Watt MacAlister would transport us to in his cattle floats.I also hung about Chrissie Mitchells Farm which was in the village I think what is now called Burnbank just opposite Donaldson Park formed part of the farm.The Guidy Hut in Buchanan street was a place to hang out don't know what happened in it appart from the guides meeting and the pipe band held there practises in it.We would also spend a lot of our time between the cafe which ajoined the McLintock Hall ,(I think the cafe is now an antique shop) and the McLintock hall it's self to play billiards and snooker.We also used our bikes a lot never seemed to have any problems with traffic used to see who could get from the Ibert to the Field bridge the fastest.I don't have any old photo's but I'll check with my father to see if he has any,he was boen in the village in 1927 but now stays in the Bridge of Alan. I have a couple of old medals my Grand Father gave me,he was a bit of a guy,some of your people may remember him Jimmy Horne,he was the bookies runner,I would remember going to visit him and on a Saturday morning the house would be full of people in with there bets for him to take to the bookies in Milingavie.Anyway the medals I have are relations of his and they are from the the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland,his relative a John Brown worked at Kilfaset farm and won these medals for ploughing in 1866 and 1867don't know if any of your members could shed some light on them Thanks and Take Care …
Barbara Anne MacDonald:
I am the cyclist on the left. Can't remember who my friend is. So long ago! There is another photograph of us cycling down Buchanan Street taken from the junction at Dunmore Street. I have two postcards of this one and they have been 'touched up' showing different clouds etc. If I can manage to upload them I will.
Barbara MacDonald (nee Brown) from Printers Row.
Norman McConchie:
Many a time I remember John Taylor used to let me pump the bellows he also had petrol pumps there
William Hill:
It brings back memories but to be exact it was not an actual bus station but a garage where repairs were carried out etc.It was right across the road from my grandmothers house and my uncles Jim and Bob Simpson joiners shop.and next door to that was John Taylor the blacksmith
Audra McKee on July 25, 2010 at 20:41
I am trying to find out about the co-op in Balfron around the time of 1918, when my great granda was manager. I have visited Balfron and contacted many people, but no one seems able to help. I'd like to find out where the original co-op building was - not the drapery at the bottom of the hill, but the grocers. One suggestion is that it was in the building which is now a shop called Wonderland. Can anyone help? I'd be very grateful for any info at all!
William Hill on September 10, 2010 at 23:06
Bill here again Audra I think you are mistaken re Bella Griffin she was the manager of the Co-Op drapert next door to the Co-op butchers then the grocery section and finally the bakery part all under the same roof . The shop you dicribed run by Bella was actually known as Sweetie Jeanies and it was directly across the road from Spinner Street where we lived during the war. Also across the road was the Shepperds Hall which was used as a primary school during the war. A Miss Stewart was one teacher and a Miss Paterson was in a smaller part at the back. Its really amazing how one simple question re Balfron can develop into a load of info long since forgotten but really nice to look back on . We left Scotland for Canada in 1966 and every now and then miss the old atmosphere and way of life . All the best to you and your family Bill
Mrs.Nancy Kidd on September 11, 2010 at 20:50
Hi Norman,my maiden name is Sinclair.Dad,was Duncan.Mum, was Mary nee Battison. You were talking about White Yett.My grandpa was born there.He was George Battison.
Norman McConchie on September 12, 2010 at 20:27
I am trying to place your parents where did you live in Balfron I lived in 5 Strathview Terrace I am now 66 years old
No, that's not a photo of the Coop. It was on the other side of the road. The house on the left with the roses was my Granny's house and it was called Hillview. Below that, the sliding doors went into a hall, it was either the Masonic Hall or the Shepherds Hall, I can't remember, maybe you can Norman? I only remember it as always been freezing cold in there when we went there for a party or Band of Hope.
I also remember the Cooperative Hall that became the Cooperative Drapery. It's flats now but I remember the Christmas Parties in there, shivering in the wee party dress and waiting on Santa.
If anyone remembers, there were several halls in Balfron, shows how the people used to socialize with one another. There's the John McLintock Hall, of course, but there was a hall across the Street which is now Scott's storage place. I think it might have been called the Waverly Hall. Then there was the old Masonic Hall, the Cooperative Hall the Shepherd's Hall. I remember the Rev Thomas Burns-Begg and his housekeeper Aggie Ronald would put on tea and iced cakes after an event.
About all the shops in the village Norman, you forgot McKinnon's Tuck Shop up at the School. They had a penny tray!
