Up in court for breaching blackout rule

Restrictions on lighting were brought in because of air raid fear

A number of people who failed to `put that light out’ found themselves before Stirling Sheriff Court in November, 1939, charged with breach of wartime blackout regulations.

The restrictions on lighting at night were introduced because of fears of air raids and one of the first to fall foul of them was Alexis Gregor Mackenzie wireless retailer, 76 Stirling Road, Causewayhead,

Mr Mackenzie blamed his book-keeper who had carelessly left on a light at his premises at Orpheus Radio in Stirling Arcade. He was fined 10 shillings.

James Brisbane, miner, 26 Robertson Place, St

Ninians, also fined 10 shillings, said light was only showing for a `few seconds’ while a blind was being pulled down. Police said the light had been visible for five minutes.

Mary Docherty or Sinclair, 9 Papermill Cottages, Bridge of Allan, also breached blackout regulations. She claimed her baby was crying, went to see what was wrong and forgot to draw the blind.

David Wyllie, engine driver, 19d Hawthorn Crescent, Stirling was fined a £1 for permitting a light to be seen from his house. Police told the accused’s wife the light from the home had to be obscured. She replied: `I have blinds but you will have to wait `till my man comes home to put them up.’

Helen McLean or Lyons, 18b Weir Street, Stirling, and William Hutchison, Labourer, 14 Atholl Place, Stirling, were each fined £1 or seven days’ jail for lighting offences.

And one of the town’s most prominent citizens of the time also found himself in court.

Bailie Millar and the manageress of Millars’ Rooms, Murray Place, Stirling, were jointly charged with a breach of blackout regulations as result of a employee leaving a light burning in a hut at the rear of the premises.

Solicitor Mr John Robb said tables and chairs were being taken from the hut into the hall for a function. A light was switched on in the hut as it was dark but unfortunately, no-one from the hall could see it had been left on – because of the hall’s blackout equipment.

Bailie Millar and the manageress were admonished.

Meanwhile, at what the Observer described as a `remarkably gaseous’ meeting of Stirling Town Council, it was decided that shops – other than hairdressers, newsagents, tobacconists and confectioners – should close at 6.30pm weekdays and an hour later on Saturdays.

This was law, warned the Observer, and breach of the agreed closing times could result in prosecution.