40 YEARS AGO

About 400 women went on strike at the Laird Portch factory over a wage claim. The women claimed that there were a number of unskilled male workers being paid higher wages. The strikers formed a picket line outside the factory shop at Nerston Industrial Estate.

Everyone was expected to be in the birthday spirit for the town’s 30th birthday celebrations and to help everyone get into the birthday party mood, a new whisky was blended called “The spirit of East Kilbride”.

And a special whisky tasting session had been organised at the development corporation’s headquarters with over 40 industrialists from the town and beyond taking part and enjoying a dram.