Window on the Past

This week's photo: Crowds gathered in Eastside Kirkintilloch to cheer on the troops departing to fight in France in August 1914. The Territorial Force was a volunteer reserve force of the British Army formed primarily for home defence. At the outbreak of the First World War they were not obliged to serve overseas, but many of the soldiers decided did so.
Eastside, Kirkintilloch - troops head for France in August 1914.Eastside, Kirkintilloch - troops head for France in August 1914.
Eastside, Kirkintilloch - troops head for France in August 1914.

Photo courtesy of East Dunbartonshire Archives and Local Studies

20 YEARS AGO

Three brave schoolgirls were praised by post office chiefs after they recovered a stash of cash stolen in a raid.

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Pals Erin Pollock, Samantha Purdom, and Gillian Cheyne - all aged 13 - spotted a bundle of fivers while they were out for a walk at Hogganfield Loch.

And when they called cops they were stunned to find that the cash had been nicked in a robbery at Millerston post office.

Post office chiefs praised Samantha from Moodiesburn, Gillian from Stepps and Erin from Millerston for their honesty.

And they visited Chryston High School to personally thank the girls and give them each a reward of £30.

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A Post Office spokeswoman said: “We are delighted that these girls acted in the way they did and we would like to thank them.

“They are both admirable and honest. The girls are a true credit to themselves and their families.”

Samantha told the Herald: “I actually noticed the money, but at first I thought it was just one £5 note.

“When we realised it was a pile of notes we didn’t know what to do. We were a bit scared that someone might think we had stolen it. We took it to Erin’s mum who called the police.”

15 YEARS AGO

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The chairperson of a community group was calling for a fairer distribution of council cash for leisure facilities throughout East Dunbartonshire.

Tom Lenaghan, chairperson of Campsie Club 2000, said Bishopbriggs, Bearsden and Milngavie were receiving the bulk of council funds, to the detriment of Kirkintilloch and the outlying villages.

He said: “It is evident from the decisions made by the Liberal Democratic Party that the northern sectors of East Dunbartonshire’s leisure facilities are being eliminated one by one.

“In defence they say half-heartedly that they are considering re-building leisure facilities in Kirkintilloch, but once again, what a disappointment to see that no money from the budget has been set aside by the Liberal Democratic Party.The reason behind the proposed closure of the Campsie Recreation Centre is based upon a £60,000 per year subsidy. It costs £400,000 to run the Leisuredrome per year and £750,000 at the Allander.

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“It is now time for all Labour councillors and members of the community to stand up and fight for a fair and just proportion of the money from the leisure budget.”

10 YEARS AGO

Residents in Auchinloch were being let down by public transport it had been claimed.

Olivia Cornacchia had lived in the village for eight years and reckoned public transport links had gone consistently downhill.

The only regular bus was an hourly 72 service from 8am till 6.30pm, Monday to Saturday, but in the evenings and on Sundays, residents had to rely on the East Dunbartonshire Ring ‘n’ Ride service.

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Olivia told the Herald: “A lot of people in Auchinloch have cars because they can’t get around any other way. The transport has been getting worse and worse.

“I don’t like driving and I have chosen not to have a car because there are already so many cars on the road.

“But when I’ve phoned up to complain about the service, SPT has told me to get a car!

“It’s all down to money. I think the people who designed this service never take buses themselves. They think their responsibility is to get more people on a bus. I think their responsibility is to give us a reasonable service for the money we pay.

“Someone has to take notice. Our needs are the same as every other community.”

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