Rutherglen Reformer

New book sets the record straight with memories of a vibrant community

- JONATHAN GEDDES

From memories of disappoint­ment at a pageant to tales of Whitlawbur­n Thistle, a new book is celebratin­g life in Cambuslang’s last council scheme.

Not Miss Whitlawbur­n is the work of local writer Janice K Ross, and follows on from her 2016 book Voices Galore.

It presents an oral history of life in Whitlawbur­n through the words of people who grew up in the community, which was the last council scheme to be built in Cambuslang in the early 1970s.

Janice, who now lives in the Halfway area but grew up in Aron Terrace, said that she wanted her new work to capture memories of the area before they were lost forever.

She said: “My dad Robert has dementia now and there are so many stories he has told about his life that are gone now.

“It’s important that we don’t lose those stories and that history, and for Whitlawbur­n I wanted a social history of the area, told by the people themselves.

“The West Whitlawbur­n housing co-op had published a document about East and West Whitlawbur­n, and the East was presented as being a dump in it.

“I wanted to counter that, because my memories are that it was a really vibrant new community. I wanted to capture the vibrancy, the people that shaped it and the beauty that was there for everyone. “

One thing that stands out to Janice the most is that there was a strong sense of community in the fledgling scheme.

She added: “There were play schemes, things like the Miss Whitlawbur­n contest, which I lost one year and which gives the book its title, and I wanted people to remember that aspect.

“We might be considered ‘schemie’ trash by some, but we have a story to tell.”

Over a number of years Janice spoke to numerous residents, past and present, about their memories of the region.

That means the book has a wide historical scope, with some participan­ts fondly rememberin­g puppet shows being held in the scheme during the school summer holidays, while others recall growing up playing in the open spaces, taking newspaper delivery rounds to earn pocket money, and even the excitement caused by the opening of Asda in the area.

Throughout it all Janice hopes that the book reflects what life in Whitlawbur­n was like.

She added: “If you’re writing a community narrative, then that’s everyone’s story, not just yours, and what it has hopefully done is awaken memories that may have laid dormant.

“Talking to other people reminded me of things about my own family, because someone would say something and it would bring something back I’d forgotten about myself – I hope people who read the book have that reaction too.

“I feel like I’ve said this was a great life growing up and I hope people get the feeling that this was a community working together to do what they could for everyone.”

There is a further family touch running through the book, as illustrati­ons are provided by Janice’s daughter, Maddie, and she admits to feeling a sense of personal satisfacti­on that the book is now released.

She explained: “I’d really wanted it done a few years ago, but it hadn’t come together.

“Then I got a phone call from Jim Nisbet, who grew up in Maxton Terrace but now lives over in Donegal.

“He had heard me talking about it through Camglen Radio, and offered to help transcribe the interviews.”

And she added: “The enthusiasm he had was a real boost to me and inspired me to get it finished, and I’m really pleased to have it released now.”

More informatio­n on the book can be found via its publisher at https:// twinlawpub­lishing.co.uk

It’s important that we don’t lose those stories and that history, and for Whitlawbur­n I wanted a social history of the area, told by the people themselves Janice Ross

 ??  ?? Memories The book tells the history of Whitlawbur­n
Read all about it Janice Ross with Geraldine McGaulley, who contribute­d to the book
Memories The book tells the history of Whitlawbur­n Read all about it Janice Ross with Geraldine McGaulley, who contribute­d to the book
 ??  ?? Fully booked Janice with her new book Not Miss Whitlawbur­n
Fully booked Janice with her new book Not Miss Whitlawbur­n

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