Clubs

The above photograph was uploaded on the 15th May 2020: (From the Charlie Todd Collection). 

On the 5th June 1905 and Lady Hanbury-Tracey (aka Lady Carmichael-Anstruther) opens Thankerton's nine hole Golf Course. From the Hamilton Advertiser dated 17th June we have - “The course was opened before a large company by Captain Thomson Carmichael of Eastend. The Rev W.C.MacGregor, minister of Covington & Thankerton, presided, and along with him were ; Lady Carmichael Anstruther and her son, Sir Windham Frederick Carmichael Anstruther; Mrs Thomson- Carmichael of Eastend ; Major Bertram of Kerswell, and Mrs Bertram ; Mr J.L.Murray of Heavyside &c. On Captain Carmichael declaring the course open, Lady Anstruther was presented with a silver mounted club, with which she drove off the first ball. Several foursome matches were then played. Lady Anstruther and Captain Carmichael versus Mr Brown of Cormiston and Rev Mr Ritchie, Lamington, leading off : Messrs Stewart, Paisley and Johnstone. Pollok versus Lang, Paisley and Walker, Pollok, following on. The course was laid out by Mr L. A. Morrison, Biggar, and Mr Stewart, Paisley, is a 9 hole one and is beautifully situated on the banks of the River Clyde, within ten minutes walk of the ​village." 

Uploaded on the 15th May 2020. (From the Charlie Todd Collection).

 The previous postcard of Lady Hanbury-Tracy hitting the opening ball is quite common but I've only come across one copy of this photo of the crowd assembled in their finery in front of the new Clubhouse - on the opening day. Thanks to Cathryn Forrest for this one. Her grandfather, John Forrest of No 56 Ardmay, Station Road was probably in the photo. Cathryn told me that she and Helen Anderson had previously looked at Thankerton Rural's (WRI) record book for 1918 which lists peoples names and house names - she thinks houses didn't even have numbers at that stage. In fact I'm not even sure when the streets were named? 

The above photograph was uploaded on the 17th May 2020: (From the Charlie Todd Collection).​

Thankerton Amateur Dramatic Group

In 1939 Amateur dramatics were very popular in the pre-television days. Every town and village had a group which contained a wide cross-section of the inhabitants. Back Row (1) Peggy Kerr (Mrs Jim McQuid) (Fallburns Shepherd's Cottage); (2) Maurice McMahon (Mill Road); (3) Kate Parker (Quothquan); (4) Peter McMillan (Sherwood); 5) Charlie Blacklaw (Teacher at Biggar H.S.); (6) Mrs Veitch (Mill Road); (7) George Campbell; (8) ? Front Row (1) George McMahon Snr (Mill Road); (2) ?; (3) ?; (4) Rachael Dobbie (Nurse) (Hazel Cottage) (5) Peggy Hutcheson (Tinto Glen, 64 Station Road); (6) Jock Proudfoot (Mill Road)