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GLASGOW HERALD
11 May 1903

FATAL ACCIDENT TO THE HON. W. MONTGOMERIE

On Saturday evening a telegram from South Africa was received at Eglinton Castle stating that Lieutenant the Hon. William Montgomerie, of the Scots Greys, second son of the Earl of Eglinton and Winton, had been seriously injured by the breaking of a foil in a fencing match, the blade having entered his abdomen.

An operation, it was added, had been performed, and the patient was lying in a critical condition.

This was followed by a second wire, which reached Eglinton about four o’clock yesterday afternoon, announcing the death of the Hon. William.

The late lieutenant, who had gone through the South African war with his regiment, was a keen athlete and was a general favourite with all whom he came in contact. When staying at the castle, he played regularly with his father’s cricket eleven, and his figure and name were familiar to all who followed the game.

The Earl left last night for London.

Kilmarnock Herald and Ayrshire Gazette
July 13, 1951

Bobby Locke.
What a golfer he was: Won "The Open" four times. And so much more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Locke

Kilmarnock Herald and Ayrshire Gazette
July 20, 1951 (70 years ago today)

Segdoune Queen - Successful Ceremony and Celebrations
In complete contrast to last years torrential rain, the sun blazed in a clear, blue sky for the crowning of the Segdoune Queen celebrations in Kilwinning last Saturday. And the sun brought out the crowds whose summer attire added to the colourful scene at the school playground where the crowning ceremony took place.

Chosen by the popular vote of her fellow pupils at the Higher Grade School 14-year-old Betty Finlayson was radiantly lovely and carried herself with perfect poise as she mounted the rostrum with her attendants for the coronation. Mrs Fleming, wife of Provost Hamilton Fleming performed the crowning ceremony in gracious manner while the attendants played their respective parts with confident sincerity.

Followed the reading of the Queen's proclamation by the Herald (John Bannerman) -
My faithful lieges, the towns folk of the ancient Burgh of Kilwinning. I offer you my most sincere gratitude for such a moving and heart-stirring expression of loyalty as you have shown on this my coronation day.

"It is with pleasure that I have observe your growing and just concern for the traditions of our historical town, the town of St. Winning and the wooden Christian Cross, De Morville and the Abbey of the now almost forgotten craftsmen, the hewers of stone and the wearers of harnish shawls.
".... Given this day at our Court and signed by Queen Betty
"God save the Queen."

(This paragraph relates to the Image below.)
"... to you who have spent many years within sight of our noble ruin..." (Above) The Herald reads the Queen's proclamation with the newly crowned queen and her retinue in the background.
(Right) Radiant Queen Betty smiles happily on the crowd before leaving to place
wreath on the war memorial.

Provost Fleming, Bailie Thomas (convener of the responsible committee) and Provost
Gourlay, of Saltcoats were presented to the Queen, after which amid the cheers of the crowd, the Queen and her retinue left the dias to proceed to the cemetery where the Queen placed a wreath on the war memorial'

The Queen's attendants were Nan Howie, Sadie Bradford, Margaret Kerr, Betty Murray, Maureen Lundie and Violet Reynolds. The guard of honour was of Girl Guides and the Sea Scouts provided the trumpeters. Following the crowning ceremony there was a real gala programme of sports, Highland dances and other entertainments.
Footnote - Her personal charm apart, there is little doubt that Queen Betty's popularity is to great extent attributable to the fact that she is girls sports champion of her school.

Penny Tray wrote: ↑Thu Jul 28, 2016 6:58 am GLASGOW HERALD
28 JULY 1876

BRODICK - NARROW ESCAPE FROM DROWNING

On Wednesday evening, a hawker named - Mrs KENNEDY, belonging to Saltcoats, fell into the water while in the act of stepping into the ROTHESAY CASTLE, which was lying at the pier landing her evening passengers from Ardrossan.

The cook of the steamer, with a line tied round his waist jumped into the sea and caught the woman, and both were taken aboard a boat which the steamer lowered.

