Dutch pilgrimage to Rankinston
Back to say final farewell
The last permanent link of a family to its village home has been marked by a Dutch pilgrimage.
Isa Hamilton lived in Rankinston for a whisker short of nine decades.
And when her only child, daughter Margaret, married and emigrated to Holland, visits back home were to be cherished.
Three generations of Isa’s Dutch family returned one last time earlier this month to inter Isa’s ashes in the Hamilton grave at Coylton.
The matriarch died 26 hours before her 90th birthday.
She was born on January 24 1927 and died on January 22 this year.
Isa was a big character and great neighbour in the village’s main Kerse Terrace and had taken on the tenancy from her parents.
Her granddaughter Gwen van Eijden said: “My mum left Ayrshire years ago after she met my dad and moved to live with him in Holland.
“Over the years we’ve spent many summer holidays in Ayrshire. We even made the local news just under 40 years ago when we were on holiday in Rankinston.”
Gwen added: “We needed to say a final goodbye to Rankinston.
“With the passing of my gran we’ve lost the last connection.”
While that physical connection has been lost, Isa’s daughter Margaret was keen to bring her own grandchildren over to see the family roots in Rankinston.
Hairdresser Margaret left as a 23- yearold to marry her naval engineer sweetheart Jan and went to live in the Dutch town of Hilversum.
The Ayrshire Post was invited to take a last snap of the entire Dutch contingent outside Isa’s old home.
And a little piece of Holland will forever be in Rankinston.
The tulips in her pristine front garden are direct from Amsterdam.
Her younger brother Lawrence Hamilton, now of Mauchline, said plenty of the wider family are still in the area.
He recalled: “She did move out of Rankinston for a while as a companion to the widow of Dr Bryden, who she used to keep house for.
“While in Alloway she rose to become assistant matron at the Church of Scotland’s Broomfield House.”
Margaret ( Hamilton) van Eijden is pictured front centre surrounded by her children, grandchildren and husband.
Extreme left, middle row Gwen ( daughter).
Extreme left back row Hans ( son), beside him is Hans senior ( Margaret’s husband) and to his right and slightly behind is Barbara ( daughter)