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Glasgow Times
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
East Dunbartonshire libraries hosting VE Day events
VE Day, which falls on May 8, marks the end of World War II in Europe. The East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture (EDLC) Trust, which manages local libraries, has organised the events to commemorate this historic occasion. Read more: Glasgow event to honour 'courage and commitment' of emergency service workers (Image: Archives & Local Studies (East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture Trust) 'Victory Tea in the Library' will be held on Thursday, May 8 from 2pm until 4pm at Bishopbriggs Library, Kirkintilloch's William Patrick Library, Lennoxtown Library, and Milngavie Library. Patrons are invited to drop in and make VE Day bunting, sip some tea, and sample the cake and biscuits. There will also be a themed display, and visitors will be able to handle wartime objects. William Patrick Library has also organised range of activities from Saturday, May 3 to Thursday, May 8. These include bunting and spitfire plane-making, as well as a child-friendly quiz. Linda McIntosh will deliver a talk at the library on May 7, exploring a German plane crash near Lennoxtown on May 7, 1941, and a local family's journey. Tickets for this event are free but bookings are required. They can be made here: Read more: Glasgow ranked as second most generous city in UK Linda will also deliver her talk at Lennoxtown Library on May 12. (Image: Archives & Local Studies (East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture Trust)) The Milngavie Heritage Group will be present at the Milngavie Library on VE Day from 2pm until 4pm to share their experiences of the Clydebank Blitz. Visitors can also browse the group's latest exhibition, 'Keep Calm and Carry On – The Home Front in Bearsden and Milngavie during World War II', which is on until June 7, 2025. All events are free to attend, and no booking is required unless stated otherwise. More information about the scheduled events can be found on the EDLC website.
Glasgow Times
08-05-2025
- General
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow falls silent to mark 80 years since VE Day
People stopped to pay their respects in businesses, streets and train stations, giving thanks for the brave men and women who fought against Nazi Germany and its allies. Members of the public were pictured in Glasgow Queen Street station pausing for a quiet moment of reflection on the 80th anniversary of VE Day. A two-minute silence was held across the city (Image: Gordon Terris)READ MORE: Secret documents of Glasgow war hero found in old desk The silence came ahead of a service of thanksgiving at Glasgow Cathedral at 1pm, with guests including representatives from the military, veterans' organisations, emergency services and religious groups. Members of the Royal British Legion, the Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA), and the Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Families Association (SSAFA) will be taking part in the service, along with their families. A man pays respect to those who died during the Second World War (Image: Gordon Terris)A number of elected officials are also set to be in attendance, including Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes and Scotland Office minister Kirsty McNeill. READ MORE: Do you know Glasgow war hero nurse who helped in Clydebank Blitz? The two-minute silence was observed in Glasgow Queen Street (Image: Gordon Terris) Speaking ahead of the service Ms McNeill said: 'It's a huge privilege to attend the VE Day Commemoration in Glasgow to honour all the men and women in Scotland who served during the Second World War, and also to recognise the great sacrifice of the people of Glasgow during the Clydebank Blitz in March 1941. 'We owe our lives to those who served, and what will be a moving ceremony in Glasgow Cathedral is a fitting reminder of that.' Lord Provost of Glasgow Jacqueline McLaren said: 'Thursday's service in Glasgow Cathedral is a time for us to come together to remember and reflect on the sacrifices made, courage displayed and the resilience of those who put their lives on the line to keep us safe and help build a better world. 'It's also a day to rejoice in peace and freedom, sometimes things that we take for granted. I hope as many people as possible can come along to join us in tribute and celebration.' Reverend Mark Johnstone, minister at Glasgow Cathedral, added: 'We look forward to welcoming people from all walks of life, people of faith and none, as we reflect, give thanks and pray for a better tomorrow. 'Although there are increasingly few veterans still alive, the world we live in today was shaped by the outcome of the Second World War.'
