The Society's exhibition on significant personalities buried in Kirkintilloch's Old Aisle Cemetery opened on Saturday morning, 9th September. This was part of its contribution to East Dunbartonshire Doors Open Day and will be available for viewing until Saturday, 16th September.
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The William Patrick Library with the Doors Open Day banner. (© I.S.Ruddock) |
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Part of the Antiquaries exhibition in the William Patrick Library. (© I.S.Ruddock) |
In the afternoon of Doors Open Day, a guided walk was led by the Antiquaries around a selection of the graves featured in the exhibition, with the assistance of Alistair Strang, a Commonwealth War Graves Commission volunteer guide, who described the work of the Commission and gave brief biographies of some of the First and Second World War casualties buried in the cemetery. To finish off the tour, Kirkintilloch photographer and entrepreneur, Edward Z Smith, entertained the large group of participants by outlining the history of the 'Spider Bridge' which previously crossed the southern end of the Old Aisle Cemetery. This wrought iron bridge was part of a right of way from Waterside to Lenzie station, and was the result of the campaign by John Ferguson (also in the exhibition) in 1885, but was demolished in 1987 and not replaced.
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| The participants in the guided walk in the Old Aisle Cemetery hearing about the history of the site and the belfry. (© I.S.Ruddock) |
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| The group at the monument to Father James Bonnyman, the first Roman Catholic priest appointed to Kirkintilloch for an extended period and who was responsible for the building of St Ninian's. (© I.S.Ruddock) |
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| Photographer Edward Z Smith, an enthusiast for the much lamented 'Spider Bridge', giving the story of its construction and demolition. (© I.S.Ruddock) |
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| Alistair Strang, representing the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, describing its work and the backgrounds of some of the casualties buried in the Old Aisle Cemetery. (© I.S.Ruddock) |
