Ardrossan - On This Day In History

[Hughie]

Kilmarnock Herald and Ayrshire Gazette
September 3, 1948

£300 For Ground Improvement
The Winton Rovers Supporters Club have handed over a sum of £300 to the football club as a donation to the Ground Improvement Fund.

The presentation was made by Mr H. Hopperton, an honorary patron of the club, at an annual dance held in the Town Hall, last Friday night. Mr Hugh Sim, president, received the cheque and made suitable reply on behalf of the football club.

The dance was a huge success, as have all those run by the Supporters Club. During the evening. a bottle of "Black Label" whisky, donated by Mr Hopperton was auctioned, £4 5s. being realised by the sale.

Raffle prizes were won by Mr McNeirney and Mrs Bryden. Spot prizes were won by Mr and Mrs Wilson and Mr Edgar and Mrs Hamilton. The prizes were presented to the winners by Miss Nita Hunter, daughter of Mr Alexander Hunter, president of the Supporters Club.

With Messrs Melvin and Nell as masters of ceremony and Brown's Merrymakers supplying the music, the evening was an unqualified success.

The proceeds of the dance go to swell the kitty from which the £300 was paid, and further functions to this end are contemplated for October and December.


ADDED: Just wondered what that bottle of black label would cost in today's prices?

[Hughie]

Kilmarnock Herald and Ayrshire Gazette
September 15, 1950

They All Want it Now!
Ardrossan's 13th century, two ton, stone coffin, which the town council decided two months ago they wanted rid of, is back in the news. Neighbouring Saltcoats wants it and are to ask for it. Moving accordingly at a meeting of Saltcoats Town Council on Monday, Coun. Reid said that when the coffin was first disinterred. Ardrossan did not want it till Saltcoats expressed a desire for it. Ardrossan then discovered that it was valuable and decided to keep it.

"Now that they again want rid of it we should ask them for it for our museum," he added. But, according to Ballie Gourlay, the Barony Church in Ardrossan have already asked that they might have the custody of the coffin and are likely to get it. Treasurer Kerr further complicated matters when he claimed that St Cuthbert's Church, Saltcoats, was the parish church of Ardrossan parish and the coffin should by right, be housed there as it had been discovered in the original parish churchyard on Castlehill.

The Council, however, decided to make the request suggested by Coun. Reid. Should Saltcoats be successful in their approach to Ardrossan, a further snag arises. AT PRESENT THEY DO NOT HAVE A MUSEUM!

(I remember seeing the coffin in the Burgh Chambers in Montgomery Street when I was a lad) Hughie

[Hughie]

Kilmarnock Herald and Ayrshire Gazette
September 22, 1950

Fate of Football Pitch - Residents Object To Noise.
The children's football pitch at Holm Plantation, Ardrossan, may be done away with unless Police-Judge John Lindsay, convener of the Roads and Parks Committee gets his way. At a recent meeting of the latter committee together with the Shores and Improvements Committee of Saltcoats, it was agreed to recommend to the two town councils that the pitch be discontinued. Coun. Johnston, Ardrossan, seconded by Coun. McLachlan, Saltcoats, moved accordingly.

[Hughie]

Kilmarnock Herald and Ayrshire Gazette
October 24, 1952

Limestone Nuisance At Harbour
Arising from long-standing complaints of nuisance caused by the handling of limestone cargoes at Ardrossan harbour, the Harbour Company have intimated to the Town Council that they have investigated the possibility of discharging at other berths. This, says the company, is not practicable as the cargoes have to be landed to quay and no alternative space is available.

They have, however, taken the matter up strongly with the receivers of the cargoes in view of the latter's undertaking not to import the fine grades of limestone at Ardrossan. The Council have agreed to wait and see whether improvement is effected.

[Hughie]

Kilmarnock Herald and Ayrshire Gazette
October 27, 1950

Died on the way to Infirmary
40-year-old Mrs Annie Trodden or Blackwood, who resided at 19 Busbie Drive, Ardrossan, collapsed on the pavement at Beggs Terrace a few yards from her mother's home last Friday morning. She received head injuries as a result of falling against the kerbing and died in the ambulance which was taking her to Kilmarnock Infirmary.

Annie Blackwood (nee Trodden) was married to James McCracken Blackwood who appears to be from the McCracken side of my Boyce and McCracken great grandparents as mentioned Here I imagine Annie would have been a sister or cousin of the well-kent Jock Trodden of Gospel Hall fame.

In Memorial Insertion Blackwood 1971

[Hughie]

Kilmarnock Herald and Ayrshire Gazette
November 21, 1952

Guinness All Round As Stout Boat Takes The Water
To the cheers of the official party on the launching platform and the throng of workmen and sightseers in the dockyard the blue and orange, flag-bedecked hull glided down the slipway into the water. And as the water parted under the vessel's keel there was unfurled from the bow a large poster bearing the familiar slogan, "Guinness is good for you." The motor ship Lady Gwendolen, latest addition to the fleet of Arthur Guinness, Son & Co. (Dublin), Ltd., was launched.



