120th Anniversary
Town’s “Last Orders” lasts 48 years
LAST ORDERS were called for the final time in the bars and taverns throughout the Kirkintilloch area in 1920 . . . and it would be almost 50 years before the restrictions were lifted.
Shortly after 10pm on November 3, 1920 it was announced by the town clerk that just over 50 per cent of residents had voted in a poll to go without the demon drink.
A massive crowd had flocked to the town hall to hear the declaration and Union Street was blocked off.
At the time the Kirkintilloch Herald reported: ''The counting of the votes took a little longer than expected and it was not until 10.25pm that Provost Gibson appeared at the door of the hall and announced the result as follows: No change 1385, Limitation 33, No Licence 2032.''
The announcement and the success of the 'No Licence' proposal was met with great applause.
The Kirkintilloch Herald claimed the division between the two camps was 'very strong.'
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The report continued: ''The Temperance Party submitted an appealing poster with a map of Kirkintilloch and a number of children on it, who asked that the doctor should 'Make Scotland Safe For Us.
''The Publicans Party made much of the 'wet' vote in British Columbia and New South Wales, and asked the voter to 'Follow the play'.''
Restrictions on alcohol began as early as 1828, when Sunday sales were prohibited.
And the culmination of this process was the vote which took place in 1920, resulting in Kirkintilloch becoming a dry town until 1968.
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