Nostalgia

Here is the Kilsyth Chronicle from the archives.

To view the Cumbernauld News version of our nostalgia pages, see this week’s Cumbernauld News dated Wednesday, June 5.

This week in 2003 -

REVIEW OF TRANSPORT: public transport in Kilsyth was shaping up to be the next campaign for the community council, after a bus service was withdrawn and concerns were raised about the Ring and Ride scheme. The council discussed the possibility of inviting SPT to a future meeting, and even trying to get the health board to help them argue their case for better provision, since Monklands Hospital in Airdrie is one of the places people have difficulty getting to. The discussion arose after it was reported that a member of the public had tried to use the Ring and Ride service to get to Airdrie Sheriff Court, where they were due to do jury service. They were told they could not use the service and others trying to get to Monklands were refused. Councillor Jean Jones told the meeting it was because the Ring and Ride is only for areas not already served by public transport. But she agreed that with the Twechar bus no longer going through Glasgow, the town was not very well served by buses at all. SPT said they withdrew the service but there was a 20 minute link to Kirkintilloch with Glasgow buses available there.

This week in 1993 -

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SWIMMING DECISIONS: councillors picked the spot for Kilsyth’s new £1.5 million swimming pool. The councillors considered five possible sites for the new swimming pool. But they favoured the site across Airdrie Road from the police station, which they believed would give the best profile for the new building. Other sites looked at included adjacent to Garrell Vale CEC, at Burngreen Park and Bogside Park. In a report , officials said because of its high profile, close to the town centre, the external apperance of the building would have to reflect the prime location.

QUEEN LINDSAY: Saturday on this week in 1993 was to be a special day for a 12-year-old Queenzieburn girl Lindsay Muir. For Lindsay, of Anderson Crescent, was due to be crowned Village Gala Queen as the highlight of the day of fun and games in the local village. The crowing ceremony was to be carried out by Mrs Elizabeth Machray and there was plenty of attractions at the gala day. Lindsay was pictured in the Kilsyth Chronicle with her retunue Robert Haughey (6); Nicola Haughey (8); Jamie McGuire, Kimberley Kennedy (5) and Graham Surgeon (5).

This week in 1953 -

VILLAGE CELEBRATES: Kilsyth and the surrounding villages celebrated the Queen’s coronation. In Twechar, the coronation committee went in for a full-day programme. It opened with the television show of the crowing ceremony in the Institute with the old age pensioners given preference. In the afternoon, there was a sports programme for the school children and adults. In the evening, there was the conclusion of the bowling tournament and four hours of free dancing in the Institute, and also the Constitutional Hall. At night, there was a bonfire at Quarry field, a fireworks display and open-air dancing. The feeling in Kilsyth was somewhat sombre during the event, or until the evening. Our reports states, “It was all-quiet on the Kilsyth front until evening. The streets were so hushed that when two people met they were inclined to talk in whispers., such was the atmosphere of quietude. Everywhere in halls, and in homes, people joined in the magnificent solemnity of the occassion. There was ample opportunity for people to view the pomp and splendour through the medium of that modern marvel, television.”

This week in 1923 -

BOY INJURED: the Chronicle reports of a pony attack. The report said: “When a little boy named James Gibson was standing near a pony, attached to a light lorry in Stirling Road, Kilsyth, the animal caught him, by the stomach. The pony’s teeth penetrated a couple of jerseys and the underclothing and inflicted a cut on the boy’s stomach. He had to be medically attended.”

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WINNING-BAND: Kilsyth was to be visited by the famous Wingate Temperance Brass Band.

The band were due to come to Scotland for a fortnight in June and Kilsyth was to have an evening programme, which would include trombone and euphonium solos by the champions bros, Moss and the brilliant cornetist Master E Farrington. The band had been winners of over £13,000 in prizes besides trophies and medals. The report in the KIlsyth Chronicle also states, “It may interest readers to know that this band is almost composed of miners and is entirely self-supporting. They are recognised as most dangerous opponents at the premier contests in Britain.”