William Hill on October 15, 2010 at 0:06
Why does everyone think Bella ran the wee shop directly across the road from Spinner Street It was Sweetie Jeanies and she and another much taller elderly spinster ran it I lived right across the road at 3 Spinner St. and our kitchen window looked almost directly opposite the wee shop . The name Miss MacArther seems to ring a bell as to the owner And she actually had two penny trays . Another shop not mentioned was Miss Findleys drapery at the corner of Spinner St and the Main St. The Waverly Hall was in fact across the road from Kennedys Cafe wher Paton the plumber had his workshop Wee Francie Brown had his barber shop right next to the plumbers Hope this clears up a few points I lived there from 1940 to 1958
Catherine Dinnie on October 15, 2010 at 4:12
You are right Bill. Sweetie Jeans. I can barely remember this, but we lived above Miss Findley's shop when I was born and I remember vaguely a wee dark shop. The people who lived below us were called Mr and Mrs Mutch. We moved up near the school when I was about 5 so I don't remember it very well. One thing I do remember was the day that building was knocked down, we went down to watch it. They used a big swinging ball and it seemed to crumble so easily.
My Mum told me interesting stories about during the war in Balfron. Clydebank was bombed very badly and the village folk were asked to take in a family or help in some way. The wee hoose she lived in above Miss Finley's was 2 rooms and a kitchen and she took in a family of 4! She also told me families were staying in the John McLintock Hall and in the school. The family who lived with my Mum didn't like country living and moved back to Glasgow.
Lillias Walker had a shop there where the new Butcher's shop is now.
Mrs.Nancy Kidd on September 10, 2010
Everyone ,including myself,is telling you about the co-op,from when we remember it ,which has always been at top of the village.where it still stands,but you are asking about 1917 and there is something in my memory telling me that the co-op,when it first came to Balfron, was in the building where a new shop called Wonderland now is.When I was a child in the 50s,it was a dwelling house where Jack McLintock lived.This building is just next to the co-op.My mother used to have many conversations with her cousins,the Dowies,about all the shops in Balfron,and there were a great deal of them.I think your info is correct.I,too,remember Bella Griffin.When I was a child she had a wee sweetie shop at the bottom of the village nr where the clinic now stands.There was an iron fence and you went through a gate and down some steps.When you went in to the shop,a wee bell tinkled and Bella would come through from the back place and serve you.I loved going in there with my granny on Saturdays.You told me the name of your great granda but I have never heard that name mentioned.
William Hill on September 10, 2010 at 23:06
...directly across the road from Spinner Street where we lived during the war ... was the Shepperds Hall which was used as a primary school during the war. A Miss Stewart was one teacher and a Miss Paterson was in a smaller part at the back
Norman McConchie on September 12, 2010 at 20:27
The house on the left with the roses was my Granny's house and it was called Hillview. Below that, the sliding doors went into a hall, it was either the Masonic Hall or the Shepherds Hall, I can't remember, maybe you can Norman? I only remember it as always been freezing cold in there when we went there for a party or Band of Hope.
I also remember the Cooperative Hall that became the Cooperative Drapery. It's flats now but I remember the Christmas Parties in there, shivering in the wee party dress and waiting on Santa.
If anyone remembers, there were several halls in Balfron, shows how the people used to socialize with one another. There's the John McLintock Hall, of course, but there was a hall across the Street which is now Scott's storage place. I think it might have been called the Waverly Hall. Then there was the old Masonic Hall, the Cooperative Hall the Shepherd's Hall. I remember the Rev Thomas Burns-Begg and his housekeeper Aggie Ronald would put on tea and iced cakes after an event.
Comment:
Scotts, the builders, are now at Little Camoquhill. The former yard on Buchanan Street is now housing.
Miscellaneous memories
• The church youth club was held there also the brownie’s sale of work as I was the brownie leader
• l remember the county dancing with Mrs Lyall
• I remember going to Mr.Brian the dentist. Our 2nd year class once had a party in it too.
• The hall belonged to Sandy Johnstone who was the local plumber. His wife played piano for the country dancing class. Elisanne Johnstone was a friend of mine and you could get into the hall from a door at the top of the stairs in her house - we used to play in the hall and the dentist's surgery!
• Remember the country dancing classes. Magic shows. Later years - discos and dances. Local group - "The Picts" ?? Mid to late 60's - Church Youth Clubs.
• There was a door at the top of the stairs.
Audra McKee on July 25, 2010 at 20:41
I am trying to find out about the co-op in Balfron around the time of 1918, when my great granda was manager. I have visited Balfron and contacted many people, but no one seems able to help. I'd like to find out where the original co-op building was - not the drapery at the bottom of the hill, but the grocers. One suggestion is that it was in the building which is now a shop called Wonderland.
William Hill - September 9, 2010:
IN THE 40`S & 50`S ALL the Co-Op shops were together at the top of the main Street hill nr Cotton St If one was a member you had a Co op number , for example my mothers # was 301 When you went shopping you could pay cash or just give them your # and pay later at the wee wooden kiosk situated in part of the grocery section A miss Alice Yuill worked in the kiosk for ages and all transactions ended up there via a system on spring wire contraption from all the various depts. A sis Brown worked in the butchers shop and a Miss Griffin ? worked in the drapery
Jane Anderson: Old Willie Shearer who owned Shearers Garage in the 70's house was there which you can see being knocked down as John Shearer his son then built his house in that plot. Sad neither of these 2 men are with us today
Readers may be interested to hear that Alexander Grossert, formerly of Ballikinrain and Balfron High, passed away on 24th February aged 95.
