120th Anniversary
Famous faces over the years
ONE of the most “well-kent” faces in Kirkintilloch at the time when the Herald was first launched, was probably Petticoat Dan.
'Petticoat Dan' Cooper (1835-1913) is usually regarded as Kirkintilloch's most famous worthy, but he wasn't really a worthy at all, in the normal sense of the world.
He was, in fact, mentally handicapped, yet he fulfiled a worthwhile and dignified economic role in Ihe community.
His handicap did not inhibit him from attaining a virtual monopoly of the right to stack newly-delivered coal for housewives. This monopoly was jealously guarded. If he arrived on the scene to find another person undertaking his customary task he would immediately embark on a tirade of abuse against his
rival's technique.
Housewives who had disappointed him often had to listen to his offended comments:
The late Mr Isaac Black was at pains to point out that some of the clever comments attributed to Dan must have been apocryphal. Dan just didn't have the wit. On the other hand he sometimes managed an appropriate remark for the occasion.
Mr Black remembered that when he was working at the old Waterloo Inn, at Hillhead Bridge, he once offered Dan a free "schooner" of beer if he would drink it quickly so that no-one would see him. Dan quickly downed the glass and retorted "Naebody'll see it noo!"
It was unknown for Dan to buy himself a glass of beer, or anything else for that matter. He had no idea of the value of money.
He took his hard-earned pennies straight home to Kirsty Caven, the lady who looked after him, in the Beehive Close, Townhead.
WAGER
His obituary in the Kirkint-illoch Herald of February 1913 included: “Kirkintilloch streetscape has lost its most interesting feature in the death of Petticoat Dan, which occurred in the house in which he lodged in Shamrock Street last Wednesday afternoon.
“Dan was born nearly 78 years ago, and lost both his parents while still young. It is told of his father that he hopped on one foot from one end of Kirkintilloch to the other for a wager , and won it. His grandfather, old Danny Cooper was an original and much of his wit has come down to posterity.
“"Petticoat" for two generations filled the role of the "village natural", but his distinguishing character was his dress, necessitated by a physical infirmity.
“He dressed in a man's tweed jacket, a woman's skirt of course blue material, reaching down to his heels, and a rough packsheet apron.
“A visit to Kirkintilloch by an outsider was always memorable of perchance Dan was met on the street, and many who have visited the town by the Queen steamers remember Kirkintilloch by little else. Dan though "not all there", was a quiet, inoffensive creature, sorely tried by the roughish children of place. On occasion he was known to turn on his tormentors, and. in the strongest language tell them what he thought of them.
“Dan first saw the light in Union Street in what was known as Martin Square. He was a normally healthy child for the first two years described by one as "as gallant a wean as ever was in a mother's arms".
CURIOSITY
“It was an attack of rheumatic fever when he was two years of age that left him mentally and physically infirm. He never attended school, being unable to take advantage of what educational facilities were then going.
“While a lad he frequented the Millhead basin where he was a great favourite with boatmen especially those of the "London Traders", sailing craft which in those days were familiar on the waters of the canal. These he
delighted by dancing, and then the bonnet was passed around, and Dan was rewarded for his entertainment.
“Dan showed a great liking for church and other religious meetings, and attended the Auld Licht Church with exemplary regularity, in sunshine and shower, frost and snow. An attempt was once made to accustom Dan to trousers, as a a Sabbath dress, but it had to be abandoned.
“For years he has had a weakly allowance from the parish council, who also supplied his clothing.
“Dan was only once out of the district in his long life, and that was when a local carrier took him on his lorry on day to Glasgow.
“He declared it was "an awfu' braw toon," but the curiosity of the denizens led to the obstruction of traffic, A crowd gathered round the lorry, and stared open eyed at the man in petticoats, till the friendly carrier had to put him out of sight at his quarters till he was ready to return to Kirkintilloch.
“His last illness was of four weeks duration. It was really a case of senile debility. He had decided objections to the doctor sounding 'him, and imagined that he was to be the subject of an operation. He 'appealed for protection against "the doctor cuttin' any mair oot o' him". A week before his death a fatal termination of his illness was seen to be inevitable.”
“He was such a citizen as all had reason to admire, and one whose memory would ever be honoured by the people of Kirkintilloch.” |
The Herald's "biographical notice" shortly after his death in 1899, which said he was "laid aside with an attack of jaundice", spoke of the contributions he made to the town.
The article said: ""Not since the death of ex-Provost Downie has so prominent a personality in the public life of Kirkintilloch been removed by the Grim Reaper...
