Stevenston - On This Day In History

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GLASGOW HERALD
13 AUGUST 1884

STEVENSTON SCHOOL BOARD

The monthly meeting was held on Monday evening – Rev. John Grahame presiding.

From the minutes of special meetings it appeared that the plan of Mr. F. Burnett, Glasgow, had been selected for the new school at Saltcoats.

Mr. Gemmell, who had not attended the special meetings, dissented from the minutes, but the Chairman ruled that the dissent could not be entered in the minutes.

The Committee appointed to consider the salaries paid to the six assistants in Stevenston Public School recommended that they receive an advance of £5 each per year.

The Board agreed to give effect to this recommendation.

Mr. Gemmell asked the Board to reconsider their resolution to fix the school rate at £450 this year, proposing £300 instead, which he considered sufficient. The Chairman thought £450 would be required. The clerk said the proposal could not be entertained as the Parochial Board had already fixed the assessment for school rates.

Mr. Gemmell afterwards moved that the Board’s resolution to build a new school at Saltcoats be rescinded, and that effect be given to the resolution of the public meeting of ratepayers.

After a warm discussion, the Chairman refused to put the motion to the meeting, and the matter dropped.

Mr. Gemmell next took up the question of the appointment of the Building Committee, asking that the minutes bearing on the point be read, but he was not successful, the Chairman stating that they had already been read, and ruling against him.

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GLASGOW HERALD
15 AUGUST 1910

FATAL BOATING ACCIDENT AT STEVENSTON

Yesterday afternoon an alarming boating accident took place on Ardeer beach, Stevenston.

A party of eight men and one woman left Stevenston in the forenoon for Irvine, and while returning the boat in some unaccountable manner capsized while coming into the pier. All the occupants were thrown into the sea.

The accident occurred about 100 yards from the shore, where the water was deep.

Fortunately some other boats were in the vicinity, and they immediately made for the drowning people. A man set off from the pier, sculling a boat but as he was making too slow progress another man swam out with a second oar, and together they picked up five men and the woman.

The two remaining men were rescued by another boat.

One of the men taken into the first boat, JAMES AGNEW, (40), miner, residing at Ardeer Square, had been in a recent colliery accident and lost an arm. He was recovering from his illness, and the sudden immersion brought about heart failure, and he died on being brought ashore.

The accident caused great excitement among the people on the beach.

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GLASGOW HERALD
16 AUGUST 1924

EXPLOSIVES IN COAL MINES

Mr. E. Shinwell, M.P., the Secretary for Mines, announces that he has recently made an order in pursuance of Section 61 of the Coal Mines Act, 1911, adding the following to the list of permitted explosives to be used in the mines.

CAMBRITE No. 3, Manufactured by Messrs Nobel's Explosives Company (Limited), Ardeer, Ayrshire.

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GLASGOW HERALD
18 AUGUST 1817

BODY RECOVERED

The body of Captain Miller, of the ANNA of Irvine, who was drowned a few days ago off that harbour, as formerly mentioned, was on Monday afternoon, caught off Stevenston.

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GLASGOW HERALD
19 AUGUST 1963

OBITUARY
MR. JAMES MORRISON
FIRST PROVOST OF STEVENSTON

The death occurred at his home in Stevenston, Ayrshire, on Saturday of Mr. James Morrison, the first provost of the town and a well-known figure in Scotland, particularly in bakery trade circles. He was 104.

Mr. Morrison, the son of a master baker, was born in Argyle Street, Glasgow, in 1859. He started his career as a baker in 1870, moving to Stevenston in 1883, and two years later, after his marriage, took over the bakery at which he had been employed as a foreman. The business at Fullarton Place grew to large proportions under the management of Mr. Morrison and his family over the years and remained independent until 1958 when it was sold to Spillers.

Mr. Morrison played a leading part in the efforts made over 50 years to have burgh status conferred on the town and when this was achieved 10 years ago he became the first provost at the age of 94, holding office for three years. On his 96th birthday he became the first freeman of the town.

He was president of the Scottish Association of Master Bakers in 1919-20 and convenor of the association’s benevolent fund committee for more than 40 years. He attended the association’s annual conference regularly until 1961.

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GLASGOW HERALD
20 AUGUST 1932

DEATH OF A WELL-KNOWN STEVENSTON MAN

Mr. Carrick McDonald died at his residence in Stevenston yesterday.

For many years he was chairman of the Health Insurance Committee for the county of Ayr. He was a prominent official in the Loyal Order of Ancient Shepherds, and for over 40 years was secretary of the Crook and Plaid Lodge. He also served as auditor to the district and had the honour of being elected Chief Shepherd.