A Village with houses, churches and buses
Stands on Buchanan Hill
With modern cars, and Doyle’s café bar
Where once stood Dunmore’s Mill.
By the great Clachan Oak,
Where once Rob Roy spoke
You can hear the old Kirk bell toll
But past Butcher and baker
The jewellery maker
The locals are playing at bowls.
And up at the school
In by the pool
Our kids go to learn and to play
They sing and they shout
While parents head out
Commuters for most of the day.
Throughout the week
People meet and they greet
Friendly with all of your neighbours
Faces well kent
Each lassie and gent
Working and doing wee favours
There’s mothers and weans
Playing wee games
In the park and up by the swings
and later at night
neighbours meet for a bite
a glass, maybe somebody sings?
Lollipop Len, hails women and men
With a wave and a smile on his face
While the Library “girls” lend you romance and thrills
Or book your computer place
Newsagents, Iron mongers
Co-op dealing with hunger
An Optician to help with your eyes
Chiropractor, Antiques
Podiatrist for feet
Fruit and veg to keep vitamins high
Plumbers and sparks
Cars and their parts
And a garage selling petrol and tyres
Doctors for headaches
And full paramedics
And Firemen to deal with the fires
The dentist with drills
The Chemist for pills
And Policemen to deal with the baddies
And each day in a van
Comes a lovely wee man
From Arbroath selling smokies and haddies
Aroshi for fashion
Taxis for dashin’
And architects to design your extension
Farmers with sheep
Barley and wheat
A Bank for deposits and pensions
There are landscapers for lawns
Piano teachers for songs
And the dump to take away rubble
Hairdressers? There’s two
So you know what to do
When you find that your hair is in trouble.
For this many a year
You can go for a beer
Just choose between Pirn or the Coach
You can even buy a Llama
Rehearse for a drama
In Wonderland buy rings or a broach
There are halls to have parties
A school for the Arty
And a home for elderly care
People working from home
Selling things on the phone
You would never know that they were there.
You see all the posties
Jack Doyle making toasties
When the hoardes they descend from the school
There are those who keep bees and decorate trees
With pom poms all made of wool
Beneath Grand Campsie Fells
All these people do dwell
Amidst faces and places well known
Each day life goes on
In dearest Balfron
But most of us just call it ……. Home!
Jim McGinley 2013
Alexander Grossert lived there as a youngster before moving to one of the lodges at Ballikinrain Castle. This would have been early 1920’s I think.
Can anyone else contribute?
Who was the JOHN BROWN whose plaque is on the bench of the newly-refurbished (April 2021) bus shelter (at the clinic)? I remember when we stayed in our wee flat in Dunmore that he used to sit there often.
• There used to be him Paddy Mcluskey and Jimmy Fisher all sat in the bench in his garden. Hear no evil see no evil speak no evil lol.
• Hannah Brown's husband John, lived in Endrick Road.
• was he the grave digger with the council? >>> correct for as long as I can remember, great neighbours when I was a single parent with two children
• His Son John lives in Fintry
• Died in 1997 according to the plaque. Died at home in Endrick Road
• He is Jimmy Brown (the janny) brother.. he was a lovely man, was also in the fire brigade, (and I think ambulance service) with my (Alison Brown) dad!
• Worked part time at Alex Morrison's farm The Shian and Cairn Hall now Balfron Golf Club He worked for the council full time and of course was a part time fireman
• I think Jocky Brown - George Terrace the postman was his brother???? >>> No, that was a different Brown
• He ran the grass cutting and Grave digging from the council yard behind the new fire station. Also in the Fire Brigade with my grand father and legends such as Jimmy Rose
I lived in the house called Waverley from 1947 until, I think 1957 before we moved to Dunibert in Station Road.
I have many memories of my early life there, including Mr Taylor’s blacksmiths shop. It was so exciting to watch him at work.
Thé Waverley hall was much used in those days. I remember as a little girl playing a very honky-Tonk piano at little children’s concerts. I remember Mr Burns-Begg and the Band of Hope.
Mr Ruglan at the cafe would make chips on a Saturday. That was a real treat in those days!
Thé cinema( thé Mclintock hall) had very hard benches at the front and if my memory serves me well, I think they cost 9d. Thé double divans at the back were much more expensive!
Buchanan street was so different then. Going down a little set of steps to get to the sweetie shop. A little bell tinkled when you opened the door to Miss Finlay’s shop. Oh the nostalgia!