The stores of
Hutchison and McCreath are on the
site of the former boot factories of Crawford and Ramsay. There are
only three boot and shoe factories doing businessHarrison
and Goudie. J. McCreath and Sons, and John Lees and Co The first two of
these continue to make the hard wearing shepherds' and gamekeepers' boots
for which Maybole is famous, and which are still in great demand,
particularly in the North of Scotland. (By way of contrast, the Ladywell
Tannery does most of its business with the South of England.) The third
and largest factory, John Lees and Co., although still making heavy boots,
is rapidly gaining a reputation for light fashionable shoes for town and
country wear. Success in this new venture may well go a long way towards
rejuvenating Maybole by giving young men and women the chance to find
employment in their own town.
At the present time large numbers travel by bus to Ayr, Girvan and the
surrounding towns, whilst others go regularly by train to Glasgow. This
daily travel is, of course, a feature of life to-day, and not peculiar to
Maybole. To some extent it is two-way traffic.
Many of the teachers and pupils in Carrick Academy, the central Senior
Secondary School for the area, travel by bus every day. Four special
buses, a taxi and a shooting brake are required to transport them.
Next to Carrick Academy is a number of new houses, known as the
Whitefaulds' scheme. More new houses are urgently required, as the
conditions in some of the old houses are not in accordance with
present-day standards.
The town has three Presbyterian churches, the Old Church, the West, and
Cargill-Kincraig which were recently united: one Episcopal church, St.
Oswald's: one Roman Catholic church, St. Cuthbert's:
and one Baptist Church opened some fifty years ago, and placed under the
Pastorship of the late Thomas Ramsay, Esq., father of Dr Guy Ramsay of
Hillhead Baptist Church. There is also a group of Christian Brethren in
the town.
Golf, tennis, bowls, fishing, football, rifle shooting, swimming, country
dancing, badminton, sailing, bridge, singing, amateur dramatics, and
sketching are all organised in clubs.
There are two picture houses. Stage shows,
of the concert and dramatic variety, are frequently presented in the Town
Hall, mainly by local amateur companies. The ice-rink at Ayr is very
popular, particularly with farmers keen on curling.
The burgh, according to the census of
1951,
has a population of 4,766,
of which 2,259
are males and
2,507
females.
As the Coronation heads a new chapter of history, may we write it in such
a way, that when in the future, it is but a tale of the past, it will
stand out bold and clear.
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Order of Procession
1. The
Town Band
2.
The Town Staff. Emblem of Civil Authority since
1432
3.
Crannog Dwellers (Loch Spouts)
1st
Century
4.
A Viking
a d 870
5.
The Vicar of the Parish Church
1192
6.
Knights in Armour
1200
7.
Crossraguel Abbey (Cluniac Monks)
1260
8.
Robert the Bruce
1313
9. The
Chantry Chapel (later the
Collegium)
1371
10.
The Countess of Cassillis
1560
11.
John Knox and the Abbot of Crossraguel
1562
12.
The Roasting of the Commendator
1570
13.
The Stocks from the Tolbooth
1600
14.
The Union of the Crowns
1603
15.
The Scottish Episcopal Church
1610 1638
(The Established Church)
1661 - 1690
16.
The Conventicle at Craigdow
1678
17. The Act
of Union
1707
18.
Smugglers
18th Century
19.
John Loudon Macadam
}In a Carriage{
1756-1836
Sir Gilbert Blane
1749 - 1834
20.
Robert Burns entering Maybole to receive payment
for his poems
1786
21.
Orange Lodge No 0
1798
22.
Weaving
1800 - 1850
23.
Early Shoe-making
1850
24.
The Howe Bicycle sold at £15
15s
1883
25.
Vehicles Hired from King's Arms
A. Governess Car B. Phaeton C. Gig D. Brake
1890
26.
James Rodger, Scottish Mile Champion
and his trainer
1895
- 30 - |
27. A
Co-operative Home
19th Century
28.
The Boys' Brigade ... ... ... ... ...
1898
29.
Poachers ... ... ... ... ... ...
1900
30.
The Mass Emigration to Canada ... ...
1907
31.
The Boy Scouts"Kangaroo" Patrol
...
1908
32.
Carrick Homing Society ... ... ... ...
1910
33.
The Girl Guides ... ... ... ... ...
