Memory Lane

40 YEARS AGO

The‘soot’saga at the National Engineering Laboratory continued and the matter was taken up by EK MP, Dr Maurice Miller. Another 30 to 40 employees claimed they had the paintwork of their cars damaged by soot from the establishment’s boiler house chimney. The previous year over 100 employees signed a list saying their cars had been damaged.

Residents in Mount Cameron Drive North were treated to some home grown entertainment. Children in the area got together to produce a variety show jam-packed with song, dance and comedy acts. They staged the extravaganza in the middle of Mount Cameron Drive North between the two rows of houses.

Ratepayers in East Kilbride were almost certain to be hit with a rates increase because of a cut in the government’s rate support grant. Services were set to be cut back as well.

30 YEARS AGO

A multi-million pound retail park looked set to be built on the outskirts of East Kilbride. The development corporation put forward their plans for the project which were welcomed by both the district council and Strathclyde Regional Council. And if the proposals were approved first by the corporation board then the Scottish Secretary, officials could have started work at the beginning of the following year.

Olympic Champion Steve Ovett fired the starting gun which sent youngsters on their way round a new athletics track at Whitemoss on a 4x4 100m relay. And when Katie Jackson broke the tape at the end of the lap, the track was open and ready for a select international athletics match.

Gateway in EK was tapping into the school market by offering local pupils at schools the chance of two years paid work experience and training while they were still carrying out their studies.

20 YEARS AGO

Council tenants living in high-rise tower blocks were battling to remove a collection of mobile phone masts from their rooftops. Lister Tower’s fight was revealed as anxiety mounted over the dozens of transmitters erected across East Kilbride.

EK Jobcentre was the best in Scotland – and that was official. For the employment service at the Plaza won office of the month. It beat off stiff competition from employment service units from across the country.

Local politicians expressed contrasting views about a new traffic monitoring scheme. Sharp-eyed motorists may have noticed the appearance of blue poles on the Kingsway. Once operational, they would be among some of the 297 sensor stations monitoring traffic . The infra-red cameras would record part of car number plates.

Pupils give cash boost Duncanrig High School’s sponsored walk which they undertook in aid of Hairmyres Hospital raised £2000. The school’s rector, David Cook, was pictured handing over the cheque to Hairmyres depute administrator Craig Cunningham, while pupils looked on. The money was used to buy reclining chairs in the medical wards of the hospital.

It wasn’t that long ago that he graduated from the Scottish Parliament , so Andy Kerr was the ideal man to be at Ballerup nursery . The local MSP was on hand to make the presentation as youngsters graduated from the nursery at the end of term. And it was a case of keep on smiling through for young Rebecca Hill and Matthew Maxwell, both five, who received their scrolls. Youngsters are bright sparks