Club News
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Blairgowrie Civic Trust On Wednesday, October 25, chairman Meg Luckins welcomed 27 members and introduced the speaker Mark Nixon who gave an illustrated talk on the 1884 Reform Agitation in Perthshire, including the Blairgowrie and Rattray area. Mark is an independent historian with an interest in museums and was able to give a lively account of the political upheavels in the 19th century, which went largely unpublicised but, thanks to the press of the time and museum records,revealed a vigorous political campaign by the population to improve on the very meagre reforms of the 1832 Great Reform Act which gave the vote to almost all members of the middle classes, and introduced a uniform £10 franchise in the boroughs. The Act had been initiated by the Tory government who were keen to retain it fearing a popular backlash to the Liberals if the vote was to be extended. In 1884, under Gladstone, the Liberal-led parliament voted to extend the right to vote to rural and mining areas but a Tory dominated House of Lords blocked the vote,leading to national political unrest. Throughout the country large demonstrations involving all walks of life gathered together to demonstrate their pro-government and anti House of Lords views. In Scotland some 200 demonstrations took place with some 60-70,000 protesting in Glasgow and smaller groups throughout towns and villages. Scotland had larger numbers of demonstrators per size of population than in England and, even in Blairgowrie, there was a sizeable contingent of mill workers taking part. Artisans were very well organised in the 18th century and each town and village had representation in the local trades and through this organisation news was spread very quickly to all members. Medallions were produced in huge numbers representing Gladstone’s portrait on one face and the individual trade on the other and were purchased as a ticket to join the demonstration. A small perforation near the rim enabled them to be worn like medals, representing the organisation, and they were even attached to musical instruments and weapons. Large scale working factory models appeared on wagons appearing to denigrate the House of Lords and the parades would attract large numbers of supporters and march through the streets. The Blairgowrie contingent marched around the town ending up in Reform Street where speeches took place. The effect of the multiple demonstrations got the message through to the House of Lords who, fearing riots, caved in and passed the legislation. Following the successful outcome there were more peaceful parades to present banners, medallions etc, to museums as a record of the events and 1884 certainly saw some improvement to the extent of adult male suffrage but full adult suffrage, including women, did not come until 1928. Museums have a large collection of press reports, cartoons, banners and paraphernalia, as well as the first press photographs to appear, to record the events in that eventful year. This interesting and very informative meeting concluded with a vote of thanks by John Dow. Blairgowrie District Hillwalking Club Sunday dawned bright with the promise of fine weather in the hills as the coach left Blairgowrie at 7.30am and headed east towards the Tarfside Hills. Sixteen members plus two guests were dropped off near Millden Lodge to start their walk ; there were 15 walkers who would complete the A walk and five who completed the A/B walk. Both groups headed north beside the Burn of Turret, over the eastern flanks of Allrey and walking over Wester Cairn before reaching their objective, Mount Battock - at 778 metres the most easterly of the Corbetts. The A group then headed for Bennygray and Mount Een before descending to Tarfside and the waiting coach. The B group followed the same route to Mount Battock then after a diversion to the north they returned to Wester Cairn and back to the start where the walkers were picked up by the coach. Although the hills covered were of the rounded lump variety the views from the top of Mount Battock were extensive in all directions. There were a few isolated squally showers but generally the weather held and the day was enjoyed by all. Wildlife spotted included a lot of red grouse, rabbits, mountain hares in various stages of summer/ winter coats, and a heron. A harris hawk was also spotted in an aviary belonging to the local gamekeeper. Surprisingly not a single red deer was seen. The club’s next walk will be to Ben Tirran on Sunday, November 19. Log on to the club’s website for more details at www.bdhc.org.uk. Blairgowrie and Rattray Access Network (BRAN) Now that growth has slowed it is time to start tidying up side and overhead growth and, for some areas, to strim or cut this season’s broom growth. On Friday, October 27, seven volunteers set about trimming back woody growth on the popular Gallowbank path from its junction with Newton Street through to Dunkeld Road. At the same time the grass was given its final cut of the year and nettles at the town end were strimmed. The party consisted of Cyril Reid, Alasdair Shaw, Richard Townsend, John Edwards, Dave Stanghon, Roger Mackey and Ian Richards. Although the group’s work will slow over the winter, BRAN always welcomes new members, anyone interested is asked to contact the secretary. Ian Richards, on email ian_richards2007@yahoo. com or telephone 01250 871122 or 07787 317022. Blairgowrie Probus Club President, Ian Conroy, welcomed 49 members to the meeting held in the Angus Hotel on Wednesday, October 25. A special welcome was extended to three guests, Charles Lacaille, Alex Easton and Robin Bryce. Following the usual club reports the president introduced the speaker, one of the club’s own members, Andy Lang to give his presentation on ‘William Murdoch Third Man’. William Murdoch was a Scottish engineer and inventor, born in Ayrshire, who lived from 1754 to 1839. His interest started at the age of 10 when he, along with his father, built a ‘wooden horse on wheels’ which was propelled by hand cranks. His career started when he walked some 300 miles from his Ayrshire home to Birmingham to get a job with Boulton and Watt. During his interview he was seen to have a wooden hat, and on enquiry, he was able to explain that he had developed a lathe and had made his hat on his own lathe - he got the job! One of his first jobs was to erect an engine at the Wanlockhead lead mine in the Scot- tish Borders. He was later responsible for the invention of the oscillating cylinder steam engine and also for gas lighting. He spent much of his career with Birmingham-based Boulton and Watt, and during his employment Murdoch spent many years living in Redruth in Cornwall, and was involved with engineering equipment in the tin and lead mines in the area. He also invented a ‘vacuum tube delivering cylinder’, and this equipment was used in many of the larger departmental shops and stores up to the late 1940s and early ‘50s whereby on a customer making a purchase the cash would be placed in the tubular system and would literally speed through the tube to the cashier in another part of the store. The money would be checked, and any change due, along with a receipt would be returned by the vacuum cylinder to the point of sale to complete the purchase. Murdoch was not always given due credit for his inventions, hence his title ‘Third Man’. He had various disputes with his employers and was eventually dismissed in 1830 which more or less brought an end to his career. Following a number of questions from members Peter McQueen proposed the vote of thanks to the speaker. The president closed the meeting by reminding members that the next meeting will be on November 8 when the speaker will be Jim Smith who will give a presentation on ‘The Life and Work of Joseph Lee’. Western Front Association The next meeting of the WFA’s Tayside branch takes place this Saturday, November 4 at 2.30pm when Simon Justice will speak on the subject of the British army reorganisation of February 1918. Simon will explore the reasons why, in the face of an expected major German attack on the Western Front, the British chose to implement a reorganisation of its fighting divisions. The loss of three complete battalions from each division and the relocation of battalions to different formations seriously disrupted the British Expeditionary Force’s structure. Simon is an independent scholar and author based in Oxfordshire and has previously written about the army re-organisation and about Haig and the Cavalry Corps. The meeting will be held in the Glasite Hall, King Street, Dundee, and is open to all with an interest in the First World War. Further details can be obtained from Mike Taylor on 01821 650292 or from the branch website at www.wfatayside.co.uk which also has details of the future programme.