A big thank-you to everyone who contributed to the success of the Strathblane Heritage Second World War Exhibition at the local library. First of all, the seven “volunteers” who put their all into unearthing the life and war stories of the seven local men who paid the ultimate price. And the casualties’ families who, without exception, were delighted to see their relative honoured in our exhibition. Thanks also to our five “Super Seniors”, who generously shared their memories of Strathblane’s WW2 Home Front. Thanks to Lynne James and the library staff for accommodating and encouraging us. And finally, thanks to everyone who came to the opening or visited the exhibition, which was extended by a week by popular demand.
A number of you left kind comments in our visitors’ book. Here are some of them:
“What a wonderful exhibition. A glance back at the past.” Mari Donohoe
“This is an impressive exhibition about real people who lived locally. They always come alive with such brilliant research.” Brain Aitchision
“Well done and many thanks. We will definitely meet again!” Andy and Pat Orr
” My grandmother, Granny Sarah [Mitchell, one of the Super Seniors], grew up here. I keep thinking of her running around in her sweet wee dress and her cheeky wee smile across her face. Thanks you for telling a little part of her story here in this exhibition. She would be happy to see it here.”
“A very impressive and interesting exhibition. A lot of hard work has gone into this and it is well worth it. I feel it’s brought my Uncle Archie [MacNicol] to life. He and the others are not forgotten. Thank you.”
“Congratulations on a wonderful project.” Hugh Edward and David Smith, Fintry Museum Society.
More than 80 people responded to our Facebook post about Annie Bone’s WW2 Sweet shop. Everyone attending the opening received 2oz of free sweets, the size of the WW2 ration. Sweets didn’t come off the ration until 1953! Thanks to Annie Muir, who weighed out the sweets.
No problem if you missed the exhibition. Most of the material on now on this website. See https:/www.strathblaneheritage.org/strathblane-7/ for the Strathblane Seven and https://www.strathblaneheritage.org/the-second-world-war/ for the Home Front.
And all the boards that appeared in the exhibition have been added to the display boards in the Strathblane Heritage archive at the Thomas Graham Community Library under these numbers:
95 WW2 Introduction and Alexander Turnbull, RNVR
96 WW2 Andrew Macgavin Maclean, RNVR
97 WW2 Gilbert McKay, RNVR
98 WW2 Archie MacNicol, Royal Engineers
99 WW2 Daniel (Fergus) Davidson, RAF
100 WW2 Jimmy Callander, Royal Artillery (1)
101 WW2 Jimmy Callander, Royal Artillery (2)
102 WW2 Dick Pedder, No 11 (Scottish) Commando (1)
103 WW2 Dick Pedder, No 11 (Scottish) Commando (2)
104 WW2 Home Front, Our “Super Seniors” (1)
105 WW2 Home Front, Our “Super Seniors” (2)
106 WW2 Home Front, the Parachute Mines that Fell on Blanefield
107 WW2 Home Front, the Germans are Coming?!
108 WW2 The Strathblane Seven – images of war memorial and graves of Daniel Davidson and Gilbert McKay
109 WW2 The Strathblane Seven, Collage of WW2 Casualties (Names on reverse side)
110 WW2 The Strathblane Seven, images relating to Andrew Maclean, Dick Pedder and Alex Turnbull
111 WW2 The Strathblane Seven, images relating to Jimmy Callander, Archie MacNicol, Gilbert McKay and Daniel Davidson
112 WW2 What the Papers Said (1)
113 WW2 What the Papers Said (2)
114 WW2 What the Papers Said (3) The Home Front
115 WW2 What the Papers Said (4) Victory Celebrations
116 WW2 What the Papers Said (5) Prisoners of War and Welcome Home Dinners
117 WW2 Copy of Welcome Home Dinner Programme, Jan 1947 (1)
118 WW2 Copy of Welcome Home Dinner Programme Jan 1947 (2) reverse side
119 WW2 Our “Super Seniors” (Names on reverse side)
120 WW2 Strathblane School in War Time (1)
121 WW2 Strathblane School in War Time (2)
122 WW2 Evacuees at Carbeth
123 WW2 Verse and Worse?!