"...the news of his death came with startling suddenness and was received everywhere with sincere expressions of regret, ... the community had lost one of its most valuable citizens."
Mr Cameron owned the Southbank Ironworks and was a local politician for 27 years, up until his death, becoming provost in 1880.
During his 19-year reign, Provost Cameron was involved in the building of a new reservoir, the paving of the main streets of Kirkintilloch, the purchase of the gas works by the burgh and was a major instigator in the formation of the sewage works.
He was also on the School Board, a Justice of the Peace, a published historian, an elder in St David's Parish Church and a member of the General Assembly.
One convener in the Burgh, David Dow, said: "He has done more than any other single living individual to bring Kirkintilloch into line with the advancement of the age."
It was not only in his political capacity that Mr Cameron contributed to the prosperity of Kirkintilloch. He and his partner John Robertson re-opened the Southbank Ironworks in 1868.
The works were founded by Alex Smith in 1861 but when he died only five years later, the business was stopped for two years due to a dispute over its valuation.
Under the two Johns, the business flourished until1890 when Mr Cameron took sole charge. On his death, the works had been extended further and employed 500 workers. His two sons John Cameron Jnr and T.P. Cameron took over the management.
Provost Cameron and his family, his two sons, his wife and five daughters lived in Meiklehill House. He was a keen gardener and his gardens were widely admired.
He took a particular interest in educational matters, and was a something of an antiquarian and archaeologist.
A lecture on calico printing, delivered to a Campsie audience, was afterwards published in pamphlet form and a succeeding lecture on Campsie affairs led to the issue of “The Parish of Campsie” which had a considerable circulation.
His huge obituary in the Kirkintilloch Herald of December 1899 listed his many achievements and interests, and his long and faithful service to the community. His funeral drew the largest crowds to have passed through the Kirkintilloch streets, according to the Herald, and saw the closure for the day of the Southbank Iron Works and all the burgh schools.
HONOUR
The obituary went on: “He was for years an amateur grower of rare ability and since his acquisition of Meiklehill House, his garden was a sight well worth going a long distance to see. When the pansy craze was at its height in 1879 he was one of the founders of the West of Scotland Pansy Association. He was also an active member and office-bearer of Kirkintilloch Horticultural Society, being at the time of his death the president. He might also be classed as an amateur of no mean order.”
And the same issue of the Herald carried a report of a tribute paid to Mr Cameron by Bailie Service, who described him as “for a very long series of years one of the most prominent citizens of the burgh - for well nigh thirty years a Commissioner of the burgh, and still held that position, and during that time he had filled all the positions of honour, being both magistrate and Provost of the town.
“In all these years he was often at the head and always at the front in all matters promoted for the welfare and prosperity of the place and all schemes, whether of public or private benevolence, found in him a ready and willing lead. His heart was in Kirkintilloch and he stood up and advocated for all movements which he thought were for the advancement of the town. He was a large and well liked employer of labour, and the high position he raised himself to was the fruits of his own energy, ability and force of character.
“He was such a citizen as all had reason to admire, and one whose memory would ever be honoured by the people of Kirkintilloch. He was a citizen whose place would be difficult to fill and one whose loss would be felt by all classes.”
Tom Johnston |
Tom Johnston commanded the whole-hearted respect of his political opponents, colleagues in the Labour movement and everyone
associated with public affairs in
Scotland.
Born in Kirkintilloch in 1882, Johnston was educated at Lairdsland Public School, Lenzie Academy and the University of Glasgow.
He had some commercial experience but soon went into the newspaper business and realised an ambition of his early years by
founding the weekly Socialist journal. Forward., which became one of the strongest
influences for Socialism in Scotland.
Only the outbreak of war in 1939 made him continue in active politics for longer than he had intended, but he declined his Cabinet Minister's salary of £5.000 a year during 1941-45.
FREEDOM
And he proved to be an outstandingly successful Secretary of State, described as “vigorous, forthright, but always practical. The case for Scotland never went by default while he sat in the Cabinet.”
In 1945 he refused the peerage that was offered him to continue a parliamentary career, and became chairman of the Scottish
National Forestry Commissioners. The following April he began his major task of the postwar years when he became chairman of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board. In these later years he received many marks of honour, among them the freedom of Edinburgh.
He served for some years on Kirkintilloch town council and inaugurated various practical experiments in Socialism, including the foundation of the first Scottish municipal bank. When in 1931 he rose to be Lord Privy Seal, Kirkintilloch made him its first freeman.
Johnston, who died in September 1965 at the age of 83, was married and had two daughters.
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