328 September 2022 - Gryffe Advertizer

Calling all Railway
Enthusiasts
If you are interested in the
railways of Renfrewshire
and the Gryffe area you may
be interested in joining the Glasgow a n d
South Western Railway Association. The G&SWRA
is a Scottish charity dedicated to historical research
into the history of one of the five railway companies
which grew in the mid 19th century and many of
whose lines are still in use today.
The G&SWR operated with a triangle loosed formed
between Glasgow St Enoch station to Carlisle
including Kilmarnock and Dumfries, to Stranraer
and back to Glasgow including Ayr, Ardrossan,
Largs and Greenock Princes Pier. The line was
incorporated into the LMS in 1923, into British Rail
upon nationalisation in 1948 and into ScotRail when
privatised.
We produce an annual Journal and four Newsletters
a year for members. We have arranged for the
production of model kits in the past as well as
arranging field trips – these have included Bo’ness to
see progress on the restoration of several preserved
G&SWR carriages and rolling stock, Hunterson
coal terminal and tour of coal ship, and walks
along former lines of the G&SWR including Girvan
Harbour, Maidens and Dunure, Johnstone loop line
and Ayrshire valley lines.
Meetings usually take place at The Abbey Halls,
Lawn Street, Paisley PA1 1HD, but please check on
our website for updates www.gswra.org, or email
gswratreasurer@outlook.com beforehand.
1st October - Perth Conference of Scottish
Railway Societies in Station Hotel, Perth
November 12th - 1.45pm at Paisley Abbey - the
White Room upstairs
21st January 2023 - topic to be confirmed
10th February - topic to be confirmed
10th March - AGM & talk on aspects of the
G&SWR
We also attend the Glasgow model railway exhibition
in February each year.
If you are interested in joining the association
membership is £15. Contact: The Treasurer at 5
Seabank Avenue, Largs KA30 8EW
Do yo ae paer £20 +
£50 notes?
Anyone still using paper £20 and £50 bank notes
have until 30th September to use them or deposit
them at their bank or Post Office.
After September 30th the paper notes will no
longer be legal tender and will be replaced with
the new polymer versions.
The elpes – The ibilders of Port laso
Front Cover Image ©Murdo McLeod
by Rona Simpson
In 2016 the 86% of local population of Port Glasgow voted in the Port Glasgow Sculpture
Competition. In first place was a proposal by the sculpture John McKenna to build two
9-meter-high stainless steel shipbuilding figures at work. It stands today in Coronation
Park in Port Glasgow. A truly iconic sight.
John McKenna was born in Manchester. He studied in Worcester and London then taught
in Stafford College. Later he returned to Worcester where he began to make many public
art commissions including two for the crown estate. In 2002 was commissioned to create
the main artwork on the Cunard Transatlantic Liner the Queen Mary 2. Having run out
of space for this large commission, he decided to relocate to Scotland where found a
suitable base in South Ayrshire where he was able to create larger public art pieces for
which he was to become known.
The Skelpies – as it has been affectionally christened by locals - stand in Coronation Park in
Port Glasgow between the two lighthouses in an area once known as Devil’s Point. Next
door is Ferguson’s Marine – the last shipbuilding company on the lower Clyde.
In its industrial heyday, Port Glasgow was home to many shipbuilders, including: Lithgows,
John Wood, Cairds, Hamiltons, Duncans, Lamonts and Fergusons. Europe’s first steam
powered boat, The Commet, was built here. Other vessels built here included Tea
Clippers, Merchantmen and eventually the Super Tanker – a ship so big it was built in two
parts, launched and then joined together once afloat.
However, this sculpture is not about the rich shipbuilding families. It is about the riveters,
welders and others who put the nuts and bots together and built by hand these immense
vessels that were to sail all over the world. The dynamism of this sculpture perfectly
encapsulates the energy of these shipbuilders. Significantly, after the first world war,
forged in docklands like these throughout the Clyde grew a radical left wing labour
movement that was to transform politics in Scotland.
The demise of shipbuilding along the Clyde drove many into poverty. Despite attempts
at regeneration, Port Glasgow is still beset with high levels of unemployment and
deprivation. People from all over Scotland are making trips to see this towering structure.
The hope is that it will increase much-needed tourism in the area, as the Falkirk Kelpies
have done. This incredible monument is an impressive tribute to the area’s shipbuilding
past and conveys a real sense of pride in Inverclyde’s working-class heritage.
Combined weight of 14 tons
11t Ersine Wal of Hope
Over the years I have received great support from the
community in my efforts to raise awareness and funds for
Scottish Huntington’s Association (SHA). You will therefore
not be surprised to learn that we will again do a sponsored
Walk of Hope along the banks of the Clyde in Erskine. This
will take place this year on Saturday 8th October at 11am
from the Riverside car park - please join us. As the walk was
designed to suit people with HD the aim is to walk as much
or as little as you wish
As you may know, HD is a devastating neurological condition
which renders the sufferer increasingly dependent on care over the course of 15 to 25 years. In
many cases this care is provided by the immediate family. The condition has been described as a
combination of motor neuron disease, Parkinson’s and elements of Alzheimer’s. Sadly, it is genetic
and every child of a person with the condition has a 50% chance of inheriting the disease. There
are now real hopes of a treatment but it will be many years before these drugs are available. In the
meantime, families and children who are affected by HD will continue to need the support of SHA.
We seek to raise funds for SHA to enable them to continue to provide a comprehensive support
and advisory service to families who are affected by HD.
Donations will be welcomed at the following JustGiving page www.justgiving.com/Margaret-
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