Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Your views
Dear Editor, Within the last few weeks a line of parked cars has appeared on the approach to Hilltop Primary School, formerly Dunrobin Primary School.
This means that traffic approaching this line from the Towers Road side have no option but to move into the lane for oncoming cars.
Apart from this obvious danger, children leaving the school on foot cannot see, or be seen by, oncoming cars while crossing there.
Surely there is enough space in the huge car park adjacent to the road, which is empty most of the day, for these cars?
Please do not wait for an accident to happen before admitting that this is dangerous and thoughtless parking.
I have a grandson attending this school and I want to ensure that both he and any drivers are safe from avoidable harm. Name and email address supplied
Think before you speak Dear Editor,
Coatbridge MacGregor Airdrie MSP counterpart are Alex going Neil on and Fulton about his the pay-off Janice Hewitt, the former chief officer of North Lanarkshire Health and Social Care, was given after just four years in the job.
I don’t like it either, but they should look at their own party and the money the health minister, Jeane Freeman, made from quangos; she was even labelled the “queen of the quangos”.
And don’t forget the bankers that walked away with massive pay cheques.
James Farmer, Coatbridge
Writer’ s appeal for help Dear Editor,
I am writing a novel based on the story of the Goatfell murder on Arran in July 1889, for which John Watson Laurie, originally of Coatbridge, was convicted and sentenced; he was initially sentenced to hang but commuted to life imprisonment at the last minute.
Many believed at the time that the verdict should have been not proven.
I have an account of the story, written by Jack House in 1984, as well as the trial papers; but there are obviously huge gaps in the story.
I would like to trace any descendants of Laurie who would be willing to share the family version of the story, if there is such a thing, to compare it with the official records.
If anyone could offer any assistance or advice in trying to contact people who may be able to help, I would be extremely grateful.
Information or contact details can be sent to the Advertiser and they will then forward them on to me. Bill Boyd, Ayr
Cat micro chip ping call Dear Editor,
As the UK’s largest cat charity, Cats Protection marked last month’s National Microchipping Month by renewing our calls for compulsory microchipping of owned cats.
Cats and dogs are both muchloved pets by owners across the UK. Yet currently, microchipping is only compulsory for dogs, and we believe this should also apply to cats, so they have the same level of protection.
Microchipping is a safe, permanent and cost-effective method of identification which ensures cats can be reunited with their owner should they go missing and that lost cats are not mistaken as strays by rehoming charities.
We will continue campaigning on this important issue; and Advertiser readers can keep updated by visiting www.cats.org.uk/microchips-reunite Jacqui Cuff, head of advocacy and government relations, Cats Protection
Search for soldier’ s family Dear Editor,
My name is Iain Walker and I’m writing from New York, USA. As part of family research I am conducting, I am attempting to locate any living relatives of George Nicolson of Glasgow; Mr Nicolson served with my grandfather, Denis Lloyd of Derby, in WWII at which time they were both in 7 Squadron of the Royal Air Force (RAF).
On August 25, 1941, the Stirling bomber they were flying in was shot down over Aach, Germany at which time the entire crew died except for my grandfather Denis who successfully parachuted out.
After several years as a POW and upon the conclusion of the war, Denis lived a long, happy life and passed away in 2006, age 91, in Sandiacre, England.
My parents moved to the USA in 1971 and we used to visit Denis often in England which are some of my very best memories.
My grandfather always credited his survival to practicing how to feel his way around the bomber blindfolded when in between missions.
The reason I am attempting to locate the Nicolson family is to share my research with them.
Unfortunately, I don’t have much information other than he was the son of George and Charlotte Nicolson (nee Stalker) of Glasgow, that he was 27 years old when he died, and that he served as a Sergeant (RAF Service number was possibly 529189).
It appears that George had siblings identified as Thomas, Eva, Jessie, and Lily with possible ties to 45 and 47 Eaglesham Street, Tradeston, Glasgow.
If anyone has any contacts with the Nicolson family, I would be most appreciative if they would contact me at e-mail address stonerlake@gmail.com. Iain Walker, New York