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Local History Radio Programmes about Rutherglen
Programmes from CamGlen Radio's local history series Halfway to Burgh
Click on a programme's title to access it, then press     to listen.
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Boundary Stones

Join members of Rutherglen Heritage Society as they inspect the boundary stones which mark the extent of the Royal Burgh's ancient boundary.

 

First broadcast 2017.

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Castles of Rutherglen & Cambuslang

History of the castles which once stood in and around Rutherglen and Cambuslang, and of the people who lived in them in times of peace as well as  in times of conflict.

First broadcast 2021.

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Halloween Special

Seasonal tales from Rutherglen about ghosts, devil worship, secret tunnels, scary movies and mysterious burials. Selected from other programmes in this series.

First broadcast 2018.

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Heroes Live Forever

Bill Bonnar tells the story of the commemoration of the men from Rutherglen and Cambuslang who fought in the Spanish Civil War as members of the International Brigade in 1936.

First broadcast 2019.

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Hoover Factory

With the help of retired Hoover employee Frank Lang, we trace the history of the Cambuslang factory from its World War II origins until its closure in 2005. 

First broadcast 2017.

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Library Part 1

Zen Boyd traces the history of the libraries in Rutherglen, focusing on the splendid current building, funded by Andrew Carnegie, which stands in the Main Street today.

First broadcast 2018.

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Library Part 2

The story of W. Ross Shearer, Rutherglen's most famous librarian and author of Rutherglen Lore, the best book written to date about Rutherglen's history.

First broadcast 2018.

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Library Part 4

The Heritage Centre

Learn about this great local resource centre, and about the fascinating items you can see there and find out what services it has to offer.

First broadcast 2018.

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Library Part 3

The continuing  story of Rutherglen's most famous librarian, including a couple of ghostly tales from around the library building.

First broadcast 2018.

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Benny Lynch Heritage Trail  Part 1

Christina Milarvie Quarrell and Peter Mortimer tell the story of the Benny Lynch Heritage Trail which traces the life of the legendary Glasgow boxer and his connection to Rutherglen.

 

First broadcast 2022.

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Benny Lynch Heritage Trail  Part 2

Christina Milarvie Quarrell and Peter Mortimer tell the story of the Benny Lynch Heritage Trail which traces the life of the legendary Glasgow boxer and his connection to Rutherglen.

 

First broadcast 2022.

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Old Parish Church

Session Clerk Hugh Millar looks back at the 1,400 year history of the church and its churchyard, and at the important events in Scottish history that it has witnessed.

First broadcast 2017.

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Betty Paton: Evangelistic Institute Part 1

Betty talks to Zen Boyd about the Evangelistic Institute in Greenbank Street which for many years played an important part in the spiritual and social life of generations of Ruglonians. 

 

First broadcast 2023.

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Betty Paton: Evangelistic Institute Part 2

Betty talks to Zen Boyd about the Evangelistic Institute in Greenbank Street which for many years played an important part in the spiritual and social life of generations of Ruglonians

 

First broadcast 2023.

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Picture Houses

A history of the nine cinemas that used to be in Cambuslang and Rutherglen, from the Empire to the State.

First broadcast 2018.

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Rutherglen in the 1950s P1

David Jackson's recollections of life in the 1950s, this time about: smog, food rationing, air raid shelters & gas masks.

First broadcast 2018.

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Rutherglen in the 1950s P2

David Jackson's recollections of life in the 1950s, this time about: the Queen’s visit, Onion Johnnies, street singers & The Band of Hope.

First broadcast 2018.

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Rutherglen in the 1950s P3

David Jackson's recollections of life in the 1950s, this time about: street bookies, newspaper sellers, streets that have vanished and the town’s oldest pub.

First broadcast 2018.

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Rutherglen in the 1950s P4

David Jackson's recollections of life in the 1950s, this time about: the town’s last bell ringer, drinking fountains, the model lodging house and a tale of two burials.

First broadcast 2018.

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Rutherglen in the 1950s P5

David Jackson's recollections of life in the 1950s, this time about: the Cathkin Laundry, outdoor swimming, the last farm in Rutherglen and Halloween 1950s style.

First broadcast 2018.

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Rutherglen in the 1950s P6

David Jackson's recollections of life in the 1950s, this time about: vanished shops: butchers, cobblers shops, corner shops and the town's many chip shops.

First broadcast 2018.

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Rutherglen in the 1950s P8

David Jackson's recollections of life in the 1950s, this time about: the town's rural past including the last country estate, and the grisly death of the town's last miller.

First broadcast 2018.

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Rutherglen in the 1950s P7

David Jackson's recollections of life in the 1950s, this time about: the trams, the cinemas, the arrival of television, and the number of cars in the street back then.

First broadcast 2018.

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Rutherglen in the 1950s P9

David Jackson's recollections of life in the 1950s, this time about: the town's cafes. cafe favourites 'dig-deeps' and 'pink paraffins', plus recollections of the Burgh Cup.

First broadcast 2018.

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Seath's Shipyard

The history of the shipyard in Rutherglen whose ships sailed on oceans, lakes and rivers all over the world, and of the remarkble man who was the driving force behind the yard.

