Red Wheel at Southbank Marina Unveiled by the Provost and Don Martin MBE

On Wednesday 13th May, the National Transport Trust Red Wheel at Southbank Marina was formally "unveiled" by the Provost, Gillian Renwick and Don Martin MBE f the Antiquaries. The Red Wheel scheme is run by the National Transport Trust and is designed to commemorate sites of national transport heritage in the UK. The Wheel at Southbank Marina marks the northern terminus of the Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway, the first modern public railway in Scotland, with the Forth and Clyde Canal at Kirkintilloch Basin. The railway was opened in 1826 to enable coal, iron and other products from the mines and foundries of the Airdrie and Coatbridge area to be taken to the Canal for transport to markets elsewhere in Central Scotland and was a major step forward in the Industrial Revolution in Scotland. The first train on the line ran from Gartsherrie to Kirkintilloch in May 1826, so the bicentenary of the opening was a good time to unveil the Red Wheel.

The unveiling was attended by the Provost, Gillian Renwick, Council Leader Gordan Low, Don Martin MBE and other office bearers from the Antiquaries, John Cameron CBE, the Vice-President of the National Transport Trust and other office bearers, representatives from Scottish Canals and railway enthusiasts from the Monklands area and Kirkintilloch. Further details are available on the East Dunbartonshire Council website here. Photos of the ceremony are shown below.

Photos courtesy of East Dunbartonshire Council and Ruth Ruddock

Presentation to Don Martin at AGM

The Annual General Meeting was held in the Park Centre on Thursday 23rd April. Before the start of the AGM, Mrs Susan Murray, MP for Mid-Dunbartonshire, made a presentation to Don Martin. Mrs Murray had put down an Early Day Motion in Parliament noting the 200th anniversary of the Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway and its importance as the first modern railway in Scotland, following the model of the Stockton and Darlington the previous year. In her Statement to Parliament, Mrs Murray highlighted the role of Don Martin in drawing attention to the anniversary and its importance. She presented Don with a copy of the Statement and stated that Don was a huge asset to the Kirkintilloch Community through his lifelong work spreading knowledge of the area’s history through talks and publishing numerous books. The Statement was warmly applauded by the members and greatly appreciated by Don.

The exhibition in the Auld Kirk Museum on the Monkland and Kirkintilloch and its contribution to the development of Kirkintilloch is open until 20th May, and the National Transport Trust Red Wheel at Southbank Marina will be formally unveiled by Don and the Provost on 13th May.

Photo courtesy of Ruth Ruddock

The AGM was well-attended and received reports from the President, Secretary, Research Group and Treasurer. The Society's funds are in good health and the subscription will remain at £10 for 2026-27. Dr David Graham stood down as President and was succeeded by the Vice President, Ms Louise Nixon. Dr Murray Reid became Vice President and Mr Alan Gifford took over as Secretary. Mr David Gow remains the Treasurer. There are a number of vacancies for ordinary members on the committee and anyone interested should contact one of the officers or drop an email to kdsantiquaries@gmail.com. 

The AGM was followed by a talk by Dr Murray Reid on "What lies beneath: the geology of Strathkelvin".