Ardrossan - On This Day In History

[George Ardrossan]

14 JULY

STREET PILLAR COMMUNICATION
Brigadier-General R M Dungeon, His Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary for Scotland and civic representatives of Saltcoats, Ardrossan and Stevenston attended the inauguration of the pillar system of communication in Saltcoats Police Station yesterday. Seventeen pillars have been erected in the three towns in direct communication with Saltcoats Police Station. There are two methods of communication on each pillar – once for the public and the other for the police. There is also a light on each pillar which can be flashed to call a policeman on the beat. Brigadier-General Dungeon emphasised that the value of the system lay in the cooperation of the public with the police and he said that in Glasgow last year, an enormous amount of valuable information had been given to the police by the public using the phones. Chief Constable Munro, Ayrshire, said that this was the beginning of a system which would link up the whole of Ayrshire.
The Scotsman, 14 July 1939

George

[Hughie]

I remember the one outside Eglinton School in Ardrossan. The flashing light I'd expect summoning constables on the beat could be seen I'm sure (at least at night) from anywhere in Glasgow Street. Don't know where else they were.

[John Donnelly]

There was one at the Cross in Stevenston looking down New St.
I cannot remember any others. I find it very difficult to believe that there were 17.
JD.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
15 JULY 1886

DEATH

CALDWELL: At Boydstone, Ardrossan, on the 14th instant, aged 78 years, WILLIAM CALDWELL.


DEATH OF A NOTED AGRICULTURIST

The death is announced of Mr William Caldwell, Boydstone, one of the most enterprising farmers in the parish.

Mr Caldwell started farming at Boydstone some fifty years ago, and, though he possessed several other farms, it was at Boydstone he spent the greater part of his useful and active life. He was long famed as a noted breeder of both cattle and horses, and most of his animals figured conspicuously at the various shows throughout the country.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
15 JULY 1889

GLASGOW FAIR HOLIDAY - ARDROSSAN

Large numbers of holidaymakers arrived here on Friday, and as the house accommodation is much greater this season than formerly they found no difficulty in getting accommodation, and still there is plenty of room for the more that may follow. The rain and the gloom of the last few days have place to delightful weather.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
15 JULY 1899

ARDROSSAN – GALLANT RESCUE FROM DROWNING

An exciting incident happened at Montgomerie Pier yesterday afternoon.

A large crowd was collected to see the Belfast steamers leave and a boy visitor fell over the wall into the water. JOHN TEMPLETON, diver, Hill Place, Ardrossan, who was one in the crowd on the pier, leapt in after the lad, and succeeded in keeping him afloat till both were picked up by a small boat.

Considerable excitement prevailed, and Templeton’s gallantry was warmly commented on.

[George Ardrossan]

15 JULY

SAILING BOAT FOUND AT SALTCOATS
A sailing boat was discovered capsized in Sandylands Bay, Saltcoats, yesterday. At high water, the yacht was towed into Saltcoats Harbour, where it was found that her keel and mast were broken off. The yacht was painted white but there was no name or identification mark on her. The boat will be conveyed to the Receiver of Wrecks at Ardrossan pending identification.
The Scotsman, 15 July 1937

George

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
16 JULY 1880

DEATH

NEILSON: At 111 Barr Lane, Ardrossan, on the 12th instant, JANE MANWELL, aged 68 years, relict of Thomas Neilson.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
16 JULY 1883

THE FAIR HOLIDAYS - ARDROSSAN

Trains on Saturday were unusually heavy, and most of them were about an hour behind time in their arrival. Every available lodging is taken up; and not a few visitors have had to return to the city unable to find accommodation.

There was a total absence of cases of intoxication.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
16 JULY 1936

DEATH OF ARDROSSAN EX-PROVOST

The death has occurred of ex-Provost Isaac T. Fawcett, J.P., of Ardrossan, a well-known figure in the Scottish steel and hardware trade.

A native of Westmoreland, he came to Glasgow from Penrith 46 years ago to enter the service of Northern Steel & Hardware Company Limited, of which concern he was the managing director for many years.

Ex-Provost Fawcett took an active part in the civic life of Ardrossan, where he resided. He was a member of the Town Council for 21 years, and after serving as Provost for three years he was re-elected for a second term.

He took a deep interest in work amongst the young and was well known in the West of Scotland for his work in connection with the Band of Hope movement. For 40 years he acted as a Sunday school teacher and was president for some years of the Ayrshire Sabbath School Union. An elder of the Church of Scotland, he was a prominent personality in Ardrossan Presbytery, serving on many committees.

His wife predeceased him a year ago, and he is survived by one son and one daughter.

[George Ardrossan]

16 JULY

MOTOR ACCIDENT – DAMAGES FOR ARDROSSAN PLUMBER
In Ayr Sheriff Court yesterday, Sheriff Haldane awarded £56 0s 1d – the amount sued for – to Charles Price, plumber, Princes Street, Ardrossan, in an action raised by him against Andrew Logan, farmer, Overtoun, Drongan, in which he alleged that the defender was the cause of a motor accident in which the cars of both parties were involved. The collision tool place at Holinston Toll, near Ayr, and the pursuer contended that the defender approached the corner to the main road at an excessive speed and by negligent driving, failed to take the corner on his own side of the road. Logan, on the other hand, contended that the collision was due to the fact that Price’s wife was driving the car at the time and that she did not have it properly under control with the result that when she applied the brakes suddenly, she caused the car to skid and collide with his car. In a not to his finding, his Lordship states that the responsibility for the accident was entirely and solely on the defender for failing to make certain that he was no imperilling the traffic properly suing the main road before obtruding any portion of his car on the further half of the main road. No question of contributory negligence arose.
The Scotsman, 16 July 1930

George

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
17 JULY 1885

DEATH

WRIGHT: At 71 Glasgow Street, Ardrossan, on the 15th instant, aged 64 years, Captain DOUGALD WRIGHT.