This picture was taken at the Lanarkshire Steel Works in Motherwell. Margaret Hewitt who lives in Australia sent this to Historic Hamilton and she told us that her dad at the time lived at Low Waters Road.
Andrew Howie who is the man in the suit is front row and third from the right. He was the foreman, Joiner. He later lived in Hillhouse when the family moved in 1958.
Margeret told us:
“This is the Joiner’s Shop at the Lanarkshire Steelworks in the early fifties. My Dad, Andrew Howie, third from right in front row, was the foreman joiner.
He lived on Low Waters Road and then we moved up to Hillhouse in 58. A lot of the men came from Hamilton.
My dad was born in Townhead Street, Hamilton on 31st December 1915 to William Howie and Isabella Napier. He was the youngest of five children all born within seven years four boys and one girl.
At some point, the family moved to Montrose Crescent and my dad became a champion swimmer. Later in his life, he joined Bothwell Bowling Club and was a member of a bowling team that represented Scotland.
He worked in the Lanarkshire Steelworks for forty years, taking early retirement when it looked like the Shire was closing down. During the war, he was a member of the Royal Marines for two years, stationed in Deal, Kent.
He married my mum in 1940 and they had 61 years of marriage until he died in 2001. They emigrated to Western Australia to be with us in January 1984, leaving Hamilton at minus 20 degrees and arriving in Perth to 44.5.”
Some of the names that we know, Garry, are Alec Mitchell, Bert Chambers and Jimmy Perrie. Not sure which is which.
Do you know any of the other men in this picture? If you do, then let us know.
I worked on the hot beds where the “H” beams were pushed on
to as they were cooling.
Then later on the cold rolling lower down the mill, and finally
as a crane slinger loading steel onto the railway waggons.
It was hard graft and open to the elements at the bottom and freezing cold in the winter. Most of the workmates were easygoing hard workers only making a living for their families. They were however working in a dangerous environment, in the dust that was strewn about, accidents that
Were caused by poor quality tools or ocassionally by alcohol induced accudents. If anyone
Claimed compensation their witnesses withdrew statements shortly after the accident or were suddenly sacked for dubious reasons.
Try getting a job after that you somehow were on a blacklist. If you went to the union lawyer then your paperwork was lost or failed to be registered in time.
Steel workers deserved better protection.
Kit, I serve my apprenticeship in the Boilermakers department.
You’re correct,it was dangerous but boy the camaraderie within the works vwas something that has never left me.
Just a young boy I was and now retired.
Nearly 45 years ago this month the shire closed but I still fondly remember them men I worked with.
Never forget them . Jim Panton
Hello Garry,
I have only just found your 2017 article about Andrew Howie and the Lanarkshire Steelworks, with the photograph and family information supplied by his daughter, Margaret Hewitt.
Andrew was the younger brother of my grandfather, James Napier Howie. James married my nana, Mary Cook Whyte, in Motherwell in 1939. Their daughter, Roberta Whyte Howie, was my mum.
James was killed while serving as an RAF flight engineer in France in July 1944, when my mum was only about sixteen months old. She grew up knowing very little about her father or the Howie side of her family.
I would dearly love to make contact with Margaret and learn more about the family. I completely understand that you cannot give me her private details, but would you be willing to forward this message and my contact information to her so that she can decide whether she would like to contact me?
My email is heatherb.davies@gmail.com
Thank you very much for any help you can offer.
Heather
Hi Heather,
Thanks for getting in touch.
If I can direct you to my Facebook page and search for Margaret you should find her there.
Perhaps connect with her on facebook and then send her a message or reply back to the post there.
Garry,