Down Memory Lane

HIGHWID HOTSHOTS: Longtime Gazette reader from Forth Margaret Campbell has kindly shared with us this rare image of a village football team which has long since disappeared. In fact, so has their village! They are the members of what is thought to be a pre-World War One squad of the famous – some say infamous – Haywood Wanderers, better know as `The Highwid’. Margaret recalls the Gazette mentioning the team some time ago and that stirred many memories, her late dad having been a team member at one time. Indeed, her father’s uncle is one of the players pictured here. Margaret bases her dating of the photo on family knowledge, stating: “Althoyugh I’m not sure of the exact timescale, it could be before 1914 as the uncle survived World War One but was injured during it.” Haywood Wanderers once had a fiercesome reputation, often referred to as the Dirtiest Team in Scotland because of it foul-rate; it is also reputed to be the Scottish junior team with the longest-ever unbeaten run, stretching over several seasons! The final whistle blew for the team many years ago as the village declined and eventully disappeared altogether with the closure of the local pits.

50 YEARS AGO

n Miss Ann Baxter, 15 Lancaster Road, Auchenheath, and Mr Joe Docherty, 15 Moor Road, Cartland, were pictured smiling happily after their wedding at St Mary’s Church, Lanark.

n The Association for the Preservation of Rural Scotland appealed to farmers to empty their sheep dip into holes as far away from a river or stream as possible, as sheep dip was deadly poison to fish.

n For the first time a husband and wife would sit on the bench of the same sheriff court. Mrs Anne Gillies, wife of Sheriff MG Gillies, who had prosecuted mass murderer Peter Manuel, was installed Lanark Sheriff Court honorary sheriff substitute of her husband’s court.

n School attendance officers in Lanarkshire asked the county education authority to consider putting them on a salary above school janitors.

n Douglas pianist Brenda Cumming (13) won a talent contest at Butlin’s holiday camp in Ayr.

n Forth Wanderers would start the new football season with a playing squad of 14.

n Carluke Rovers re-signed ace player Tommy McKinstray.

100 YEARS AGO

n Forty members of Lanark’s Catch-My-Pal movement rambled to Bonnington Estate, permission kindly having been granted by Mrs Finlay.

n Lanark Fire Brigade extinguished a blaze on peat moss at the side of a road in Douglas, between Auldton Heights and the Star Inn, which had been smouldering for a week.

n A Lanark labourer pleaded guilty at the Burgh Court to having behaved in a drunk and disorderly manner, by shouting, swearing and challenging to fight in Lanark High Street on Saturday night. He was fined 10s with the alternative of seven days’ imprisonment.

n Carluke Milton Rovers A and B teams drew 1-1 in a match at Whitehill Park. R Paton scored in the first half for the A team and W Angus equalised late in the second half.

n Law Cricket Club won by four runs in a match at Carfin, triumphing by 38 runs to 34.

n To mark the opening of Forth’s new waterworks, Forth Brass Band delighted young and old with three hours of music in Braehead.