Public talk for Local History Month, Wednesday 19th March at 2pm in the Park Centre: Developing Lenzie by Design: Alexander Thomson, Robert Turnbull and their lasting impact.

As part of Local History Month 2025, the Kirkintilloch and District Society of Antiquaries will host a public lecture in the Park Centre, 45 Kerr Street, Kirkintilloch, G66 1LF on Wednesday 19th March at 2pm on ‘Alexander “Greek” Thomson’ by Dominic d’Angelo, Chair of the Alexander Thomson Society. Dominic will discuss the work of Alexander 'Greek’ Thomson with particular reference to his early coastal villas at Cove and Kilcreggan, and his late designs and posthumous work used in developing Dullatur and Lenzie carried out by his last partner, Robert Turnbull, and architect successor, the (unrelated) David Thomson.

Dominic d’Angelo was for many years Secretary of The Alexander Thomson Society and became Chair in 2023. He currently produces weekly free-to-view articles on aspects of Alexander Thomson’s life and work at https://greekthomson.substack.com. 

 

Warwick Croft, 10 Heriot Road, Lenzie. 

(http://canmore.org.uk/collection/1844546) 

Heritage Centre and Exhibition at the Town Hall, Tuesday 11th March, 2pm

We have arranged a visit to the Heritage Centre and Exhibition at Kirkintilloch Town Hall in Union Street on Tuesday 11th March at 2pm. We need to confirm the expected numbers in advance, so if you would like to attend, please drop an email to kdsantiquaries@gmail.com giving the names of everyone who will be coming by noon on Monday 10th March.

Assemble at 1.55pm in the foyer of the Centre where we will be met by Jenifer Binnie, principal curator, who will give the group a guided tour of the various cultural, heritage and industrial exhibitions on display. The tour will last about 60 minutes at the end of which it is hoped that there will be additional time to consider the displays including that of Edward Smith and Don Martin.

Symington and the Charlotte Dundas by Don Martin MBE. Thursday 6th March at 7:30pm in the Park Centre

 Our next meeting will be on Thursday 6th March at 7:30pm in the Park Centre, when Don Martin MBE will give a talk on "Symington and the Charlotte Dundas". Don Martin has been a member of Kirkintilloch Society of Antiquaries for half a century, serving as an office-bearer for much of the time. He has researched many aspects of Kirkintilloch history and written several books on the subject, as well as providing many talks for the Antiquaries. At present he is carrying out further research into the Monkland & Kirkintilloch Railway, the 200th anniversary of which will take place in 2026.

Closely related to public railway history is the history of steam navigation, especially on rivers and canals. Don Martin will explain how the trials by William Symington of the Charlotte Dundas on the Forth & Clyde Canal, especially in 1803, effectively demonstrated the vessel as "the world's first practical steamboat". In this way, the people of Kirkintilloch witnessed significant early advances in mechanical navigation, as well as hosting a significant early railway.

Members' Night: Theme "A precious thing". Thursday 20th February, 7:30pm.

 Our next meeting will be in the Park Centre on Thursday 20th February at 7:30pm. The theme for Members' Night this year is "a precious thing", and five speakers will give short presentations on this topic. The themes are designed to be as broad as possible, hopefully leading to wide range of interpretations. How will this year's speakers develop this theme? Come along next Thursday and find out. 

City of Glasgow Police - 175 Years of History by Alastair Dinsmor MBE. Thursday 6th February, 7:30pm

The presentation ‘City of Glasgow Police – 175 Years of History’ encapsulates the founding and development of the UK’s first police force in 1779 and the subsequent granting of The Glasgow Police Act 1800 by King George III. The progress from the early days with innovation and enthusiastic political support brought many changes to the force as it absorbed surrounding burghs as the City grew.  The activities of the detectives in dealing with landmark criminal cases and the development of their investigative skills and procedures enhanced their reputation both locally and nationally.  The 20th century brought increasing demands which were tackled with thoroughness and both World Wars demanded a high level of planning and co-ordination.  The force continued its service to the City until 15 May 1975 when it became part of Strathclyde Police.

Photo courtesy of Alastair Dinsmor

Alastair Dinsmor joined the Renfrew and Bute constabulary as a Police Cadet in 1965 and in 1968 was appointed Constable. In 1969 he transferred into the City of Glasgow Police and served in the south side of the City. In 1975 Strathclyde Police was formed and he was promoted to Sergeant in 1977 and Inspector in 1986. Alastair retired from Strathclyde Police with rank of Inspector in 1998. He established the Glasgow Police Heritage Society in 1999, and we opened the Glasgow Police Museum in 2002. The award-winning museum is in Glasgow city centre and attracts 12,000 visitors per year. In 2016 Alastair received an MBE for services to Police Heritage.

The Auchengeich Mining Disaster by Hugh Gaffney. Thursday 9th January at 7:30pm in the Park Centre

 The Auchengeich disaster was Scotland’s worst mining disaster post war, which happened in the early hours of Friday the 18th September 1959, with a fire which killed 47 men who were on a death train heading deep inside Auchengeich Pit. Hugh will ask if this accident could have been avoided?

Hugh will look back at the history of Auchengeich Pit, from the village Bridgend created for the working miners through to the community of Moodiesburn. He will ask what happened to the children who today they have never forgotten their fathers, and describe a memorial service to these men, which was created from striking miners. For the first time we will see some faces of the 47 miners of Auchengeich. We learn about some of the men’s lives outside mining, we will hear from the children, whose father, brother, son have gone but they have never been forgotten.

Memorial to the Auchengeich Miners, Moodiesburn (Photo by J M Reid)

Hugh is a passionate trade union representative who believes in justice for workers. He has been an active trade union representative with the Communications Workers Union (CWU) for 35 years and was an active trade union Secretary in the North Lanarkshire Trade Union Council.  In 2017 he was a local District Councillor for Thorniewood Ward in North Lanarkshire Council and in the same year became a Labour Member of Parliament for Coatbridge Chryston and Bellshill. He remains an active trade union representative as the Scottish Political Secretary for the Communications Workers Union and at the present time is writing the history of the Auchengeich Miners Disaster.