Eventful start to MP’s parliamentary career

William Baxter, the newly-elected Labour MP for Stirling West, had a checkered start to his Parliamentary career, the Observer of late 1959 reported.

Mr Baxter first fainted during his maiden speech and days later was involved in an aeroplane scare near London Airport.

The MP been a conscientious objector in World War Two and worked as a building contractor and farmer.

He served as a councillor before he was elected MP for Stirling West at the General Election of October 1959, which resulted in a third consecutive victory for the Conservative Party led by Harold Macmillan .

But it was while making his maiden speech in the House of Commons that he collapsed.

The Observer said: `He was talking about paper mills in his constituency when suddenly he turned pale and swayed.’

Labour colleague and MP for

Greenock Dr J Dickson Mabon went to his assistance and another MP passed him a glass of water.

After few moments, he turned and said; “I am very sorry Mr Speaker. I will have to crave your indulgence.” And he sat down.

Dr Mabon said later: “The trouble was he had not eaten for about six hours. He had been sitting in the House for four and a half hours and was naturally a bit wound up about making his maiden speech, He is perfectly alright now.”

A few days after that he was one of four Scots MPs in a Viscount aircraft which around noon came close to colliding with an RAF plane during the approach to London Airport.

The MPs said the RAF appeared `out of the mist’ and dived below the Viscount. It was was so close they could see its pilot and guns.

`There could have been a ghastly accident and 53 people could have been killed,’ said the paper.

Following the incident three of the MPs tabled questions to Mr Duncan Sandys, Minister of Aviation, demanding an inquiry.

Mr Baxter remained MP for Stirling West until he stood down at the 1974 October General Election.

By that time he had fallen out with his constituency Labour Party having he appeared on television calling for an allparty government of national unity and suggesting the Duke of Edinburgh could chair its meetings.

Top team St Modan’s High football eleven featured in the Observer of December, 1959. Looking formidable are (back row, left) D Duncan, D Murray, J Kelly, F Stafford, A McDade, and R Hughes, and front (left) E Harvey, H Connor, J McGuire, M Sweeney and G Colleti

All smiles The St Modan’s hockey team for 1959 were (back row, left) B Bradley, E Norrie, C O’Donnell, C McQuade, M McLaughlin, and E McGuigan, and front (left) S McCann, M Gallagher, M Craig, H Fallance and A Higgins