Evacuee Jimmy says thanks to Milngavie
WHEN the Clydebank Blitz devastated their community many survivors sought shelter in Milngavie and the surrounding areas.
Clydebank man Jimmy Wilson, 77, lived through the Blitz and moved to Milngavie with his family in the aftermath of the bombing.
And on the 58th anniversary of the bombing he had a special message for the people of Milngavie.
He said: ''I attended the annual commemoration service of remembrance for those who died in the Clydebank Blitz on Saturday, March 13. I thought on the Blitz and remembered the good friends and neighbours that we lost from the Holy City. My thoughts also returned to the people of Milngavie.
''It occurred to me that after all this time we had never said thank you for the way they took us in. I would just like to thank the people of Milngavie on behalf of all the people of Clydebank for opening their hearts and their homes to us and also for the wonderful time I had staying here.''
Jimmy was 19 years old at the time of the Clydebank Blitz and recalls only too well the terrible night which brought devastation to the area.
''Every week I used to go to the dancing in the local dance hall,'' he said. ''I had a pipe which I would smoke on the walk there and a packet of Gold Flake for the interval.
''That evening there was a knock at the door and it was a friend of mine, Donald. He asked me if I wanted to go to the pictures. I said no as it was my night for the dancing, but eventually we decided to go to the pictures. We went to see Errol Flynn in Seahawk at the Vogue in Knightswood and in all the confusion I went out without my pipe and cigarettes.
''We spent the night there and then the sirens went. We took the bus back and could hear the sirens and the screams of the bombs. From the distance we saw the flames at the old distillery in Yoker which had been hit.
''The whole of the Holy City was in flames and smoke. Donald and I were so scared we were walking down the street arms linked and I said to him: 'If the worst comes to the worst and your family are dead you can stay with me,' and he said the same to me. We discovered that my family were alright and fortunately so was Donald's.
''As we walked along I saw an unexploded bomb in the street. I just stopped and stared at it. I was rooted to the spot, I just couldn't move. It was a 1,000lb bomb — I have never seen anything like it. Shortly two friends came up the road and spoke to me and that broke the spell.
''There was an old man standing with a hose fighting a fire. When I was younger I always wanted to be a fireman so I took the hose from him and fought the fire for about an hour.
''I suppose it was a form of shellshock afterwards. You were there in body but not in spirit. The family all managed to survive, we were lucky. It was about a fortnight later before I realised that I hadn't smoked since that night — and I haven't smoked a cigarette since.''
After the Blitz the family were rehoused in Ayr before being evacuated to Milngavie.
Jimmy, his sister and mother and father lived in Keystone Avenue with a Mr Ritches.
He joined the Home Guard and as a member of the Evacuees Club and the 41 Club in Milngavie, took part in various activities during his time in the town.
Jimmy has many fond memories of Milngavie, where he stayed until 1945 when he married and moved to Glasgow. 10 years later the couple returned to his beloved Clydebank and have lived there since.
He said: ''We had a great time in Milngavie and had all sorts of activities. I ended up becoming a drummer in the Harlequins dance band and we played in the Parish Church. I also played as a drummer in a band with a group of young lads from Bearsden.
''There was a pigeon loft in the park where they kept carrier pigeons for the army and I used to go down there with old Jock Wilson — he knew all the pigeons by name!''
Jimmy's links with the local area have continued. He taught technical subjects at Bearsden Academy for 20 years and was principal teacher of guidance before retiring in 1984; and it was a ceilidh in the Burnbrae Hotel which inspired him to learn Gaelic and has lead to his involvement in the Glasgow Hebridean choir.
He continued: ''The overall thing I remember is the place itself. We used to go out to Baldernock and walk round. I did a lot of hiking and used to walk from Milngavie out to Balmaha.
''We danced in the local hall and we used to Dig for Victory up in the hills. We also did a concert at the Parish Church.
''Another thing I enjoyed was teaching in Bearsden Academy and having the chance to meet the sons and daughters of my Milngavie friends.
''It was a terrific community because everybody knew everybody else. It was a rich, rich experience in Milngavie and I thank the people for that.''
Interview by JANINE MELDRUM
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Weather for Milngavie
Friday 25 May 2012
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