Diamond Wedding Anniversary

Blantyre's Ain Website

Blantyre, Lanarkshire, Scotland

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McDougall / Paterson

Telegram from the King & Queen

To Mr. and Mrs. Duncan McDougall

On their Diamond Wedding Anniversary 26th July 1938

Telegram from the King & Queen To Mr. and Mrs. Duncan McDougall On their Diamond Wedding Anniversary 26th July 1938

They had 17 children, 5 boys and 12 girls. Three of the boys were killed in the Great War. In 1938 only six of the girls were still alive.

Mr and Mrs Duncan McDougall, 17 Glasgow Road, Blantyre, celebrated their Diamond Wedding on Monday night.Mr and Mrs Duncan McDougall, 17 Glasgow Road, Blantyre, celebrated their Diamond Wedding on Monday night. The worthy couple enjoy particularly good health. They are popular with the residents in the Springwell district, and it was really due to the kind action of these neighbours, together with their relatives and friends, that the old couple were enabled to enjoy some happy hours to mark this important event in their lives. The celebrations were held in the Blantyre Co-operative Hall, with a company numbering about 80, many of whom brought their children, and it was indeed a happy company that turned out to pay their respects to the honoured guests.

Mr McDougall (81) was born at Shettleston, and his wife Catherine Livingstone was born at Govan, but, with their parents in early life they came to Blantyre, where they have resided ever since. They were married by the late Rev William Wylie, who was the first minister of the E.U. Church, now known as the E.U. Congregational Church. They had seventeen of a family- twelve daughters and five sons – but only six of the daughters (all married) are alive. Two of their sons were killed in the Great War and one son died as the result of war wounds.

The Rev. Dr. E.K. Grant, the present minister of the church, presided at the supper on Monday night, and after a short ceremony the company gathered around the tables and partook of high tea. The reverend gentleman congratulated the worthy old couple on having been spared to reach such a pleasant event as their diamond wedding and he hoped for them a continuence of the health and strength they now enjoy.

Dr. Grant then read a telegram from the King and Queen, which read: “The King and Queen send you hearty congratulations on your diamond wedding.” Another telegram concluded with with the old Scots saying, “Lang may your lum reek.” On behalf the family, neighbours, and friends Mr Grant presented Mr and Mrs McDougall with a purse of money.

The six daughters and three of Mr McDougall’s brothers – one whom George was best man at the wedding – were among those who were present. The tables were then cleared and the company set out to enjoy themselves. Mr and Mrs McDougall led off the Grand March and walked three times around the hall, but they did not take part in the dancing. They received a great ovation from the company.

Mr McDougall was a miner and was working in Blantyre Collieries, High Blantyre, when the disastrous explosion on 22nd October, 1877, caused the death of 226 men and boys. On that ill-fated Monday morning he did not go to his work, but was one of those who took part in the rescue work and assisted in bringing the bodies to the surface. He still retains in his possession a pony driver’s whip which he found in the pit at the time. He stopped working underground in 1914 and until 1927 he worked on the surface. His last job was at Earnock Colliery, from which he retired eleven years ago.

Ref. Hamilton Advertiser 6/8/1938

All photos and stories sent in by Mary Wood 

 

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If you have any Photos… Send them to Bill

Blantyre, Lanarkshire, Scotland

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