Original February 1920 issue of Colville’s Magazine – Glengarnock Gleanings section. Includes a feature on long-serving employee Charles Logan, local football and welfare league activity, and a report on athlete David M. Parker. Fully transcribed and preserved below – original scan is above, including a picture of Charles Logan.
People Mentioned in This Issue
The following individuals are named in this February 1920 issue of Colville’s Magazine, reflecting members of the local workforce, sporting community, and wider industrial life:
- Mr. Charles Logan (included in picture)
- David M. Parker
- A. Roddie
- Jack Bray
- J. M’Ivor
- D. Craig
- D. Clifford
- W. Welsh
- J. M‘Kie
- J. Carley
To have celebrated one’s Diamond Jubilee as an employee of a concern is a record of which one is justly entitled to be proud. Such is the record worthily held by Mr. Charles Logan, the oldest employee at Glengarnock.
Mr. Logan was born in Kilbirnie on 11th August, 1849, and entered the employment of Messrs. Merry & Cuninghame at No. 28 Pit three days after reaching his tenth birthday. He passed through the various stages of a miner’s life until, at the age of 17, he became a fireman at No. 32 Pit. A year later he commenced his life-work as an engineman at No. 11, later spending ten years as engineman at Mossend Pit, and afterwards passing to No. 6, where he was engaged when the Pit ceased working. This migration to the Iron Works seemed to follow as a matter of course; and here the writer found him at his post as engineman on No. 2 Hoist Engine, Blast Furnaces.
Of a quiet, cheerful nature, Mr. Logan is blessed with remarkably good health and gives evidence of being “gey teuch.” In his youth he was never absent from his work; and to-day one sees in him a most active, careful, and capable gentleman in the best sense of the word, and one for whom his fellow-workers show the greatest regard.
In comparing the working conditions in his early days with those now existing, Mr. Logan has no hesitation in awarding the palm to the present time, with its increased wages, shorter working hours, and generally improved conditions for workers. As a boy he only earned a few pence a day, and had to work very long hours—miners then worked a 12 hours’ day; while as an engineman his wage was only 2s. 10d. a shift.
The good wishes of his fellow-workmen are proffered to Mr. Logan, with the sincere hope that he may long be amongst them.
With extreme regret we chronicle the departure of one of our most promising young athletes, David M. Parker, who has recently left us to take up a lucrative position in the United States. He proved himself to be a sterling runner over the half-mile and one mile distances, and we predict for him many successes in the land of his adoption.
Davie began his racing career in 1917, when at the early age of 16 he captured the half-mile off 24 yards mark at the Red Cross Sports held at Celtic Park. In 1918 he was winner of the one mile Ayrshire Championship, the half-mile at Ibrox and at Celtic Sports, and the half and one mile at the Scottish Inter-Works Sports. He also had the distinction of being chosen to represent Scotland in the Allied International Sports in 1918, and was the first Scotsman home in the half-mile.
These successes he followed up last season by winning the mile at Ibrox in the fast time of 4 min. 26 secs., and again winning the half-mile at Celtic Park.
In the Scottish Inter-Works Sports he won from scratch for the second year, the half and one mile—his clubmate, A. Roddie, running second in both events and materially contributing towards winning the Championship for us. Davie made his last appearance at Lochwinnoch, where he won the half-mile in 1 min. 58 secs. from scratch. In all, he has a total of 32 prizes, almost all of which are firsts.
Our best wishes for his success in his new sphere!
Our Boys’ Welfare Football Team met a team from Simons & Co., Renfrew, at Kersland Park, on 24th January, in the first round of the Prince Albert Cup Competition.
At half-time Glengarnock were leading by two points, scored by Jack Bray and J. M’Ivor respectively. A hard game followed in the second half, during which Renfrew secured a goal; but D. Craig added another point for Glengarnock, who thus gained the victory by 3 goals to 1.
The visitors played a good game, but lacked the experience of the home team, who were on the top of their form and intent on maintaining their unbroken record for the season.
In the second round of the Prince Albert Cup Competition Glengarnock are drawn to meet Howden’s (Scotland Street), or Beardmore’s Dalmuir Engineering Department, the tie to be played on our opponents’ ground on or before February 28th.
In the Stevenson and District Welfare League trial game, played at Ardrossan on 31st January, for the purpose of choosing a team to play an Inter-League match with a Lanarkshire League, Glengarnock were represented by D. Clifford, W. Welsh, J. M‘Kie, and Jack Bray—who was, however, unfortunately prevented from turning out by illness.
In the final team as chosen, Jack Bray, centre half; D. Clifford, right half; and J. Carley, goal, have been given places, with W. Welsh, outside right, as reserve.
Only lack of playing accommodation has retarded the formation of a large number of football teams here. There is a splendidly keen spirit abroad, and adversity has only succeeded in stimulating enthusiasm and healthy rivalry amongst the lads for the honour of representing the Works.
A room at “The Cottage” is being utilised for training purposes, and members meet there at 7 o’clock on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Boxing, Running, Baths, etc., are enthusiastically indulged in by a good number of lads who are regular in their attendance. An invitation is extended to any lad who wishes to take up this healthy and sane form of spending a pleasant evening.
Scene — Somewhere in our Works.
Returned Warrior, putting in his first day’s work, is sent by foreman to measure a plate.
Foreman: “What size do you make that plate?”
Returned Warrior: “It’s the length of your rule, and two thumbs over, with this piece of brick and the breadth of me hand and me arm from here to here, bar a finger, so it is!”
Discover more from Kilbirnie, Local History and Cultural Things
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.