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Blantyre Folk

William Lockart

1850 - 1939

THE LATE MR W. LOCKHART.

The death, which took place early on Wednesday morning at his residence, St, Clair Cottage, Rosebank Avenue, Blantyre, of ex,-Police Sub-Inspector William Lockhart of the Lanarkshire Constabulary, removes from our midst one of our best known and highly respected citizens.

He passed peacefully away after an illness which had lasted only two days. He had spent a varied and busy life and in his younger days had given good service in different places in Lanarkshire, and more particularly in Blantyre. He was born at Arden, near Airdrie, on the 27th of May 1850, and in an exclusive interview which our correspondent had a few years ago with the worthy veteran, he gave an interesting account of the many incidents in his life, and we will confine ourselves to those which were most outstanding.

When not more than nine years of age he started to work as a trapper boy in the mines round about Airdrie, when his wages were 12/- a month. Afterwards he was employed as a yardsman, and in due course was employed as a goods guard, and when at this work he met with a serious accident. Before he had completely recovered he paid a personal visit to Mr George McKay, at Hamilton, who was the first chief constable of Lanarkshire, and there and then, which was in July, 1872, Mr Lockhart was appointed a constable. His first station was at Calderbank Ironworks, and his pay was 19/6 a week, rising 1/- a week per year until the maximum of 23/6 a week was reached.  He was afterwards stationed at Longriggend, Glenmavis, Airdrie, Bothwell and Hillhead. This latter place was in the County of Lanark . He was in charge at Hillhead on the 22nd October, 1877, when the terrible disaster occurred at Blantyre Collieries, High Blantyre , belonging to Messrs William Dixon, Ltd., when 226 men and boys were killed. Mr Lockhart was ordered to take a cab and proceed at once to the collieries and he was placed in charge of the mortuary. He had to be relieved after three days to attend to the funeral of his mother, who resided in the Shuttle Row, next door to the house where David Livingstone was born.

In May 1889 Captain McHardy, who was then chief constable, sent for Mr Lockhart and informed him that he had been promoted to the rank of sub inspector, and that he had to take charge of the Blantyre district which included East Kilbride, Udston and Earnock. In the interview the chief constable said, “Lockhart, Blantyre has always been a difficult place to handle, but I am satisfied that you are the man who can handle it satisfactorily and I have every confidence that you can do so.”

Mr Lockhart was stationed at Blantyre for over ten years. On taking up duty there he soon realised the necessity of an ambulance wagon for such a large mining centre, and with ambulance knowledge himself he got a class formed. He immediately set about interviewing the townspeople and colliery owners, and very quickly raised the sum of £150, which was sufficient to purchase a new ambulance wagon for the district. The Ambulance Association was then formed and Mr Lockhart was secretary of it until his transference to Biggar.

On retiring from the police in May 1906, he was afterwards employed at Milnwood Iron Works as commissionaire; as manager of Hamilton Home Lodging House and for fifteen years an inspector of the Scottish Coalmasters’ Union .

Mr Lockhart in early life was a keen Freemason, and affiliated from his mother lodge at Airdrie to Lodge Livingstone, No 569, Blantyre in 1889, was for two years R.W.M. and was one of the Masonic pioneers where responsible for the erection of the suite of halls now owned by the lodge. He was also a charter member of the Clark Forrest Royal Arch Chapter, No. 236, Blantyre , of which he was past principal. He was also prominently associated with the work of Stonefield Church of Scotland , Blantyre and for the past forty years he was an elder and a manager.

Mr Lockhart died two months before the worthy old couple were due to celebrate their diamond wedding. The funeral took place to High Blantyre Cemetery yesterday afternoon, when prominent local citizens and business men attended, Lanarkshire Constabulary was represented by Supt. F. Crowe and Inspector J. Milne and a detachment of uniformed policemen under the charge of Sergeant Ramsey, Blantyre. Six constables acted as pall-bearers. The services at the home and at the graveside were conducted by the Rev. J. Gibb Stonefield Parish Church .

Ref. Hamilton Advertiser. 21/1/1939 Page 5. (Photograph included with article.)

Wilma Bolton. 2005.

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