The Gordon McLean Premonition.

In the early hours of the morning on a cold murky night during late 1975, a ghostly presentiment occurred. The sighting was witnessed at number  60 Westwood Crescent ( at the top left hand corner of the cul-de-sac ) in the Laighstonehall area of Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland.

The house was owned by Jimmy and Bridget Simpson  ( my maternal grandparents ). The previous tenants were the McLean Family, consisting of Mrs McLean, her son Gordon and two daughters. The family had moved away from the area after the tragic loss of the youngest daughter. Her nightdress had caught fire in the house and she subsequently died a few days later in hospital due to the injuries she had suffered. The houses were of a pre-fabricated construction and notorious fire hazards. They were often dubbed as the “Tin Houses”.

Gordon McLean was a keen motorcyclist and mechanic, he often repaired motorbikes and was good friends with Terry Murphy who also lived in the local area. Sharing the same interests they often worked together until Gordon moved away.

In June of 1975  Terry Murphy married Marion Simpson ( my parents ). They were both living at number  60 Westwood Crescent, Marion’s mother and fathers’ house as they could not yet afford a place of their own.  Terry was working shifts at the Dalziel Plate Mill in Motherwell as an overhead crane driver and Marion worked at Schweppes Soft Drinks Manufacturers in East Kilbride, also on shifts.  They often joked that they were like; ” Passing ships in the night ” lol, as both their shift patterns and sleeping times would vary.

It was a quiet, cold and murky night as Terry returned to the house after finishing his shift. He was exhausted and in much need of sleep but made himself some hot tea and something to eat before returning to bed where, Marion was already sleeping.  Terry was restless and although very tired had difficulty relaxing and clearing his mind. He turned to his left trying not to wake Marion and lay for a while, then he tried sleeping flat on his back. Subsequently he turned back to his right side and managed to close his eyes but after a few moments opened them again.  Terry  got the fright of his life!

There kneeling on one knee some 4 ft in front of him was Gordon McLean! He was wearing his blue zip-up overalls and looked worried whilst reaching his right arm out at Terry as though asking for help. Terry frantically turned to Marion trying to wake her up and by the time he turned back round Gordons’ apparition was gone!  It happened within seconds.  Terry and Marion then woke the rest of the household.

The following day news had spread in the local area that  Gordon McLean had killed himself outright by accidentally crashing his motorbike in to a brick wall after losing control and careering off the road.

Terry had witnessed the ghostly premonition of Gordon McLean reaching out to him before his tragic accident sealed his fate!

Terry and Marion Murphy  at the house.

Written by

Hamilton Historian.

Terence (Terry) Murphy.

 

Ref;  The story was provided by my late Parents and Family.