1911
34.
"T" Ford ... ... ... ... ... ...
1911
35.
The First World WarThe British Legion
...
1914-1918
36.
John Knox's Daughters of the Covenant
... ...
1922
37.
The Wolf Cubs ... ... ... ... ...
1922
38.
The Brownies ... ... ... ... ... ...
1926
39.
Jack's "Dunlop Rubber Tyred" Cart
... ...
1932
40.
The Life Boys ... ... ... ... ... ...
1936
The Second World War
41. The
Girls Training Corps
1940
42.
The Junior Red Cross .... ... ... ...
1943
43.
General Eisenhower ... ... ... ... ...
1947
44.
Boy Scouts' TableauCamping
Scene
1953
45.
Farming (William Wallace)
1953
46.
Agricultural Implements (Jack's)
1953
47.
Grain and Fertiliser Merchants (Hutchison
&
McCreath) 1953
48.
The Boot and Shoe Trade (Lees)
1953
49.
A Co-operative Home
1953
50.
Carrick Cruising Club(16ft. Hornet Dinghythe
property of William Kerr, Esq.)
1953
51.
St Cuthbert's Roman Catholic School
1953
52.
Cairn Primary School
1953
53.
Carrick Academy
1953
54.
The CrownSymbol of the Unity of the Commonwealth 1953
- 31 - |
Notes' on Procession
Town Staff
An Act of Parliament passed by James I at Perth in
1432,
states
:-
"Ane officer of Regality must gae furth before his folk carrying ain rod
or staff, three quarters of a yaird long, tane pairt coloured reid, and
tother pairt coloured quhite"
Maybole being a Burgh of Regality has the right to carry this. The present
rod, which is made out of one piece of wood on the principle of the Rod of
Aaron, was presented to the town by Mrs Harold Chesney, in memory of her
father, Mr James Millar, who was Provost from
1912
to 1921.
It was carved by Mr James Jeff, the famous Galloway artist, who also
carved the casket for the scroll presented to President Eisenhower, when,
as General Eisenhower, he was given the Freedom of the Burgh
The staff has at the base the burghal coronet and at the top the burghal
helmet, surmounted by a dolphin (the town crest).
Orange Lodge
During the Irish Rebellion of
1798,
a regiment of Militia from Ayrshire was sent across to serve in Ireland.
Returning when peace was restored, some of the more ardent brought with
them an Orange Warrant, which had been granted by the Grand Lodge of
Ireland authorising them to hold and constitute an Orange Lodge in
Scotland. In
1799
or 1800,
the Lodge was installed on Scottish soil at Maybole. It was Scotland's
first Orange Lodge and had as its ideals the furtherance of Protestantism
and Loyalty to the Crown.
To signify the honour that Maybole holds as being the birthplace of
Orangeism in Scotland, Grand Lodge on 26th October,
1929,
instituted in the town a new lodge with the name of Loyal Orange Lodge No 0.
This Lodge, as the oldest one in Scotland, has the honour
of carrying the Union Jack, which in
1801
incorporated the Cross of St. Patrick, in addition to the banners of St.
George and St. Andrew
James
Rodger
He was an outstanding athlete at the end of the nineteenth century, when
Maybole was famed for cross-country runners and cyclists.
In 1891
and
1894
he was Scottish mile champion, and in
1895
and 1896
Scottish quarter-mile champion. He was a prominent member of Carrick
Harriers and West of Scotland Harriers, winning over one hundred medals
and prizes
The corks which he gripped in his hands when running are now in the
possession of his grandson, James Rodger, son of the janitor of Carrick
Academy.
- 32 - |
Carrick' Sailing Club
Honorary Presidents:
The Most Noble The Marquess of Ailsa
Commander G. H. Hughes-Onslow, D.S.C., R.N.
Captain ... ...
William A. J. Kerr, Esq.
Commander ... ... ...
A. M. Shaw, Esq.
Hon. Secretary and Treasurer
Mrs R. Armstrong
This club was formed in
1950
with its club centre at Girvan. The membership, which was originally about
thirty, is now one hundred. Because of the harbour drying out, when the
tide is low, club members are inclining towards fast sailing dinghies
rather than large yachts. The wide variety of small boats includes four
Hornets, two Merlins, and two "Yachting World G.P.'s".
