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Guestbook

Please feel free to leave us a message, we would be happy to receive your thoughts on our website or any other community matter.

Thank you.

NB - Sadly, due to recent misuse of messages sent to our guestbook page, all messages sent must have the senders email address attached. Failure to to do so means your message will not be published.

holiday

looking forward to coming back to my wee village, bringing my girls to see where i was brought up, been over 6 years since i was last over coming in march for 7 weeks, hope to catch up with a few old mates. see you all soon.

Posted by stephen white on 14 February 2010

opencast

Was devastated to hear the solidarity camp was torn apart yesterday, you did your best guys, its such a shame you didn't have more support! As I have two young children I thought about returning to the village and I wanted them to grow up with the same clean fresh air I grew up in but there is no chance of that now. I've heard people complain of what an eyesore the camp was, well lets see how happy they are with a dirty great big hole in the land and the pot holes in the roads!

Posted by Lisa Waugh on 26 January 2010

birthplace

Hello would just like to say that although I dont remember to much, I was born in the hospital in 1952 my mother Elizabeth Mckie former name Watton was married to Walter John Mckie he was a gamekeeper and worked for Lord Home on the estate anybody know of them have 2 sisters one lived in Rigside her name Peggy married to George Hay he worked in the coal pits

Posted by Dorothy Baker on 26 January 2010

Battons in Douglas West

I am trying to find out a bit more about my Great grandparents.
I believe they lived in Douglas West in 1916 and at least until 1919. 2 of their children were born in Douglas West.
If anyone has any memories of the Batton family from Douglas West I would appreciate any information.
My GGF brother Robert Batton also lived in the village at this time.
I imagine it was the mining industry which took them both from the pits in Ayrshire to Douglas West. Does anyone have any idea which mines were open in 1916-1919....

Thanks for your help, in advance.

Posted by Sandra on 05 January 2010

Not sure when these mines closed, but were still open 1910....
Carmcoup Mine - Situated near Douglas
Persons employed Underground 54; Above ground 14; Total 68

Glebe Mine - Situated near Douglas
Persons employed underground 10; Above ground 6; Total 16.

Robert Swann, Glespin, Douglas

Glespin Mine - Situated near Douglas
Persons employed underground, 115; Above ground 23; Total 138

Posted by adele on 16 January 2010

website return

hi: i'm finally able to get back to your fantastic website and to read lots more of the wonderful story's and people's names which are most familiar to me,i am of the older generation of douglasians, i just remembered there was another moira smith in the village she was the minister's daughter, i had three brothers guy smith, jackson smith, and gordon smith we used to live in kilncroft terr then moved to brownhill ave, i still keep in touch with a mary wharrie, and i still remember some other class mates, barbara fazzini, jean and ina moffat,the ramage brothers from welldale, rita burt, betty kerr, to name a few,it brings back a lot of wonderful memories, hope to get home again some day soon!!?? keep up your wonderful guestbook moira

Posted by moira smith perna on 04 January 2010

Yes, I remember you, I lived at 77 Brownhill Ave in those days. Your brother Guy was in my class at primary school, You were a year ahead in Belson Foster, Babbie Fazzini and June Fergusons class, all lived close, in fact June live opposite us in Brownhill next door to the Cronins. Your dad Guy used to help Peter Burrell and Robert Gold run the " Pictures" if I remember correctly and I remember your mother Jenny and believe it or not when you emigrated.
I wrote in already re meeting the other Moira Smith you mentioned when I first saw your earlier note , I met her in Papua New Guimea in 1989,but my response must have been lost in space.I thought this was the Moira Smith, your second email brought you back to mind.
Douglas folk are all over the world.
John Hastings[ Australia]

Posted by john hastings on 17 January 2010

nice to hear from you, nice to hear the rev daughter is still about, we used to get mixed up by people and had a good laugh about it. it is amazing how lots of people have managed to live in all parts of the world. i just heard from someone who lived in douglas her mother owned the cross keys for awhile she lives here in new jersy now. you had the correct information about mom and dad guy and jackson are gone now but gordon still lives in troon.where in australia to do you live i have a friend here who came from australia many years ago. nice to here from you. moira email dlanarks@aol.com

Posted by moira perna on 18 January 2010

I forgot to mention that Gordon worked for me for 5 years in the period 1976-1981 in Troon. He was in my brother's class at Douglas. I had heard that Guy had died.

Posted by john hastings on 21 January 2010

Just visiting on 02 January 2010

old memories on 08 December 2009

watson on 28 November 2009

gala day on 07 November 2009

opencasts on 07 November 2009

Mainshill on 06 October 2009

Townhead Cottage on 24 September 2009

Catherine Cranston on 11 September 2009

the bryson link on 02 September 2009

BRYSON on 01 August 2009

Gala Day. on 16 July 2009