Mr. McDonald took part in various local organisations including the Parish Council, the Masonic Lodge, and the bowling club.

He was over 70 years of age, and is survived by a grown-up family.

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GLASGOW HERALD
24 AUGUST 1915

STEVENSTON JOINERS’ WAGES

The Arbitration Court appointed to adjudicate on the claim of the Stevenston and district members of the Amalgamated Carpenters’ and Joiners’ Society for an advance of 1d per hour on their present minimum of 10d have decided in favour of the men’s claim, thereby making their minimum 11d per hour.

The new rate is to be retrospective to July 1.

All overtime worked since July 1 is to be paid for at the rate of time and half on the new minimum, and in future the wages are to rise and fall with those in the Glasgow district.

The Arbitration Court consisted of Sheriff A. O. M. Mackenzie, representing the Board of Trade; Mr. D. Colville, Steel Trade Employers’ Association; and Mr. John Hall, general secretary, Boilermakers’ Society.

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GLASGOW HERALD
25 AUGUST 1887

MERCHANTS’ HOLIDAY

Yesterday was observed in Ardrossan, Saltcoats, and Stevenston, by the merchants as a holiday.

Nearly all the shops were closed, as well as the banks, and the three towns had quite a deserted appearance.

The morning was somewhat dull, but the day turned out beautiful, and large numbers took advantage of a trip to Tarbert and Ardrishaig, calling at Tighnabruaich, while cheap trips to Glasgow and elsewhere were largely taken advantage of.

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GLASGOW HERALD
26 AUGUST 1977

MISSING GIRL (14) MAY BE HIDING SAY POLICE

Police searching for a 14-year-old Ayrshire girl who disappeared more than a week ago said yesterday that they believe she may be hiding in or near her home down of Irvine…..Four other people have disappeared within a few-mile radius of Irvine within the past 18 months, but do not believe the cases are connected.

SANDY DAVIDSON, aged three, was last seen playing with his dog near his home at St.Kilda Bank on 13 April last year.

SEAN McNAMARA, aged 8, and ANDREW LOW, aged 6, were next to disappear. They were last seen playing on Stevenston beach on July 30 last year.

On October 9 last year there was the disappearance of PATRICIA BLACK, a 22 year old factory worker from Saltcoats. She was last seen standing at a bus stop in Irvine. Her handbag weighted down with stones, was later recovered from the River Irvine.

Although the police suspect foul place in this case no body was ever found.

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GLASGOW HERALD
29 AUGUST 1913

SUNDAY LABOUR IN AYRSHIRE

A miners’ meeting was held at Stevenston last night to hear the report from the union delegates on the question of Sunday labour in Auchenharvie pit.

Bailie Smith, Kilwinning, presided.

Bailie McKerrel, of Kilmarnock, reported that with regard to an interview which he and Bailie Smith had had that day with Mr. Briggs, manager of Auchenharvie pits, regarding the increase of Sunday labour at the company’s pits. They pointed out that at one pit alone, employing 250 men, there had been 80 working on Sunday last.

Mr. Briggs agreed with them that Sunday labour should be diminished, and said that personally he was in favour of the abolition of Sunday work. In the meantime, owing to the condition of affairs at the pit, he found that it would be impossible to abolish Sunday labour, but he would do all he could to minimise it.

On the recommendation of the committee the meeting agreed to put checkers on at the pits for the next two weeks, and if they found these were men working on Saturday forenoon, Saturday night, and Sunday afternoon they would have the company and the men prosecuted for violating the Mines Act, and if there was not a diminution in the amount of Sunday labour a meeting would be called to decide what steps should be taken to put a stop to it.

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GLASGOW HERALD
31 AUGUST 1917

DEATH ON SERVICE

WYLLIE: Killed in action, on the 24th instant, Captain ROBERT D. WYLLIE, aged 33, Cameron Highlanders, eldest son of John and Mrs. Wyllie, Ardeer, Stevenston, Ayrshire.

[Additional information is contained in the following link:-

http://www.glasgownecropolis.org/profil ... nie-wylie/

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GLASGOW HERALD
9 AUGUST 1930

FOOTBALL
SCOTTISH JUNIOR LEAGUE CUP

The Scottish Junior League Committee last night arranged the first round ties of their Victory Cup, due on or before August 30, as follows:-

Dreghorn Juniors v Ardeer Recreation

GLASGOW HERALD
1 SEPTEMBER 1930

SCOTTISH JUNIOR LEAGUE – VICTORY CUP
1st ROUND

Dreghorn 1-0 Ardeer Recreation