The club has made extensive preparations for celebrating the Coronation,
the members having hand-made over
500
yards of bunting. They hope on Coronation night to light four floating
bonfires in Girvan Bay.
Carrick Homing' Society
A racing pigeon society existed in Maybole as early as
1910,
when H. Logan was secretary, and other members were: N. Hinton, R. Scobie
and J. Strachan. The present society appeared about
1925
and included Messrs D. and G. Briggs, J. Johnston, A. McCann, J.Gill. The
club is affiliated to the Kyle Federation of Homing Pigeon Societies and
operates according to the rules of the Scottish Homing Union.
The Carrick Society has always aimed at attracting boys and youths to its
ranks and continues to do so in spite of rising costs. The gambling side
of the sport is discouraged, and the emphasis is on pleasure rather than
profit, the benefits are social and educational.
At present the sport is increasing in popularity all over the country. Her
Majesty the Queen has a loft at Sandringham, and has presented Coronation
trophies for competition.
L.L.O.L. No. 98. John Knox's Daughters of
the Covenant
The first meeting took place in the lodge room, Orange Hall, Dailly Road,
on 26th August, 1922.
The late Mrs J. P. Boyd, Carrick Street, Maybole, was installed as the
first Worthy Mistress and the late Mrs Margaret Rae, Weaver Vennel,
as Deputy-Mistress of the Lodge.
The present Worthy Mistress of the Lodge is Sister Jean Knox, and the
Deputy-Worthy Mistress is Sister Elizabeth Devoy.
- 33 - |
T Ford
It was first assembled at Trafford Park, Manchester, in
1911.
By 1925
one-quarter of a million Fords had left this factory, and as more space
was necessary a new plant was found at Dagenham, Essex. This car featured
in many of the early films, including Charlie Chaplin's. It is an immortal
among cars.
Junior Red Cross
A Junior Red Cross detachment came into being in 1943
to encourage girls to train for the Nursing Services and to help the local
Detachment in War-time. First Aid and Home Nursing classes were organised
and help was given in gathering and cleaning spaghnum moss for dressings,
thus putting into practice in a small way the Junior Red Cross motto
"Serve One Another".
Carrick Provident Co-operative Society
President Mr
J. Dunlop
Managing Secretary
Mr M. L. Storrar
Vice-President Mr A. G. Frew
Board of Directors
Mr J. Boyd, Mr W. Boyd, Mr R. McCreath, Mr W. McKnight, Mr E. Thomson, Mr
J. Brennan, Mrs E. Dunn, Mrs J. Clark, Mr A. Anderson.
Educational Committee
President
Mr A. G. Frew Secretary
Mr R. Stewart
Committee
Mrs Hyslop, Mrs Bingham, Mrs Dunn, Mrs Clark. Mrs Wilson, Mr
Simpson, Mr W. Boyd, Mr R. McCreath, Mr J. Dunlop.
Membership to-day, 4,000.
Branches in Crosshill, Dailly and Girvan
Members will take part in the procession, on two lorries.
1st Lorry
-Co- operative Home
19th Century
2nd
Lorry -Co-operative Home
20th Century
- 34 - |
Boys Brigade' (Founded 1883)
16th Ayr (Maybole) Company
(1898)
Formed in Maybole West Church in
1898
by Rev. Thomson and first drilled by Sergt. Stewart.
Presented with Company Colours by the Woman's Guilds of West Church and
Old Church at their Jubilee in
1948.
Boy Scouts (Founded 1907)
7th and 10th Ayrshire
First Boy Scouts met in Maybole in
1908
and were four in number. They formed a 'Kangaroo' Patrol, P.L. John Muir
(later Dr Muir). Their information about this "new game" so recently
started by Robert Baden Powell came from the evening newspapers. "Auld
Jean's" at Greenhead was their first meeting place.
Registered originally in London as 12th Scottish, they were no doubt
nearer the beginning than this but had difficulty in finding a scoutmaster
and so registration was delayed.
Girl Guides (Founded 1909)
1st
Maybole 1911
The first Girl Guide Company in the town was formed in
1911
under the Captaincy of Miss Strain. Many girls wished to become "Girl
Scouts" and it was to meet this demand that the Company was formed. The 1st
Maybole Guide Company has been in existence ever since.
