281 February 2018 - Gryffe Advertizer

february 2018 t: 01505 613340 e: info@advertizer.co.uk
45
houston, crosslee & brookfield
Brookfield News
WILMA CONNELL RODGER BUCHANAN MALCOLM: 26th July 1930 – 26th December 2017
We were sad to learn of the death of Mrs Wilma Malcolm who passed away peacefully at home on Boxing
Day. A long time resident of Brookfi eld and wife of Mr Donald Malcolm, Wilma was born at Linhead Farm,
Uplawmoor, the fourth of six children born to Andrew and Wilma Buchanan. She remembered the war
vividly, watching the bombing of Clydebank with her dad from the top of the farm. The farm also used
prisoners of war as labour and she had many stories from those days.
Wilma was the only one of the girls to leave the farm to work. She was always brilliant at arithmetic, having
a brain like a calculator and learned shorthand, typing and bookkeeping so went to work at the market,
which she loved. She remembered getting a pink jumper, a blue jumper, pink and blue socks and a grey
skirt and feeling very sophisticated or the ‘bees knees’ as she recounted.
Their social life revolved around the Young Farmers where all fi ve girls met their husbands, Donald Malcolm
being the only non-farmer. They married on 23rd January 1957 and Wilma got a taste of things to come as
their honeymoon was spent travelling around Lancashire where Donald spent hours bartering for lorries,
while she stayed in the car reading. A pattern that continued when their children were born as most of
their family holidays were spent in Blackpool during the Glasgow Fair so they could visit friends and Donald
could buy lorries.
It was during one of these holidays that the family of six got into a lift with Tessie O’Shea, a music hall star
of impressive proportions, who tried to sell Donald her diet book. She then turned to Wilma asking if she
was famous as she thought she recognised her, to which an awe struck Wilma replied the immortal words,
“Not I, I am but a simple housewife!”
Wilma had her four children - Wilma, Walter, Andrew and Marion - within four years, which must have been
hard work especially as when one got ill, they all did. Mumps all round in St Andrews, Chickenpox times
four when Andrew was just a baby etc etc. In those early years, she was a full time wife and mother with
few other interests apart from regularly visiting her parents and her sisters. The Buchanan girls were close
knit and Granny Buchanan did the rounds of staying with her daughters only moving to the next when all
the grandchildren where she was staying had a new knitted jumper!
The business in the early years revolved in and around the family home, and as the family grew, employees
became friends and were in and out of the house all day. Even in retirement, many of these old friends
still called in to visit.
As the children got older and she had a bit more time, Wilma spread her wings becoming more involved with
other mums in the village. She tried different classes but then discovered her love of and skill at curling,
which became a real passion. Donald had to get used to dinner in the oven, or worse - microwave!
Donald & Wilma were best friends as well as husband and wife, as all great marriages are. When Donald
died in 2003, she really struggled to adjust and to fi nd meaning and purpose without him.
The onset of dementia in the past few years actually healed some of her grief and she enjoyed the odd
little outing. She loved going to Nardini’s in Largs for ice cream and although she sometimes had diffi culty
remembering her children’s names, she knew every farm and who had lived there on the route home
through Dalry, Stewarton and Uplawmoor.
Since having a stroke last May, the family were aware that Wilma gradually disappeared from them and
they found it heart breaking to watch such a vibrant, smart, busy woman, loving mother, mother in law
and grandmother fade away. Like Donald before her though, there were always glimmers of the feisty,
capable woman in language only her husband could have taught her. Her carers especially were treated
to her colourful expletives and yet they all loved caring for her. The family are indebted to these women
who allowed Wilma to be at home and to die in her own bed surrounded by all that she loved, as she
wanted to do.
CHUCKIE LANE
Those residents who frequently use Chuckie Lane will have noticed how much improved it is. The initial
work was instigated by Virgin Media who agreed to make good following the installation of the superfast
broadband cables up the centre of the lane which provided the most direct route to reach the houses in
Sandholes Road and The Beeches. The surface was reinstated to a higher standard and the banks of the
burn, which were slowly collapsing, were shored up with Gabion baskets to prevent any further erosion.
The only residents of the Lane, Jill and Ian Campbell decided to further enhance the look by the removal
of a hawthorn hedge, thereby making the Lane wider and improving access. Additional improvements
included painting the fence, installing decorative stonework and the planting of fl agpole cherry trees and
which should look splendid in the spring! Jill and Ian would like to thank Virgin Media, local contractor
Sam Lamb and his team for all their time, energy and hard work and Andrew Malcolm for his interest and
generously supplying the stonework materials.
Community Information Event
A Community Information Event will be held in the Village Hall on FRIDAY 23 FEBRUARY from 2pm – 4pm.
Come and fi nd out useful information from various local agencies and services. Afternoon teas.
Facebook: brookfi eldvillage.org Twitter: @Brookfi eldVPA e-mail: brookfi eldvpa@gmail.com
houston, crosslee & brookfield
Let's hear from our
Councillors
Audrey Doig reports:
SPEEDING: Members of Houston Community
Council asked me to lobby Renfrewshire
Council to conduct a speed survey due to
concern raised about speeding in the Brierie
Hills area of Crosslee. I am pleased to report
that the council offi cers have now given me
the results which showed that there was an
average speed of 20mph in the northbound
direction, and an average speed of 29mph in
the southbound direction. While both fi gures
are within the legal speed limit the latter
one is only just, so I would strongly urge all
drivers to travel with caution, and give due
regard to both other drivers and pedestrians
in the Brierie Hills area.
PLANNING: Planning remains a high concern
for many in the Houston, Brookfi eld, and
Crosslee area who cherish their unique local
character. Some good news on the planning
front is that the Council has agreed to revise
how it looks at planning applications and
now wants a more streamlined approach
which will give more weight to the Local
Development Plan, and make it easier for
Councillors to oppose controversial planning
applications. This should also make it easier
to defend the integrity of greenbelt land.
Join a community
clean up
Community and local groups play a vital role
in keeping our towns, villages and countryside
clean and tidy.
Renfrewshire Council are co-ordinating these
in the Team up to Clean Up campaign. If you
are having a community clean up, please
let them know via the dedicated number on
0300 300 1375 which operates between
11am-10pm (Sun-Thurs) and 1pm-12am (Fri/
Sat)
If you would like to coordinate your own
community clean up please contact RC and
they will provide you with:
• waste bags
• litter pickers
• high-vis vests
• protective gloves
• graffi ti removal kits
• and arrange to remove all of the litter
after it has been collected.
IMPORTANT: Needles (Sharps)
Please note that members of public, or Clean
Up Teams should NOT pick up needles. If a
needle is found, please contact the Wardens
Service on 0300 300 0300 detailing the
location and they will arrange for safe
removal.
Litter picking at certain locations may be
dangerous so please ensure that you have
considered the steps that you need to take
to keep volunteers safe. Remember you may
need to seek approval of the landowners
before carrying out a clean up.
houston, crosslee & brookfield
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