Wee Yanni

Hall of Fame

Wee Yanni

I was asked by my friend Andy Paterson to try and clean up his Grandfathers Plaque at McAnulty Park as he was having family visitors over from Australia. I cleaned the plaque as best as I could but could not do anything about the print.

I mentioned this to a friend of mine, John Dunsmore, (Wee Yanni), who immediately volunteered to have a look at it. So, we met at the Park Entrance yesterday and he said that he would do it. To my surprise he sent me these photos this morning, a before and after shot of the plaque. What a great job he did with it. Andy Paterson is over the moon and can’t thank John enough. Does it not do your heart proud that there are still some folk in Blantyre who go that extra mile for no personal reward. A big thanks to John for a job well done.

Wee Yanni

Andra McAnulty Plaque Before Refurbishment

Andra McAnulty Plaque After Refurbishment

During the last week of July, 2016, John turned his sights on the Dixon’s Mining Disaster Monument in High Blantyre Cemetery.

Another great job done by Blantyre man and friend, John Dunsmore. This was the state of the Dixon’s Mining Disaster Monument in High Blantyre old cemetery before being refurbished this week by John. And the second one after refurbishment. I think that we would all agree that John has done a fantastic job for Blantyre yet again. As Betty McGaulley in Canada suggested, John should be nominated as Citizen of the Year.

Dixon’s Monument Before Refurbishment

Dixon’s Monument After Refurbishment

He then set about refurbishing the Dixon’s Pit Disaster Monument at Kirkton Cross

Dixon’s Pit Disaster Monument Before Refurbishment

Dixon’s Pit Disaster Monument After Refurbishment

John Says, “This is the final completion of the refurbishment, I think looking good. I have done these as you and I know, Bill, just because oor. fathers were hard working miners tae feed their families.”

Jim Donnelly: Brill Job John.

Helen Clements: Did you do that yourself John xx

John Dunsmore: Yes. Helen ooo bye wee. Yanni don’t know wit a day bethought. Him .

Elizabeth Dobson Grieve: Fantastic job. Have they cleared all the bushes from the front of the monument in the cemetery?

John Dunsmore: The shrubs are still at the. Monument.

Jan Steel Holiff: Good for another 100 years. Greetings from a transplanted Glaswegian.

Elizabeth Ann Ward: Fantastic job John. Well done x

~~~

In mid-August 2016, off his own back, John decided to visit his wife, Bell’s favourite R.F.C. footballer at the Palace Grounds, Hamilton and do some more refurbishment.

David Cooper Statue at Hamilton Palace Grounds

Bell Dunsmore at David Cooper’s Statue

David Cooper plaque before John worked his magic.

David Cooper plaque after John worked his magic.

Again in August, John took it upon himself to refurbish one of Blantyre’s Heroes, John Gray, a miner, who lost his life whilst trying to save the life of a drowning boy, John Reilly in the River Clyde.

William (Wull) McCall, Robert Orr along with John Gray, were members of a small group of men known locally as “Divers” because of their swimming and diving skills and local knowledge of the Clyde, who were called out every time such incidents, ( and there were many) occurred on the river, as it made its way through Blantyre. Their work was dangerous, voluntary and for the most part, unpaid but nevertheless was carried out over the years, willingly and selfishly, by the men whose skills could be likened to those of the well known Parsonage family, who still provide such services today, on the river at Glasgow.

John Gray for example, would go on to give his life in years to come, trying to save a young boy by the name of John Reilly, who fell into the Clyde at Blantyre Works, a purse with some coins in it is a small but fitting tribute, to such men of our Community.

Blantyre Oscars

In March of 2017, the Blantyre Telegraph organized the Blantyre Oscars and John was nominated for the Category: Environmental Pride, Sponsored by: Family Shopper.
along with Nominees: Blantyre Community Woodland and Friends of the Calder. John was humbled when news came that he had won.

John Dunsmore

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