The Herald Scotland
08-05-2025
- General
- The Herald Scotland
Scots fall silent to mark 80th anniversary of VE Day
The moment of reflection came ahead of a service of thanksgiving at Glasgow Cathedral at 1pm, with guests including representatives from the military, veterans' organisations, emergency services and religious groups. Members of the Royal British Legion, the Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA), and the Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Families Association (SSAFA) will be taking part in the service, along with their families. A number of elected officials are also set to be in attendance, including Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes and Scotland Office minister Kirsty McNeill. Speaking ahead of the service Ms McNeill said: 'It's a huge privilege to attend the VE Day Commemoration in Glasgow to honour all the men and women in Scotland who served during the Second World War, and also to recognise the great sacrifice of the people of Glasgow during the Clydebank Blitz in March 1941. 'We owe our lives to those who served, and what will be a moving ceremony in Glasgow Cathedral is a fitting reminder of that.' READ MORE: Lord Provost of Glasgow Jacqueline McLaren said: 'Thursday's service in Glasgow Cathedral is a time for us to come together to remember and reflect on the sacrifices made, courage displayed and the resilience of those who put their lives on the line to keep us safe and help build a better world. 'It's also a day to rejoice in peace and freedom, sometimes things that we take for granted. I hope as many people as possible can come along to join us in tribute and celebration.' Reverend Mark Johnstone, minister at Glasgow Cathedral, added: 'We look forward to welcoming people from all walks of life, people of faith and none, as we reflect, give thanks and pray for a better tomorrow. 'Although there are increasingly few veterans still alive, the world we live in today was shaped by the outcome of the Second World War.' Meanwhile, Scottish Secretary Ian Murray is set to visit Lady Haig's Poppy Factory in Edinburgh, where he will meet 99-year-old VE Day veterans Margaret Landels and George McLeod, as well as a number of other military veterans. The factory has been producing poppies in Scotland since 1926, and its team of ex-service men and women produce millions of poppies and tens of thousands of wreaths, remembrance symbols and long-stem poppies each year. Speaking ahead of the visit, Mr Murray said: 'VE Day is a moment for us all to give thanks to the wartime generation. We thank all those who served at home and abroad, who gave so much to ensure the freedoms we enjoy today. 'Of course, the war was not over until VJ Day, but VE Day marked a crucial turning point in the war and in our history, and it is right that we continue to mark it 80 years on.' The anniversary is also being marked in Scottish Government buildings, where a two-minute silence will be observed at midday. The Scottish Government's Victoria Quay and St Andrew's House buildings in Edinburgh will also continue to be lit up in red as part of a campaign to light significant buildings across the UK. Edinburgh Castle was among the buildings to be lit up in red on Tuesday in the run-up to the anniversary. Memorial events are also set to continue in Lerwick aboard vessels that arrived there from Norway on Tuesday, in commemoration of the Shetland Bus that operated between Scotland and Norway during the war. The events mark 80 years to the day since the formal acceptance by the Allies of Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender on May 8 1945, bringing the Second World War in Europe to an end after more than five years of bitter fighting.
Daily Record
08-05-2025
- General
- Daily Record
Veterans and Renfrewshire school pupils team up to create Second World War book
Memories of the Arctic convoys and the Clydebank Blitz were among those shared by veterans from Erskine Veterans Charity with pupils from Park Mains High School in Erskine. Second World War veterans have been interviewed by Renfrewshire school pupils for a book which preserves their stories to educate future generations about the conflict. Memories of the Arctic convoys and the Clydebank Blitz were among those shared by veterans from Erskine Veterans Charity with pupils from Park Mains High School in Erskine. Recollections of evacuation, rationing and life after the war have also been documented in the book, My Life Through WW2. The book records the first-hand experiences of people who served and lived through the war, and pupils conducted interviews, transcribed stories and worked closely with veterans to document their memories in their own words, accompanied by restored photographs. It will be professionally printed and distributed to schools across Renfrewshire as an educational resource, and will also be available to the public in limited numbers. Albert Lamond, 99, served in some of the most dangerous naval operations of the war, from Arctic convoys to the D-Day landings, and was 18 when he joined HMS Rowley. It was assigned to protect the battleship HMS Warspite during the D-Day landings in June 1944. His role was to spot and signal threats while Warspite shelled German positions along the Normandy coast. Mr Lamond said: 'It's vital we teach the younger ones the true cost of freedom. We won't be here forever, but these stories – our memories – must live on. 'It's vital we tell these stories now. When we're gone, we're gone. If young people don't hear it directly from us, how will they ever really know what happened? 'If this book helps just one young person understand what we went through – what it cost – then it's worth it. We fought so they wouldn't have to. That's what matters.' Captain Bryan Warren, 87, a veteran Argyll and Sutherland Highlander, shared memories of being evacuated as a child to Bournemouth, and seeing D-Day aircraft overhead. His lifetime of service included mentoring young cadets and fundraising for fellow veterans, and he praised the project for 'making sure our stories aren't lost'. Capt Warren said: 'The war took so much from so many, but it also taught us the value of small kindnesses. I'll never forget the sailor who gave me a bar of chocolate as a boy. 'It may seem small, but that moment stayed with me for life. Sharing these memories with young people has been an honour and if it helps them understand what we lived through, then it's been worth every word. 'I've always believed in paying that kindness forward. Whether through my time in the cadets, helping veterans return to Dunkirk, or fundraising with my tin, I've tried to give back in any way I can. This project is another way of doing that — making sure our stories aren't lost and that the next generation carries them forward with respect and understanding.' The project has been funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and is supported by the Erskine Reid Macewen Activity Centre (ERMAC). Wing Commander Ian Cumming, chief executive of Erskine Veterans Charity, said: 'This project is a beautiful example of what can happen when generations come together with curiosity and respect. 'Our veterans have lived through extraordinary times. Giving them the chance to tell their stories and be heard by young people ensures that history is not just remembered but that it's understood by generations to come.' Evonne McCord, ERMAC deputy manager, said: 'This book captures a moment in time that must never be forgotten. The memories shared within these pages are to be treasured, and on behalf of Erskine, I would like to thank everyone who contributed to this project. To our wonderful ERMAC members who took part, I thank them for sharing their stories. 'Both of my parents were born in the mid-1930s and are no longer with us. Hearing the memories of our veterans gave me a deeper understanding of what they might have experienced. 'I'm certain that many who read this book will reflect on their own family histories and find a personal connection in these pages.' Some editions will be auctioned to raise funds for Erskine Veterans Charity.
