Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Jonathan Geddes

Memories of Cambuslang life inspire new book by Lanarkshire author

From memories of disappointment at a pageant to tales of Whitlawburn Thistle, a new book is celebrating life in Cambuslang's last council scheme.

'Not Miss Whitlawburn' is the work of local writer Janice K. Ross, and follows on from her 2016 book ' Voices Galore' .

It presents an oral history of life in Whitlawburn through the words of people who grew up in the community, which was the last council scheme to be built in Cambuslang in the early 1970s.

Janice, who now lives in the Halfway area but grew up in Aron Terrace, said she wanted her new work to capture memories of the area before they were lost forever.

She said: "My dad Robert has dementia now and there are so many stories he has told about his life that are gone now.

"It's important that we don't lose those stories and those history, and for Whitlawburn I wanted a social history of the area, told by the people themselves.

Janice Ross is delighted to release the book (Rutherglen Reformer)

"The West Whitlawburn housing co-op had published a document about East and West Whitlawburn, and the East was presented as being a dump in it.

"I wanted to counter that, because my memories are that it was a really vibrant new community I wanted to capture the vibrancy, the people that shaped it and the beauty that was there for everyone. "

One thing that stands out to Janice the most is that there was a strong sense of community in the fledgling scheme.

She added: "There were play schemes, things like the Miss Whitlawburn contest, which I lost one year and which gives the book its title, and I wanted people to remember that aspect.

"We might be considered ' schemie' trash by some, but we have a story to tell."

Not Miss Whitlawburn (Rutherglen Reformer)

Over a number of years Janice spoke to numerous residents, past and present, about their memories of the region.

That means the book has a wide historical scope, with some participants fondly remembering puppet shows being held in the scheme during the school summer holidays, while others recall growing up playing in the open spaces, taking newspaper delivery rounds to earn pocket money, and even the excitement caused by the opening of ASDA in the area.

Throughout it all Janice hopes the book reflects what life in Whitlawburn was like.

She added: "If you're writing a community narrative, then that's everyone's story, not just yours, and what it has hopefully done is awaken memories that may have laid dormant.

"Talking to other people reminded me of things about my own family, because someone would say something and it would bring something back I'd forgotten about myself - I hope people who read the book have that reaction too.

"I feel like I've said this was a great life growing up and I hope people get the feeling that this was a community working together to do what they could for everyone."

There is a further family touch running through the book, as illustrations are provided by Janice's daughter, Maddie, and she admits to feeling a sense of personal satisfaction that the book is now released.

She explained: "I'd really wanted it done a few years ago, but it hadn't come together.

"Then I got a phone call from Jim Nisbet, who grew up in Maxton Terrace but now lives over in Donegal.

"He had heard me talking about it through Camglen Radio, and offered to help transcribe the interviews.

"The enthusiasm he had was a real boost to me and inspired me to get it finished, and I'm really pleased to have it released now."

More information on the book can be found via its publisher here.

**Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.

And did you know Lanarkshire Live is on Facebook? Head on over and give us a like and share!

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.