1972(Part 2)

Thanks went to Mr John Smith who organised the Senior Citizens' Social and to Rev. James Millar and Mr Donald Stuart and the car drivers in the congregation who provided transport, after the last social of the session.

Those who donated flowers for the church on Sundays, Mrs Gibbons the Flower Convener for her tasteful arrangements and help with the distribution, and members of the Guild who delivered the flowers, were all thanked for their work.


Miss Alison Todd of Glenacre Drive graduated B.A. from Stirling University and went on to do a further year at Edinburgh University. Miss Kathleen Doherty of Raithburn Road, and Miss Lesley Jones of Downcraig Drive, both Sunday School teachers, gained teaching qualifications from Jordanhill College. Miss Christine Davidson of Glenacre Terrace and Mrs Isabel Dunlop of East Kilbride gained teaching Diplomas from Hamilton College of Education. Mrs Dunlop (Isabel Wright) was a member of the first ever Congregational Committee in Castlemilk West and was also Leader of 74A Company of the Girls' Brigade, before marrying and moving to East Kilbride.

The new deaconess, Miss Marion Browning took up her post at the beginning of September. After graduating M.A. from Glasgow University, she did a further year's study at Dundee University where she obtained a Diploma in Social Science. She then took a post with the Corporation of Glasgow as a Social Worker, which she did for almost two years, and then went to St Colm's College, Edinburgh to become a deaconess.

Like many other places, Castlemilk had experienced a tremendous turnover of population during the last few years and literally thousands of those who, seventeen or eighteen years previously had flocked enthusiastically to a new home, and a new life in Castlemilk had now decided that their future lay elsewhere. At the same time there had been a great influx of new families, many with young children, into Castlemilk. A welcome was extended to all new families, adding that the church would be contacting them in the near future. All parents were urged to have a church connection and especially the parents of those children baptised in the church.



At all services on the 24th September, Rev. James Millar paid tribute to and thanked the retiring Church Officer, Mr Sidney Powell who had given ten years of dedicated service. He hoped that Mr Powell would continue to worship in the church and take an active part in its life. He was presented with a token gift in recognition of his long and faithful service. During his ten years, having taken over from Mr George Shearer, who had done the job for four years in an exemplary manner, Sid had maintained the church and halls in first class condition. Always approachable, he had shown tact and unlimited patience in many trying situations and had been ready to lend a hand cheerfully. A recently ordained elder, Mr Jack Brier, a Yorkshire man of Ardencraig Road took over from Mr Powell.


Because of a shortage of helpers to bring older members of the congregation to church an appeal went out to car owners to volunteer their services.


On Sunday, 10th September a group of adults, including Mr Stuart, went up to Dundee to be present at the commissioning of Miss Jackie Petrie as a deaconess, now that she had completed her probationary year. As the members of the Dundee Presbytery entered, Jackie could be seen in the midst, “wearing grey suit and hat, and looking positively radiant! Quite a feat in a Deaconess' outfit!” After “a very moving service” there was tea in the main hall of the church at Mains of Fintry. It was clear that Jackie was already having an influence on the people among whom she was working, as she had done in Castlemilk West.


Another moving letter came from Morag in Malawi to Mr John Smith, the secretary of the Livingstonia Committee, where she thanked the group and told the story of a father and mother each with a child on their back, who had arrived, having walked eight miles to reach them. “Neither child wore any clothes and both had severe broncho-pneumonia as a complication of measles. Within 15 minutes of admission, the younger of the two children died.” The next morning the older child was dressed in clothes which had been sent from Castlemilk, and there were tears in the father's eyes when he saw her. She also said that there would be no more emergency nocturnal operations by candlelight, as their own generator had at long last arrived.


Back in Castlemilk Glenwood School Council suggested a Sponsored Swim, and with one hundred and eighteen boys and girls from Glenwood and a large number from Arnprior, Castleton, Braeside and Netherton Primary Schools taking part. A total of £143 from Glenwood was raised and £92 from the Primaries. A cheque for £235 was received by the Rev. James Millar at the Prize-giving from Carol McPhee. Morag said that the money would be used to lay a new floor in the female ward, to provide a ceiling, which there wasn't, and to redecorate the walls.


A cheque for £120, which included the Walk money and the proceeds from a musical evening, was also sent off.


Mr Alistair Angus, who had been leader in charge of the Junior Section of the Boys' Brigade, and with whom he would continue to work, took over the captaincy of the Company. The Company Show in May had proved a great success, and it was said that the programme had “more variety than a Bernard Delfont production” and “the sketches would have brought a smile even to Clement Freud's face”. The football team proved themselves the best in Cathcart by winning the C.O.B.A. Cup, beating the 16th Glasgow Company from Croftfoot by 5 goals to 1. The camp in Great Yarmouth was enjoyed by all.


After the Harvest Thanksgiving Services over 300 gifts were taken to the sick and elderly in the congregation and parish.


The Congregational Board sent a donation of £50 to the Fire Service Benevolent Fund, following the tragic Kilbirnie Street fire in which seven firemen lost their lives.


On the 19th June Rev. James Millar and Mrs Millar celebrated their 25th Wedding Anniversary, and Mr John McKechnie, the Session Clerk, on behalf of the Kirk Session, presented them with a mantel clock.


An anonymous donor, who, having visited the church, and been unable to get a visitor's hymn book, gave a donation of £5 to purchase some additional copies.


The theme for the Woman's Guild for the session was “Freedom and Responsibility”.


Robert Kernohan (41) was appointed Editor of “Life and Work”, the monthly magazine of the Church of Scotland. A keen churchman, Mr Kernohan was the first professional journalist for nearly 40 years to hold the post. Educated at Whitehill School, Glasgow University and Balliol College, Oxford, he was successively chief leader writer, assistant editor, and London editor of the Glasgow Herald. From 1967 to 1971 he held a political appointment but resigned this post to return to full-time journalism. He was an elder in Cramond Kirk, Edinburgh, and a member of Edinburgh Presbytery. Copies of Life and Work were available at the church magazine stall, price 5p.


Two colleagues of Morag Erskine from the David Gordon Hospital in Livingstonia, the Rev. and Mrs Campbell were home on furlough and visited Castlemilk West. Mr Campbell, from Belfast, thanked the congregation for their generous help and explained graphically the conditions for the people of Livingstonia.


360 gifts were distributed to senior citizens and needy families in the parish in the week before Christmas.


Despite the departure of a goodly number of old friends during 1972 the Crusader Box had received £116.33p over the year which was an increase of nearly £9 over the previous year. £10 was received from Mr John Lawrence, the former Session Clerk, and his wife, in the U.S.A., £3 of which was for the Crusader. Many of those who helped with the distribution of the Crusader after “Impact '69” had now given up and were encouraged to offer again as their help was really needed.