Window on the Past

This week’s photo: Local people turn out in their droves for a right royal celebration. The occasion was the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. Flags and bunting were in evidence to support the new Queen, who was only 25 when she took to the throne .

January 11, 1995

Furious traders blasted Scrooge property owners for selling them short.

Kirkintilloch shopkeepers claimed they were left counting the cost after English 
companies moved in to the town’s shops three weeks before Christmas to make a “quick killing.”

They called on commercial property owners to support Kirkintilloch businesses.

One Cowgate trader said at the time: “These owners allow these companies to move in for three weeks. They make a quick killing and take off, leaving the shops looking very unattractive.

“We, meanwhile, are here 52 weeks of the year.

“We should safeguard businesses.”

January 9, 1985

About 160 people from Strathkelvin lined up for the start of the seventh annual Lenzie Jog.

Mr Dave Collis, chairman of the Lenzie Community Council told the Herald: “This year there were more runners from outside the district.

“Most of them were really keen too.”

The Lenzie Jog offered participants the choice of four distances - one-and-a-quarter miles, two-and-a-quarter miles, three-and-a-half miles and the full seven-mile course.

Mr Collis said: “It’s all great fun.”

The community council chairman added: “This year many youngsters took part and they all seemed to love it.”

January 8, 1975

An Auchinloch woman won a competition offering an evening out with international cabaret star Malcolm Roberts.

Mrs Elizabeth Henderson admitted she was very nervous about the meeting at the Darlington Hotel, in Ayr, where the singing star was performing.

Mrs Henderson won two tickets for the show after answering correctly the name of Malcolm’s first hit single.

She said: “Fortunately, I already had a copy of “May I Have The Next Dream With You” at home.”

She and husband Adam were treated to dinner and met Malcolm who gave them a bottle of champagne.

January 10, 1965

Miss Ida Schuster of the Citizen’s Theatre and Dr Finlay’s Casebook television series was making another visit to 
Kirkintilloch.

Miss Schuster, who made an excellent job of opening the recent successful autumn fair in Kirkintilloch Town Hall, was to attend the annual cancer research fund ball in the town hall on January 15 and present the tombola prizes.

The committee said they hoped the tombola prizes would be up to the standard of recent years.

In this year, Miss Schuster had also appeared in TV movie The Rise and Rise of Cesar Birotteau.