Stevenston - On This Day In History

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
19 FEBRUARY 1918

WAGES AT NOBEL’S FACTORY

Mr Joseph Houghton, secretary of the Scottish Union of Dock Labourers, has been informed that an award has been issued granting 12½ per cent bonus to male time workers over 21 years of age employed at Nobel’s Explosives Factory. Pieceworkers have been granted 7½ per cent bonus.

The payment of the bonus is to date from the beginning of the year.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
19 FEBRUARY 1972

TWO FEARED DEAD IN ARDEER BLAST

Two process workers were believed killed last night in an explosion at the Ardeer works of the Nobel Explosives Company, an ICI subsidiary, near Stevenston, Ayrshire.

The men were working in the black powder manufacturing department at Ardeer. It is believed the building was extensively damaged.

The explosion shattered windows in towns over a five-mile radius. A huge pall of black smoke hung over the explosives plant after a blast, which reverberated throughout the town.

It is understood the bodies of the two men were not found immediately. They were working alone in the building at the time.

The building where the explosion took place is one of several units specially designed to minimise the effects of explosions.

An Ardeer official said last night that a full investigation would take place into the incident.

He added that the names of the men believed dead would not be released until today.

Other officials were last night investigating the cause of the explosion.

Soon after a police task force arrived at Ardeer to begin a search of hundreds of acres of sprawling factory ground, the search was called off. It will be resumed at first light today, a police official said.

[Penny Tray]

EVENING TIMES
19 FEBRUARY 1972

POLICE SEARCH FOR ICI BLAST VICTIMS

Police renewed their search at dawn today for two men missing, presumed dead, after a gunpowder explosion rocked the huge ICI explosives factory at Ardeer, Ayrshire.

The scene outside the gates of the plant resembled a pit disaster as worried relatives of night shift workers gathered for news. Police had to part the crowds to make a passageway for ambulances and fire engines.

After a roll call of hundreds of men, the victims were named as James Miller, (22), of Raise Street, Saltcoats, and James Kirkland, (27), of Carrick Avenue, Saltcoats.

After the explosion 20 firemen and dozens of police searched for victims in the five miles of sand dunes among which the processing houses and storage magazines are scattered.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
21 FEBRUARY 1922

MARRIAGE – MALCOLM and NICOL

At Westfield, Saltcoats, on 17th instant, by the Rev. D. D. Rees, Saltcoats, James Malcolm, Stevenston, to Elspeth Levendale, youngest daughter of Mr Peter Nicol, Lundholm Road, Stevenston.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
22 FEBRUARY 1915

DEATH - BOYLE

At New Street, Stevenston, on the 21st instant, John Boyle, shoemaker, aged 59 years

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GLASGOW HERALD
22 FEBRUARY 1915

FOOTBALL – Ayrshie Cup – Semi-Final

Result: - Beith, 0; Stevenston United, 0.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
22 FEBRUARY 1916

DEATH - WARD

At Gaswork, Stevenston, on 21st February, Thomas William Ward, gas manager, beloved husband of Elizabeth Taylor.

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GLASGOW HERALD
24 FEBRUARY 1917

WORKMAN’S COMPENSATION FRAUD

At Kilmarnock Sheriff Court yesterday – before Sheriff Robertson – a locomotive engine-cleaner in the employment of Messrs Nobel’s Explosives Company pleaded guilty to falsely representing that he had been injured at his employment, and on claiming compensation had been awarded £2.

The accused expressed his willingness to repay the money, and handed over £2 to the Procurator Fiscal.

The Sheriff, in sentencing accused to pay a fine of £2, said he was rather surprised to find a man like accused guilty of such a miserable fraud. He had an idea that frauds in connection with workmen’s compensation cases were not uncommon.

FOOLISHNESS OF EXPLOSIVES WORKERS

Another employee in a Scottish explosives works was brought before Sheriff Robertson yesterday at Kilmarnock, charged with having been found on the 15th instant with a lucifer match in his possession while in the factory. He pleaded guilty.

The Sheriff said that this was the twentieth case of the kind brought before him in two months. The warnings he had given must now be known to the other men in the factory, and in the future 30 days’ imprisonment would be the smallest penalty he would impose.

Accused was fined £3 or 30 days’ imprisonment.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
24 FEBRUARY 1919

AYRSHIRE EDUCATION AREAS

The Secretary for Scotland, as a result of representation from public education bodies, has increased the number of members of the education authority of the Ayrshire area under the new Act from 31 to 42 and has created another electoral division making seven in all.

The proposed sixth division, comprising the northern district of the country has been divided into two, the sixth consisting of the parishes of Ardrossan, Kilwinning, Largs, Stevenston, and West Kilbride, and the seventh covering the remainder of the district and including the burgh of Irvine, which has been taken out of the fifth district.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
25 FEBRUARY 1918

FOOTBALL – Western Cup

Result: - Albion Rovers, 5; Stevenston United, 2.

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GLASGOW HERALD
27 FEBRUARY 1917

SCOTTISH JUNIOR FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION MEETING

A meeting of the Executive Committee of the Scottish Junior Football Association was held in the Scottish Football Association rooms, Carlton Place, Glasgow, last night – Mr George Robertson, vice-president, presiding.

The draw for the 5th round of the Scottish Junior Cup included: -

Bellshill Athletic v. Stevenston Thistle

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GLASGOW HERALD
1 MARCH 1951

DEATH – HILL

At Owenbank, High Road, Stevenston, on 28th February, 1951, Sarah Alexander, beloved wife of Thomas Hill.