Doctors Kelly and Rankin, of Greenock and Kilmarnock respectively, were at hand, who, after applying respiration succeeded in restoring breathing.

GLASGOW HERALD
31 JULY 1876

FATAL TERMINATION OF ACCIDENT

Mrs Kennedy, the hawker, who narrowly escaped drowning at Brodick Pier on Wednesday evening, was brought to Saltcoats on Friday.

After her arrival, however, she gradually sank, and died that same afternoon from the effects of the accident.

GLASGOW HERALD
2 OCTOBER 1848

TWO MEN SHOT NEAR KILBIRNIE

On the night of Sunday last, a person was observed on a tree in the garden of Mr William Lang, farmer, Hartgrove, near Kilbirnie, stealing some fruit.

The same garden having been of late frequently the subject of depredations of the same character, a person had been stationed with a gun to watch it; and as soon as the individual perceived the man on the tree, he immediately fired at him.

Though the latter was, as was afterwards ascertained, severely wounded about the legs, he maintained his position on the tree, and the person watching left the garden.

Two other men, who had been also in the garden with the person shot, immediately conveyed him to Kilbirnie, where he now lies in a precarious condition.

On the same evening, two men having been stationed to watch a field of beans, some distance from Kilbirnie, observed an individual enter the field, but as soon as he saw the two men watching, he made the best of his way out again.

One of the watchers instantly pursued, and threatened, if he did not stop, he would shoot him. The person did not stop, but no sooner had the person watching got within gun-shot than he fired, and the contents of the gun took effect in the back part of his head, his arm, and his leg.

He was conveyed to Dalry, where he now lies severely but not fatally wounded.

GLASGOW HERALD
8 OCTOBER 1823

DEATH

Lately, on her passage from India, Jane, eldest daughter of James Burns, Esquire, youngest son of the Ayrshire poet.

Anybody remember this gentleman?


https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/196 ... asgow-crim…

I never met him but he had a formidable reputation, and was criminally active in Ayrshire in the 1960s.

Penny Tray wrote: ↑Mon Oct 11, 2021 8:55 am I never met him but he had a formidable reputation, and was criminally active in Ayrshire in the 1960s.

He had quite a life PT - dying in Perth Prison serving a sentence after being arrested on a rooftop in Ayr. His Wikipedia entry is worth a three minute read.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Ramensky

Let Ramensky go. This is actually a nice song.

https://youtu.be/tTKMMh9Xk8Q

I find it interesting that amongst the items Ramensky protected in a Glasgow Bank vault included his Commando beret, it brought the following topic to mind: -

https://www.threetowners.net/forum/view ... ilit=beret

GLASGOW HERALD
15 NOVEMBER 1841

LAMLASH OR BAY FAIR

This annual fair was held on Wednesday the 27th ultimo, and, as usual, was in the evening, after sunset, when the only business, horse dealing, commences, a large display of horses, of a peculiar description, (not hunters, racers, or carriage horses), for sale or exchange.

There was no material variation in prices or value since last year.

The custom of holding this fair in the dark is peculiar to Arran; and how, or at what rude period it originated, or was ever countenanced, tradition cannot now inform us. The object was, in old times, to dispose of lame, blind and blemished horses.

There used to be a great gathering from every part of the island, and many jockeys came from the low country. After an ample dose of whisky to brighten the eyes, and sharpen skill and cunning, and darkness commencing, the dealing became a most interesting and amusing matter. Cheating and trick were allowed, and considered quite fair on both sides, and expected; and much ingenuity and diversion were strangely and often laughably, the chief orders of the night.

The established law in the island gives no redress whatever relative to any bargain made at this Bay, or Blind Fair, as it is often called.

Many years have now elapsed since all these scenes regularly took place. People are now getting wiser; and it being fine moonlight at the last fair, the dealings were more rational.

The improvements in the manners and customs of the people at large are more conspicuous within the last twenty years in Arran than in almost any other place in the Kingdom.