Milton view Well done, Blantyre
Dear Editor, Over the weekend Blantyre saw a plethora of social activities, including High Blantyre Church Gala Day, the Raymond Gormley Football Tournament organised by Blantyre Soccer Academy and an 80s party and fun day organised by Blantyre Community Group.
Lots of people worked very hard to make these events work. Special mention to Billy Gilmour, Kevin O’neil and Paul Veverka. Well done, Blantyre. Unfortunately I have been ill and could not attend but the reports I have received are that the weekend was a tremendous success.
My family, friends and colleagues who were there said the events were fantastic.
Councillor Bert Thomson Dear Editor, I wonder if anyomne can help in my quest to find relatives for my relation in Vancouver, Canada. Her family name was Mcguiness and her grandmother Rosina married my relative Henry Thompson in 1899 and emigrated to Vancouver in 1913.
The Thompsons came to Hamilton from Lurgan in Ireland in the late 1800s. They stayed in Church Street before moving to Barrack Street.
The Mcguiness family also came from Ireland and lived at Castle Street in Hamilton. Rosina’s brother William had a son called James Joseph, who was born in Belfast in 1919 and was the only Northern Ireland (ictoria Cross medal winner in WW2. There has been a book written about him (called ‘Magennis’). Perhaps this may jolt someone’s memory.
Rosina’s mum was Mary Toner. Her dad was William Mcguiness, who was a tailor in Hamilton.
My relation Carol in Canada has lots of pictures of the Mcguiness family but no names and is hoping someone can help.
As for my own family, the Thompsons from Church Street and Barrack Street, I would love to hear from any relatives, especially family of Margaret Baillie who lived at Kelvin Gardens in Hamilton.
Peggy Mowbray, who emigrated to Australia, was my dad James Thompson’s cousin as well as Margaret Baillie’s. Peggy told me Margaret had lots of family pictures and stories.
Carol, the relative from Canada, sent me a letter which had been sent from Margaret Fairley (Margaret Baillie’s mum) to Rosina and Henry in Canada.
If anyone can pick up on my letter I would be delighted to hear from them. Please email janettewilliamson47@gmail.com or phone 07927 048539.
Janette Williamson (Thompson) via email