First class anniversay meeting

The Ayrshire Philatelic Society recently celebrated its 80th anniversary.

Last week, to mark the occasion, the group had an illustrated talk on Ayrshire Mining history by Andrew Dick.

Andrew started his talk by showing, with actual lamps, the development of miners’ lamps, from the early tallow lamp, through the carbide lamp and the Davy lamp to the modern electric helmet lamp. We were then taken on an illustrated journey round the more notable colliery sites including Barony A frame, the Knockshinnock disaster at New Cumnock, Connell Park, the lost villages of Patna, Kames, Glenbuck and Muirkirk.

During the tour, they spoke of Keir Hardie at Cumnock, the Duke of Portland’s Laigh Milton viaduct, and the story of Andrew Fisher of Crosshouse who, having been blacklisted, went to Australia where he became Prime Minister.

Other interesting topics included the role of the mining companies’ stores, the lives of the pit ponies and the road- building of John Loudon McAdam.

The talk was followed by a buffet supper and then an informative question and answer session, helped by the fact that a number of our members have a mining background.

The next Ayrshire Philatelic Society meeting will be held at Prestwick Community Cent re at 7.30pm on Friday, November 2 and will be displays provided by committee members.

Further details can be obtained from David Rossall at davidrossall@ sky. com