The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
A life on the railways
I have heard from Graeme Maxwell of Alyth, who has sent in today’s photographs. His father George worked on the railways.
“A native of Glasgow, he joined the Caledonian Railway Co as ticket collector at Neilston (in Renfrewshire on the Glasgow and South Western Railway system) in August 1902,” he says.
“A year later he moved to Barrhead as parcel clerk and assistant booking clerk, spending 15 years there before going to Alyth as a booking clerk, and in February 1921 to Blairgowrie in a similar post for a further 11 years.
“George was next promoted to station master at St Fillans on January 18 1932 and was again promoted to Doune in November 1937. In 1944 he was appointed as station master at Auchterarder and in 1946 returned to Alyth as station master – the last person to hold the post before the line closed.
“My father used to reminisce on days gone by including the days when St Fillans had a reputation for having the finest floral display in the country.
“Two members of the Royal household at Windsor called on him and congratulated him on his magnificent gardens. Queen Wilhelmina of Holland, during a stay in Perthshire to do some painting, also praised him and, as an added honour, asked if he would supply fresh flowers daily for her bedroom.”