harris and Co opened their new store in Dockhead Street in the early sixties , with Mr Harris himself choosing to continue running the old Green Street shop ; see here ( and the whole topic for the other history and memories of the Harris stores. ). As this advert shows, in 1972 it was made official:

30TH JUNE 1972

Success at an early age for a teacher hailing from Saltcoats. Am I right in thinking he later became the head teacher at Stanley Primary School ?

PS Here's a picture of him in 1974 :

YOUNGEST DEPUTY HEADMASTER

A native of Saltcoats, Mr Lachlan MacDonald Martin, youngest son of Mrs A Martin and the late Mr James Martin, 74 O'Connor Court, is the youngest deputy-headmaster in Scotland.

This distinction follows his promotion to deputy headmaster at Jean Street Public School, Port Glasgow.

He was educated at Ardrossan Academy where he was a member of the 1st XV rugby team and also editor of the school magazine.

Mr Martin was among the first men to take the new 3 year primary diploma course at Jordanhill College, and prior to this he worked at Stanley Primary and Saltcoats Junior Secondary.

Graduating in 1970 he moved to Moorpark Public School in Renfrew and now at the age of 24 his promotion takes him to Port Glasgow.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 30th June 1972

Susan

[down south]

2ND JULY 1971

Sea angling cruises were obviously popular back in the days when Saltcoats Harbour still had its complement of small boats:

Sea Angling 1971.jpg (19.7 KiB) Viewed 3720 times

Susan

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
3 JULY 1903

SINGULAR FATAL ACCIDENT

Yesterday afternoon a curious accident, which, unfortunately, resulted fatally, occurred on the hill road from Dalry to Saltcoats. Mr Thomas Martin, New Street, Dalry, left town on horseback for the coast town, and along with him he took a boy seated in a perambulator, which he attached to the harness of his pony.

All seems to have gone well until the Meiklelaught Plantation was reached. On making the descent the perambulator and boy ran into the pony's hind-quarters, with the result that they pony bolted and threw Mr Martin, who was dragged for about 50 yards.

He was removed home to Dalry, but he died in the course of the afternoon.

[down south]

5TH JULY 1974

The retirement of two teachers who will have been familiar to many of you. Mr Bryson is pictured here:

W B Bryson 1972.JPG (4.45 KiB) Viewed 2646 times

HEADMASTER'S RETIRAL

To mark his retirement, Mr W B Bryson, head teacher of Dykesmains Primary Schol, Saltcoats, received presentations from the staff, pupils, parents' association, and the janitors and school cleaners during the last fortnight of the school session.

Mr Bryson was appointed head teacher of Saltcoats Junior Secondary School in April 1951 when the school occupied the buildings in Argyle Road. In 1961 the school moved into new buildings in Jacks Road and the primary and secondary rolls continued to rise to a total of slightly over the 1000 mark.

With the introduction of comprehensive education, the secondary department was taken over by Ardrossan Academy in 1970, and when the town was rezoned for primary education Mr Bryson took charge of the new school at Dykesmains in 1971.

Prior to coming to Saltcoats Mr Bryson was head teacher at Sorn School from 1945 to 1951.

Miss Evans, depute head of Dykesmains Primary School, also resigned from her post at the end of the session. Miss Evans joined the staff from Irvine Royal Academy primary department in 1954 and was appointed depute head in 1965.

Presentations to Mr Bryson and Miss Evans were made at a luncheon held in Seamill Hydro.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 5th July 1974

Susan