Some nice photos of her in Scottish Built Ships

[Hughie]

Kilmarnock Herald and Ayrshire Gazette
November 24, 1952

Community Centre At Stanley Farm - Council to Prepare Plans
At their meeting on Monday night Ardrossan Town Council agreed to a motion by Bailie J. Lindsay that "because of the lack of community facilities in our housing areas" final plans for the layout of the area at Stanley Farm be drawn up. Bailie Lindsay said there were well over a thousand people living in the housing schemes and there was no communal facilities either for meeting places or sports fields.

The area in question, he continued could be laid out very cheaply in the first place for sports and this could be added to later. He thought that some of the farm buildings could later be adapted for use community centre.

The preparation of plans was remitted to the planning committee in conjunction with Bailie Lindsay as convener of roads and parks.
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In the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald dated September 5, 1958 "MESSRS Fisher and Sons, Saltcoats, have completed the demolishing of the buildings at Stanley Farm, Ardrossan." More demolition work in the town is mentioned in this Looking Back 50 years ago section of the herald.

[Hughie]

Kilmarnock Herald and Ayrshire Gazette
December 30, 1949

Drowning Tragedy At Horse Island
Robert Hunter (43), who resided at 57 Montgomerie Street, Ardrossan, is missing, presumed drowned, as a result of a tragedy which occurred on Wednesday. In the course of his work as a mason with Ardrossan Harbour Co., Ltd., he along with a mate, was re-erecting, a perch on a rack at the southern extremity of Horse Island when they were cut off from the island by the rising tide lashed into a heavy swell by a newly risen wind.

In danger of being swept from the rock by the waves, the two men attempted to swim to the main island and, in the process. Hunter was lost. His mate. James Frew (20), 36 Townhead Street, Stevenston, reached the island, from which he was rescued by the pilot boat from the harbour. He was suffering from shock and abrasions caused by being buffeting on the rocks.

The missing man, who was an ex-footballer, was held in high esteem by all his associates and great sympathy will be extended to his wife and family at this tragic time. Up to the time of going to press no trace of the body had been found.

[Max]

THE ST. JOHN, NEWFOUNDLAND, 'EVENING TELEGRAPH
28 NOVEMBER 1899

THE 'LUCERNE' ARRIVES

The S.S. LUCERNE, Captain W G Cross, arrived this morning at 10.15 o'clock. She left Ardrossan on Saturday, the 18th inst., and experienced fair weather for most of the passage. Strong north-west winds prevailed for a day or two. Yesterday a large iceberg was seen about 100 miles from here. The ship has a slight list to starboard.

She brought 1,980 tons of coal for the Coastal Company.

I wonder if there is a connection to Lucerne Cottage on Eglinton Street in Saltcoats which appears to have been built in the mid-1800s, perhaps a link to the Allan line who owned the ship?

[Hughie]

Kilmarnock Herald and Ayrshire Gazette
January 11, 1952

Death of Parish Priest
Despite gale-driven showers of snow, sleet and hail, many hundreds attended the Catholic Church of St Peter-in-Chains, Ardrossan, on Wednesday, for the funeral service of the parish priest the Very Rev. Peter Canon Fitzpatrick prior to his interment at Ardrossan Cemetery. Canon Fitzpatrick died suddenly on Sunday night after a short illness.

Canon Fitzpatrick was a native of County Mayo, Ireland. Before being appointed to Ardrossan less than two years ago, Canon Fitzpatrick had been parish priest at Strathaven, Dalry, Kilwinning and Kilbirnie. His first appointment was as a curate at St Joseph's, Tollcross, Glasgow, where he served for 19 years.

[Hughie]

Kilmarnock Herald and Ayrshire Gazette
January 17, 1947

From Article - Waterfront At Ardrossan
A piece of information that came my way the other day gave the list of Glasgow owned vessels in Lloyds Register as follows:-

Anchor Line-13:
Clan Line-53;
J. and J. Denholm-13:
Donaldsons-16;
Glen and Co., Glasgow-16;
P. Hender- son and Co.-12;
H. Hogarth and Sons -33:
Lyle Shipping Co.-12:
Maclay and McIntyre-7;
G. Nisbet and Co.-5:
Raeburn and Verel-8;
Andrew Weir -44;
Whimster Line-2.

It will be seen from this Hogarth's are practically the second on the list, after the Clan Line. Andrew Weir's can hardly count for they have had their headquarters in London for more than thirty years. All the connection they have with Glasgow is that they register their boats there. They don't even get them built in Scotland now.

[Hughie]

Kilmarnock Herald and Ayrshire Gazette
February 6, 1948

National Ballroom Queen
The preliminary qualifying heat of the National Ballroom Queen Contest, organised by the People was held in the Assembly Dance Hall, Ardrossan, last Friday. Winners were Mrs J. B. Clark, 12 Parkhouse Gardens, Ardrossan, who was partnered by her husband and Mrs J. Paterson, 47 Kirkhall Drive, Ardrossan, who was partnered by Mr A. Galloway, 3 Arthur Street, Saltcoats.

The two couples compete in the Area Finals in Edinburgh tonight (Friday) with the prospect of winning a place among the Grand Finalists who will compete for the title of National Ballroom Queen of 1948 at Grosvenor House, London, on 24th March. Prizes which are to be won in the subsequent stages of the contest total nearly £2,000.

organised by the People

I imagine this would be referring to The People newspaper.