Great grandson IDs mystery policeman

IT’S a case of mystery solved at the Glasgow Police Museum following a recent story in The Extra.
Rebecca and Christina hand their finds into the Glasgow Police MuseumRebecca and Christina hand their finds into the Glasgow Police Museum
Rebecca and Christina hand their finds into the Glasgow Police Museum

The story featured the Andrew-Ponsonby family, from Shawlands, who discovered photos of an early 20th century policeman in their loft.

Led by sisters Rebecca (6) and Christina (4), the family handed the pictures — one of the man in uniform, and another with his family — into the Police Museum, launching an appeal for information.

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The mystery man’s name has since been revealed as lieutenant John Maclean — courtesy of his great grandson Stuart Bass, from Clarkston.

He explained: “I was browsing the Extra when the pictures caught my eye.

“The policeman was familiar but when I looked at the family photo, I knew my Grampa straight away.

“I was surprised and delighted — it all fell into place when I read they had been found on Woodstock Avenue.”

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Father-of-four Stuart had inherited the photos from his great aunts in 1994, but misplaced them in 2004 while moving house.

He continued: “I had been looking for the photos recently in our loft, as I wanted to show my older son Michael the pictures of Grampa — to point out a close resemblance. I hadn’t given up hope that they were buried somewhere, and didn’t even know they were lost.”

Stuart is able to confirm that John Maclean died at his house, also in Clarkston, before Stuart was born — and that his son James (Stuart’s grandfather) went on to become a police inspector too.

Mr Bass has since contacted Alastair Dinsmor, who runs the Police Museum, to help with further research.

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He added: “The family are all proud that the picture will be on display at the museum.”

Louise Andrew, Brian Ponsonby and daughters Rebecca and Christina (and 19-month-old Charlotte) are delighted to see the mystery solved.

Louise told The Extra: “I thought they were lovely photos and probably meant a great deal to whoever had left them behind.

“It’s great that Stuart has found them again and his great grandfather’s career will now be featured at the Police Museum.”