Glasgow Times
08-05-2025
- General
- Glasgow Times
Do you know Glasgow war hero nurse who helped in Clydebank Blitz?
A tenement, hit by a Luftwaffe bomb, was in ruins, a severely injured man trapped in the debris. With little regard for their own safety, the two medics, along with city police surgeon Dr McLaren Ord, made their way to the man through a tunnel created by emergency workers, and carried out emergency surgery. With dust and debris falling around them, and the rest of the building in danger of collapse, they amputated the man's leg to release him. (Image: Ancestry) Now, historians are searching for family of Nurse McGinty, who lived at 44 Circus Drive, Glasgow, as part of the VE Day 80th anniversary commemorations. The night of the Clydebank Blitz, when German aircraft dropped bombs along the Clydeside into Glasgow, 1200 people were killed, thousands more injured and homes and businesses were destroyed. Crown Avenue at the corner of Kilbowie Road, showing the devastation of the Clydebank Blitz. (Image: (Photo courtesy West Dunbartonshire Library and Archives)) Amid the terror, some breathtaking acts of gallantry were carried out. To mark the 80th Anniversary of VE Day, family history website Ancestry, is uncovering and celebrating the unsung heroes of WWII in Glasgow. The company is honouring 80 'hidden heroes' of World War II by spotlighting the role and contributions of people across the country, whether that was on the battlefields, in factories, in the Air Raid Precautions or supporting local communities on the home front. Sue Webb (Image: Ancestry) The company is keen to track down the relatives of Cecilia McGinty to present them with a limited-edition commemorative plate, which includes their name and a digitally enhanced image based on original photography from the time. Dr Millar's granddaughter Sue Webb was presented with a plate honouring her grandfather at Ancestry's 'Table of History' on London's Southbank this week. Our sister newspaper, then The Glasgow Herald, reported in June, 1941: 'When at 3.30am on March 14 Dr Millar arrived at the wrecked tenement building, rescue parties had succeeded in tunnelling through to a trapped man. 'To relieve the pain the man was suffering, Dr Millar administered morphia. The man's foot was caught between a kitchen range and a flight of stone stairs, and it was feared that attempts to free it would mean the collapse of the remaining portion of the building. READ NEXT: Veterans to march in Glasgow as city prepares for VE Day 80th anniversary READ NEXT: 'We are all walking in footsteps of the brave': Rutherglen woman's VE Day tribute 'At 4am, Dr McLaren Ord arrived…and it was decided to amputate the man's foot in order to release him. With Nurse McGinty, the doctors entered the tunnel and by the light of electric torches, Dr Millar performed a 40 minutes operation, the anaesthetic being given by Dr McLaren Ord assisted by Nurse McGinty. 'During the entire period, the debris was on the point of collapsing and occasional falls of wreckage occurred. By their gallant action performed at great personal risk the doctors succeeded in extricating the trapped man.' In celebration of VE Day 80, Ancestry is giving free access to more than 2.5 million military records from May 5 to 11, enabling the public to delve into their past and see if they are related to those being honoured. Are you related to Nurse McGinty? Get in touch by emailing or write to Ann Fotheringham, Glasgow Times, 125 Fullarton Drive, Glasgow G32 8FG.
