Record-breaking pit man retires (84)

Cowie man Alex Lyon was starting a well-earned retirement in December, 1949, after setting a record probably unequalled in the mining industry.

Mr Lyon was in his 84th year and had completed more than 70 years as a colliery worker.

`Old Sandy’, as he was popularly known in his home town of Lanark, started work at the age of 13 as a `Billy Boy’ at the Blantyre Collieries of William Dixon Ltd. He became head `weigher’ at the same group of collieries for whom he worked for 14 years. He transferred to Bardykes Colliery, also in the Blantyre area, and remained there for 11 years until the pit closed.

He was transferred from there to Logans Colliery, North Motherwell, and spells at Cadder Collieries and Blantyre’s Craighead Colliery completed his first 30 years in the industry.

In February, 1909, Mr Lyon was appointed surface foreman at Bannockburn Colliery, Cowie, where he worked for 41 years until his retiral.

Mr Lyon was, said the Observer, well known and highly respected in the district.

`He has seen Bannockburn Colliery and Cowie grow from very small beginnings,’ said the Observer.

He was for a time deacon in Cowie Church and in his time he was connected with almost every organisation which existed for the benefit of the community.

He had two sons working in Bannockburn Colliery and a daughter employed in the colliery office at Plean. He also had two other married daughters. Mr Lyon’s wife had died some years earlier.

`We join with Sandy’s many friends in and out of the industry in wishing him much happiness in his well earned retirement,’ said the Observer.