Down Memory Lane

BAIRN’S BAND...Lanimer crowds before the War would have been familiar with the sight of the young musicians pictured, the Smyllum Orphange Band, who were regular participants in the Procession. Like the orphange itself, the band is long gone but this preserved pictorial memory of it comes to us courtesy of collector Charlie Todd of Thankerton. On the back is written only the date 1936 and the band’s name and Charlie is wondering if Gazette readers can fill in some of the gaps? For example, who is the bandmaster/teacher standing at the back of the group? Close inspection of the photo shows that, although orphans, these lads were far from being withdrawn and shy; a few are cheekily sticking their tongues out at the camera. The band was just one of the ways that the orphange played its part in the general community life of Lanark. Many of the lads at the orphanage also joined the former 1st Lanark Scouts, attached to St Mary’s Church, and the assistant scout leader of the 1950s, Frank Gunning, recalls them as being “a bit of a handful!” From the evidence of this picture, you can easily believe it!

50 YEARS AGO

n Miss Elizabeth Frame, of Carluke, won the top award – the Norman Anderson memorial medal – for all-round proficiency at Law Hospital’s annual prizegiving.

n Three workmen were treated for injuries after a scaffolding they were working on collapsed in Carluke. The three men, all from Clydesdale, were treated at Law Hospital.

n Councillor John Thorburn said that rail fares in Clydesdale were uncompetitive and urged British Rail to take action. Mr Thorburn was previously a railwayman.

n The Third District Council was to have nothing to do with the building of Lanark’s new £42,000 swimming pool.

n Somerset Maughan’s new three act comedy The Noble Spaniard was to be performed in the Memorial Hall by Strathclyde Players.

n A total of eight new faces were to take to the stage in Kirkton Church Dramatic Club’s new season.

n The EU Church in Carluke celebrated its 115th anniversary with a social evening. It was opened by Rev Peter McKenzie.

100 YEARS AGO

n Three local women appeared at Lanark Sheriff Court charged with stealing eight stone weight of potatoes from a field at Kildare Farm. They were found guilty and received an admonishment.

n Gazette journalist Andrew Hood was leaving the newspaper for a new job in Broxburn.

n A miner and a labourer appeared at Lanark Sheriff Court charged with poaching at a nearby farm. They were found guilty and were fined 10s each.

n The funeral was held, at St Mary’s Church, of Mr Joseph Monteith JP of Cranlay. Among those in attendance were the current and former Provost and Lord and Lady Newlands.

n A concert was held under the auspices of Law Floral and Horticultural Society in the Wilson Hall with Mr M Richmond presiding.

n A benefit concert was held in Law for a member of the local Tent of Rechabites who was unable to work because of a long period of illness.

n Lanark Celtic faced Coalburn Thistle in the Lanarkshire Juvenile Cup. Celtic won 6-1.