William Boyd (Wullie Byde) Sadly Passes Away. R.I.P.

Photo Courtesy Of His Daughter Janice Shaw (With him in the photo).

William Boyd (Wullie Byde as he was known to everyone) sadly passed away today. Thoughts go out to his family at this sad time particularly his daughter Janice who gave me permission to use the photo!

Wullie was a well known and respected member of the Hamilton, Wishaw and Lanarkshire community, namely for his passion and involvement in sports and recreation. He served his time in the army alongside my Uncle Robert Murphy (Teedy) and was a good friend of my family (The Cadzow Murphys). It was during his time in the army where he developed a keen interest in sports, gaining numerous medals and trophies for boxing and physical fitness. He also played a key part in the army circuit training regime.

In later years during the early 1990’s I was fortunate enough to have known Wullie as he used to run the Mill Inn Bar which was close by to where I lived at the time. Along with my brother and a few friends we attended his circuit training class at the old Fairhill Civic Centre. Where, Wullie schooled us in army circuit training, weight training, sparring and if we were still fit enough, 5 or 7-a-side football afterwards (depending on the numbers!).

Wullie also trained and helped youngsters in the Wishaw YMCA Centre. He was very well respected and a no-nonsense type of man. Many years ago Wullie was involved as a “Peacekeeper” at Di McGuire’s Tossing School, which was located behind McGuire’s Fruit & Veg Shop ( just off Quarry Street, backing onto Baillies Causeway.) It was Hamilton’s Last Tossing School. He was a regular alongside other many great characters like My Uncle Teedy and “Babbers” Dan Daly and then Axe Murphy (My Grandfather).

My thoughts and prayers go out to his family at this sad time. Funeral details will follow in due course. His name is Legend! Wullie for me, was the last of Hamilton’s True Hard Men! ” An Old School Gentleman! “

R.I.P.

Written By

Hamilton Historian.

Terence (Terry) Murphy.

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.

The Tragic Stephen Mckerron Story.

As we grow older our memories become more distant and fade. Resulting in us piecing together the story of our lives by recalling the people and places involved around significant events that took place. Particularly during our childhood years! It is these memories that shape us into the adults we are today. 

When I was 10 years old and a pupil at St.Peter’s RC Primary in the Laighstonehall area of Hamilton a very scary thing happened.  Ominous news broke that a wee Hamilton boy had gone missing from the care of his aunty and uncle whilst on holiday at Butlins Wonderwest Complex in Ayr.  His disappearance sparked the largest mass scale search ever seen in Scotland.  Organised groups of adults from our local areas travelled to Ayrshire to aid the police in their search.  It is a tragic event that will forever burn in the hearts and minds of the boy’s family, local townsfolk  and the nation alike.

The wee boy was Stephen McKerron, he was only 5 years old and from Donald Terrace in the Fairhill area of Hamilton.  He was supposed to be on a week’s holiday with his aunty and uncle but within half an hour of arriving at the 110 acre complex he was reported “Missing!”  It was the 17th September 1988 (just over 30 years ago).  His father said he was wearing a tracksuit and training shoes.  Although there were initial concerns that Stephen may have been abducted, they were offset by a key witness who stated she saw him climb the six and a half ft parameter fence around the complex.  

Search parameters were established by the holiday complex management and police.  The public, police and royal navy (who provided the search helicopter with infrared sensors) conducted their mass scale search.  15 days had passed and the nation feared the worst! Until,  Sadly,  Lady MacLehose, 68, From Beoch, Maybole was walking her dog on the Carrick Hills on Sunday October 2nd and found Stephen’s body curled up in a ditch.  He was approximately 3 and a half miles from the holiday complex.  Lady MacLehose then returned home to call the police.

Later the post-mortem revealed that Stephen had died due to exposure. And, at a later date during the inquest it was decided that strangulation could not be ruled out,  Due to lack of tissue on the partly decomposed body.  All the pathologist could say was that “There were no ligature marks on the back of the neck”.

Police spoke of witnesses having seen Stephen by the side of the Coast Road which runs by the complex.

Eyewitness Mr Stuart Reid, 51, a Video Dealer. Saw Stephen walking along the road hand-in-hand with a man.  Mr Reid said the man was warmly clad and the child was wearing only a t-shirt, this “Struck him as strange!”. Mr Reid said he only saw the profile of the boy and said it could have been him whilst he was provided with a photo of Stephen at the Court inquest.

The second eyewitness Mr Bryan Wilcox, 24, from Ayrshire who was a Domestic appliance Engineer said; ” He saw a man and a boy as he drove that night on a single-track road which cuts across the Carrick Hills (where Stephen was found). It was getting dark, they were walking side by side”. “I think they were holding hands,  they looked as if they were out for a walk.” The man was wearing a wax jacket and the boy was indistinct.

20 year old Butlins Barmaid Ms Jaqueline Hepburn, from Glenrothes, Fyfe was the third eyewitness.  She said she saw a man and a boy, who was crying at the complex. She heard the man say; Don’t worry, Your mother would not have gone and left you.  I am going to look after you” She also said the man was holding the boys hand.  He lifted him up and the boy was hitting him and screaming.  The boy was crying as the man carried him off.

Another unidentified eyewitness said they were sure that Stephen was alone when he left Wonderwest.

The last eyewitness Mrs Margaret Park, 54, from Fourth Avenue, Millerston, Glasgow was on holiday at the complex with her family. Their caravan was located beside the parameter fence. She saw a youngster walk past and he stopped and looked directly in.  She sent her grandson Jonathan to find out what the boy was doing. He told her the boy had climbed out of the complex over the fence. He showed her where and she could see a sag in the fence there. Jonathan had spoken to the youngster as he sat on top of the fence and asked if he was lost. The boy said no.  Mrs park had identified the boy as Stephen.

In hindsight when we look back at this case as well as the recent Madelaine McCann story and countless others,  we criticise and question the people involved in the incident, search and inquiry. How was the search dealt with? Was the inquiry the final answer and truth? And, How could a tragedy like this happen in the first place? We don’t know whether Stephen was abducted, taken miles away only to be abandoned to survive for himself.  Or, if in fact was running away because he was homesick and missing his mum and dad and thought in his own mind that he could find his way home to them and tragically he succumbed to the elements…….

We should always teach children about the importance of not talking to strangers and that not all people who approach them can look or act bad and strange.  Educate them about the different ways kidnappers might approach them and try to gain their trust. And most importantly that, They should never run-away! Even if it is for a short time. As this will put them at a greater risk of being taken against their will. That they should always stay around the people who love them and can protect them!

May

Stephen McKerron

Rest In Peace.

Written by

Hamilton Historian.

Terence (Terry) Murphy.

Ref; Daily Record Newspaper, 20th May 2012,  Herald Newspaper, 28th March & 29th March 1989.