Readers have their say on Gazette Top 100

Our special Clydesdale's 100 Greatest Citizens supplement of last week has been very warmly received — and very much talked about!

As we repeatedly pointed out in the supplement, it was absolutely inevitable that we would omit certain figures that individual readers would have thought obvious choices.

Which is exactly why we asked you to let us know who we'd unintentionally excluded!

And we are grateful to several readers who took up that invitation.

A Carluke reader pointed out that we had omitted one of Clydesdale's sporting greats — Law runner Ian McCafferty whose many athletic achievements were crowned by his 1970 Commonwealth Games 5000m Silver Medal.

The grandson of one of those who did feature on our list, Clive Cox, suggested that a worthy inclusion might have been Dr Maxwell Adams, several decades ago the doyen of local doctors.

Further suggestions include veteran Lanark sportsman John Barrie; over a long badminton career John has won many honours and is still playing well, having only recently taken a gold medal at a World Veterans competition. He also coaches future Scottish badminton stars.

Also nominated was T. Henry Shanks, the distinguished Lanark lawyer who was Lanimer Committee secretary for over two decades and who has recently become a published writer.

The family of Roy Russell contacted us, pointing out his major part in our area's equestrian history.

Roy, born in 1920 and who died in 1981, bravely endured a period as a Japanese POW as a member of the Lanarkshire Yeomanry before, post war, starting one of Lanarkshire's first riding schools and livery stables, Tao Ha, on the outskirts of Carluke.

For generations of children, Roy was also Santa during his annual visit to Carluke's Market Square — a duty he performed until the year before his death.

Please keep your suggestions coming. You never know, we might even get a second Clydesdale's Top 100 Greatest Citizens supplement out of this — albeit this time suggested by readers!

Send your suggestions, in writing, to The Editor, Carluke and Lanark Gazette, 3 High Street, Carluke, ML8 4AL, or 5 Wellgate, Lanark, or email nominations to [email protected]