Wolf Cubs
The Junior branch of the Boy Scout movement dates back to
1922,
when local Scouting was extended to include boys of the ages of 7
to
11
years.
Two successful packs function, at present under two Scout Troops.
Brownieslst
Maybole
1926
saw the start of Brownies in the town. Planned to train girls of 7
to
11
years of age, the Brownie programme aims at teaching the value of service
and good sportsmanship.
'LEND A HAND AND PLAY THE GAME'
is their motto, and their name comes from the name of the helpful "wee
folk" of Orkney.
- 35 - |
Girls' Association
1933
saw the formation of Maybole's first G.A. This was soon followed by
two more, and for several years this Junior Branch of the Woman's Guild of
the Church of Scotland attracted many of the young girls of the Churches.
Study, work and social activities formed the main part of their programme.
Unfortunately the Second World War and the call up of women dealt an
almost fatal blow G.A.'s and their numbers are still greatly reduced.
Life Boys
The Junior branch of the Boys' Brigade was formed on a national basis in 1929.
Seven years later the first Life Boy Company started in Maybole,
giving preliminary training to younger boys who are later promoted to the
Boys' Brigade.
A.T.C.
This was one of the Pre-Service Training Organisations started at the
beginning of World War Two, to train boys for entry into the R.A.F.
It attracted a considerable number of enthusiastic recruits and flourished
during the war years. A return to peace-time conditions saw a fall in
numbers, and A.T.C. was discontinued for a time. However, a
new Flight has been formed recently. (Members are in other sections of the
procession.)
Girl
Training Corps
Girls' Training Corps formed during the War Years was a Voluntary
Organisation aiming at training girls to assume a fuller share of
responsibility in time of National Emergency and also at preparing them
for National Service. Two sections formed in the town and continued until
the end of hostilities. The Senior section was for girls between
16
and 18
years and the Junior one was for
14
to
16
year olds.
- 36 - |
Sporting Spectacle
1.
Weight Lifting
2. Hacking
3. Archery
4. Tournament
5. Country
Dancing
6.
Miming and
Singing
7. Flying
8. Musical
Ride
9. Clay
Pigeon Shooting
10. Clowns
11. Golf
12.
Liberation of Pigeons
- 37 - |
Notes on the Sporting
Spectacle
A kitten will play happily with a golf ball for hours so will a man. The
earliest forms of human sport were probably somewhat similar to the
kitten's, consisting mainly of developing skills essential for existence
in a wild state. When fighting was a major occupation, archery, jousting,
sword-play and horsemanship were all popular. Later, when the law became a
protective force, and the pattern of life changed with the growth of
industrial towns sport ceased to be directly connected with occupation,
but became instead a relaxation and a tonic. Thus the golf club is as
important to day as the lance was yesterday.
Weight-Lifting
This is a highly specialised form of sport in which knack and muscle
control are much more important than brute strength. There are many
different types of weight-lifting, such forms as swings, presses, snatches
and jerks being among the best known one-hand lifts. There are also
two-hand lifts and shoulder lifts. Weight lifters are recognised in five
classes featherweight, 9
stone
10
lb.,
lightweight,
10
stone 81/2
lb.,
middleweight, 11
stone
11lb
light-heavyweight,
12
stone 13
lb.,
and heavyweight, 12
stone
1lb.
and over. The first Britisher to lift more than double his own body weight
in the jerk style was Charles Biggs, who weighing only 122lb. lifted
247
lb.
In this episode Mr J Shaw demonstrates various lifts.
Hawking
"It is easier to train a gun than a hawk"
Hawking is one of the oldest of sports, having been practised in China
about 2000
bc.
Hawking, together with hunting, was one of the main occupations in the
15th century, having been introduced into
Scotland via England in Norman times. Once known as "the sport of kings"
it declined due to the decrease of game and the increase of civilisation.
It was nearly extinguished with the invention of gunpowder, but the
tradition was kept alive by a few enthusiasts. There has been some revival
in recent years, due at least in part to the increased interest in the
wonder of "flight". The words "hawker' and cadger" are relics of the
ancient language of falconry. The "hawker" was originally a man who
travelled through the country selling trained hawks and spaniels. The
"cadger" was the lowliest member of the hunt whose task was
to
carry the frame for the hooded birds in order to cage them between flights
(EpisodeMarjorie
and Bruce- See page 10).
- 38 - |
|