First broadcast 2018.

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Donald Tilston 

Stonelaw Tower Part 1

Interview from November 2022 with Donald Tilston who, with his parents, was the last resident of Stonelaw Tower which was demolished in the 1960s.

First broadcast 2023.

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Donald Tilston 

Stonelaw Tower Part 2

Interview from November 2022 with Donald Tilston who, with his parents, was the last resident of Stonelaw Tower which was  demolished in the 1960s.

First broadcast 2023.

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Whites Chemical Co. Part 1

With the help of David Jackson, we tell the story of the infamous chemical works at Shawfield, owned by the rich and powerful White family.

First broadcast 2017.

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Whites Chemical Co. Part 2

With the help of David Jackson, we tell the story of the infamous chemical works at Shawfield, owned by the rich and powerful White family.

First broadcast 2017.

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Common Threads
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This three-part programme, recorded just before the first 2020 Covid-19 lockdown, features interviews with members of Rutherglen's Busy Bees craft group. Christina Milarvie Quarrell discovered from her fellow members how they learned their craft skills, what new skills they are learning in the group, what sort of items they make and how their skills are being passed on to younger generations. Christina also explored with them, the wellbeing benefits of being part of the group.

Common Threads Part 1

In this first programme, we hear from Busy Bees members Lily, Margaret and Irene. First, Christina reflects briefly with Lily about the tradition of crafts in Scotland, before Irene tell her how she joined the group, and how she learned her craft skills.

First broadcast 2020.

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Common Threads Part 2

In this second programme, we hear from Busy Bees members Maureen, Rosie and Sheena. First, Christina talks briefly about the history of the group, before Maureen, current Chairperson of the group, tells us how she became involved.

First broadcast 2020.

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Common Threads Part 3

In this final programme, we hear from Busy Bees member Isabelle and from Nellie of the Peoples First, Peoples Future Group in which Christina is also involved.

First broadcast 2020.

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Peoples Past Peoples Future Group
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We have made some excellent programmes with this vibrant Rutherglen-based community group. This started with a recording of a live performance of their self-written Tenement Tales in May 2019 followed by a recording of the group's Halloween Tales later that year.

Tenement Tales Part 1

Members of the PPPF group share their memories of growing up in, working in and living in these iconic and much loved buildings, and sing songs they remember from these times gone by.

 

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Contributions by: Denise, Nellie, Brenda, Danny and Geraldine

First broadcast 2019..

Tenement Tales Part 2

Members of the PPPF group share their memories of growing up in, working in and living in these iconic and much loved buildings, and sing songs they remember from these times gone by.

 

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Contributions by: Andy, Matt, Rena, George, Christina and entire cast. 

First broadcast 2019..

Halloween Tales

In Halloween Tales, members of Rutherglen's Peoples Past, Peoples Future group, share with us their recollections of Halloween long ago, when

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Trick or Treating was still known as guising, and turnip lanterns hadn't been replaced by pumpkins.

First broadcast 2019.

 

In 2022/23 members of the group recorded their memories of living and working in Rutherglen as part of the build up to the Rutherglen 900 celebrations in 2026 of Rutherglen being made a Royal Burgh in 1126.

Anne Glasgow Part 1

Anne talks about her earliest memories of visiting Rutherglen. She recalls her employment with Imperial Tobacco in Glasgow and then going to university which led to a new career in community education.

First broadcast 2023.

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Anne Glasgow Part 2

Anne reflects on her retirement from work and her search for fulfilling retirement activities. She also recalls her transformative introduction to the world of political literacy.

First broadcast 2023.

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Christina Milarvie Quarrell

Christina tells us about the community groups in which she is involved and about her passion for our local library in Rutherglen.

First broadcast 2023.

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Danny Smith

Danny talks about moving to Rutherglen from the Gorbals in the 1970s and starting up his own plumbing business. He also talks about benefits of joining local community groups.

First broadcast 2023.

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Izzie McKinnon

Izzie talks about moving to Rutherglen from Maryhill in the 1960s. She remembers the shops and cinemas in Rutherglen, reflecting on the changes she has seen in the town over time.

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She also tells of her part in the effort to re-establish a community centre in the town.  

First broadcast 2023.

Matt Laird

We talk to Matt Laird of Rutherglen's Peoples Past Peoples Future group about his participation in  the Discovery Award for older

people. He also shares with us his passion for the local history of Rutherglen.

First broadcast 2023.

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George Sutherland Part 1

George talks about the changing face of Rutherglen, and recalls his job as a work study engineer. He also remembers his time as a taxi driver when his fares 

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included some well-known names from the world of British entertainment.

First broadcast 2023.

George Sutherland Part 2

George tells us about his lifelong love of Clyde Football Club. Before that, he shares more memories of his time as a taxi driver when his fares included 

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some well-known names from the world of British entertainment.

First broadcast 2023.

Ron Taylor

Conversation with Ron Taylor who we first met through Rutherglen's Men's Shed and who is now a member of the Peoples Past Peoples Future group.

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Now retired, Ron tells us about his time serving in the RAF and shares some memories of living in Rutherglen.

First broadcast 2023.

© 2024 Rutherglen Heritage Society.  

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