Army under fire and death of Banjo Man

There was indignation among parishioners of the former North Church in Murray Place, Stirling, over the state in which their church hall had been left by the Army.

It was discovered the `military man in charge of the church hall’ had painted the edges of its windows, doorposts and lintel with a thick coating of whitewash. A story in the church’s magazine, read: `If the decoration is of the species known as Irish lime – and we are told it is – then goodbye to the near prospect of our being allowed to forget the war. The Army Service Corp have left their mark on the hall both inside and outside. The man in charge must have ample leisure when he has time to perpetrate such an outrage on a church hall.’

*** Stirling was 100 years ago mourning the death of one of the most familiar figures on its streets. The town’s `Banjo Man’ collapsed in St Mary’s Wynd and died a few minutes later of heart failure. Banjo Man’s name was Thomas Johnston, from Lerwick, and he was thought to have been 60 when he died. The street entertainer, who lived in Bow Street , was formerly a member of what the Observer called `professional negro minstrel troupes’ who toured the country. However, the rise of the music halls `drove them out of popular favour’ and Banjo Man Thomas used his musical instrument to become a street performer. The paper said: `Settling in Stirling over 20 years ago, he devoted himself to making regular rounds of the suburbs singing negro melodies and accompanying himself on a