1969(Part 2)

Mr Donald Stuart, the very popular assistant minister, had been in Castlemilk West for almost five years. Born in Hutchesontown, Mr Stuart had spent a good part of his life abroad. After completing his training as a missionary, he spent six years in Africa, preaching the Gospel and opening mission stations. During the war he had been a chaplain with the Merchant Navy, and at the end of hostilities he travelled extensively in Europe, the United States and Canada, as Director of the European Missionary Crusade.



Miss Lesley Crichton of Glenacre Terrace, a Sunday School teacher, graduated M.A. from Glasgow University. Miss Ena Thomson of Downcraig Drive, Captain of 74B Girls' Brigade graduated B.A. from Strathclyde University. Miss Mary Duff of Castlemilk Drive, a teacher in the Junior Bible Class, Miss Margaret Edwards of Castlemilk Drive, a teacher in the Sunday School, and Miss Margaret Findlay of Glenacre Terrace all gained their Teacher's Diploma from Jordanhill College.


Miss Sandra Dane and Miss Edna Steele, both of Dougrie Road and both members of Castlemilk West gained their Residential Child Care Certificate.


Miss Morag Erskine, S.R.N.,S.C.M., of Arnprior Road, formerly a Staff Nurse at Stobhill Hospital was studying at St Colm's College, Edinburgh, in preparation for undertaking nursing work in one of the African countries. In St Colm's she joined Miss Jacqueline Petrie, also from Castlemilk West, who was training as a Deaconess.

The new Swimming Baths in Castlemilk Drive opened its doors in the summer, and adults and children alike rushed to take part in the activity.

As a result of a petition to the General Assembly by three young members of a congregation in Arbroath, an appeal was made to every member of the Church of Scotland to give one day's pay, on St Andrew's Day, towards Christian Aid. The gifts were to be a token that Christians were seriously concerned about, and were actively engaged in, the problem of World Poverty. The amount raised was £207,000, and just over £174 in Castlemilk West.



Many mums and dads accepted the Education Authority's invitation to come back to school for an evening during Education Week.


Mr J. Richardson, a young man in the congregation, who had had a horrific motorbike accident and was left so critically ill that the neurosurgeon said that there was nothing they could do for him, recovered after 29 days in a coma. Through this crisis in his life he found God.

Miss Mairi Dick of Croftfoot Road emigrated to America at the beginning of July. Mairi had been a Sunday School teacher for a number of years and had been Captain of 74B Company of the Girls' Brigade. In October, she became Mrs Robb when she married Mr Peter Edward Robb of Hawaii, at Norfolk Naval Base, Virginia. Her sister, Joyce travelled from Glasgow for the occasion. Mairi was intending to live in Los Angeles. Miss Ena Thomson of Downcraig Drive took over the captaincy from Mairi.



From the 10th – 24thAugust 96 members of Glasgow Arts Centre toured Denmark, under the direction of Mr Ian Turpie, Principal Teacher of Music at Glenwood Secondary, who had started the organisation. They gave eleven concerts, involving two choirs, an orchestra and a drama section, and recorded a programme for Danish radio with soloists who were members of Castlemilk West. One of the Junior branches of the Arts Centre met in Castlemilk Community Centre on Saturday mornings.


On 2nd November, Messrs. James Gold of Glenacre Drive, John Mathieson of Farne Drive and Thomas Wotherspoon of Birgidale Avenue were ordained and admitted to the Kirk Session, and Mr Robert Millar of Glenacre Quad. was admitted to the Kirk Session.


A former leader of the Girls' Brigade Mrs James Watson (Miss Janette McClue) gave birth to twin boys, Timothy and Peter, in Ajmer, Rajasthan, India. Janette, a member of Croftfoot U.F. Church came to assist with the 74A Guildry Company in 1956, and when she left to get married in 1965 she had been Guardian for about seven years. Janette and Jim, with son Paul, were engaged in missionary work under the auspices of “Operation Mobilisation”.


At the end of November, Mr John Robertson of Dunagoil Road died. Born in 1899 in Oatlands, he served with the 15th H.L.I. in World War 1, and in 1926 he became an elder in Wellfield Church, Springburn. For a number of years he worked in the South Side Carters' Mission Sunday School. In the early days of Castlemilk West he became an elder and was convener of the Benevolent Fund. He was an active member of Croftfoot Bowling Club, President of Castleton O.A.P. Association, Treasurer of the Foresters' Friendly Society and a member of the Masonic Lodge.


In early December the church was broken into and among other things a valuable tape recorder, used to relay hymns over the broadcasting system on a Sunday, was stolen. A few days after the break-in a donation of £25 was received from Rev. T.B. Girdwood of Shawlands Cross Church, the church that had given the tape-recorder in the first place. It was remarked that before the last war a break-in in a church would have been unheard of.


Mr John Rennie of Ardencraig Road died on the 15th December, although he had been on duty at the church only a week before his death. Born in 1890 Mr Rennie served with the armed forces during World War 1. He was first ordained as an elder in 1940 in St Margaret's Church, Oatlands, and was admitted to the Kirk Session in Castlemilk West in December 1957. In the young church in Castlemilk a man of his experience and knowledge was a great asset. Mr Rennie served as Secretary of the Rechabite Friendly Society for 20 years, and he was a founder member and office-bearer for 11 years in Castlemilk Masonic Lodge. As Benevolent Treasurer he visited hospitals and sick members.