Samuel Downie and Hannah Cairns Davidson Waddell

Married 28-Dec-1928
Husband:   Samuel Downie

Born: 10-May-1905
Died: 25-Jun-2002
Father: William Downie
Mother: Elizabeth Hunter Neil


SAMUEL DOWNIE. was born at 96 Forest Street, Clarkston, Airdrie on 10th May 1905, and sadly died 25th June 2002, aged 96. Samuel was baptised in the Wellwynd Church, Airdrie on the 26th June 1905. He became a wood machinist, but his first job was in Summerlee Colliery, Larkhall. He first went to work at thirteen years of age. It was normal for older family members to get early exemptions from school, so as to be able to work and provide extra family income.
Samuel moved from Airdrie when aged two. he was schooled in Union Street School, Larkhall and Larkhall Academy, and he was popular with others. Once, when working at Summerlee Colliery he saved a worker's life. The worker was John Macmillan who lived in the Bog Colliery's miners' rows. John had the nickname of "Paffles". In 1918, he fell into the haulage machinery, and my father saved him by quick thinking and action. "Skipper" Hugh Dewar of the 1st Larkhall Boy Scouts learned of this and decided to put my father in for a bravery award, but Skipper had to desist on being instructed that the happening had to be kept quiet, since my father was working on an overtime shift. Overtime he was not supposed to be asked to do, by law, being less than 14 years of age.

Samuel Downie and his brother John helped to restore moorland and other monuments in Lanarkshire and Ayrshire to these Covenanters, eg at Bothwell Brig, Mary Rae's Well near Bog's Brae, Bellshill, Dalserf Churchyard and Drumclog.

Samuel and Hannah Downie (nee Waddell) are buried in the newer part of Larkhall Cemetery, across Station Road from the older one.


TRIBUTE TO MY FATHER - SAMUEL DOWNIE
St Machan's Church, Larkhall, Lanarkshire
3 July 2002 following his death on 25 June 2002


People very kindly say that I get more and more like my father every year.  In appearance, most probably, but I can only aspire to his temperament and know I will fail to match his calmness and contentment.  For he was a man with no ego or personal ambition - except that his children should "build on his shoulders," as he told me at the age of 15.  All Willie, Sadie and I have done in life we owe to him and our mother Hannah.

He was a good man rather than a great man, which to my mind is preferable, since great man often have to do nasty things to be so-called great.  My father did nothing great in the world's sense of greatness - except love his God, his wife, his family and other people, and with a special soft spot for the Orange Order - his "Ludge."  He would be proud, and grateful as I am, to see them here today with all his relatives and friends.

For my grandchildren he was Best Grampa (I know my place!) because my eldest grand-daughter Gillian when only three years old could not grasp the concept of "Great" Grampa.  For her, great was best - and so he was!  He remains Best Grampa to this day and beyond.

He was the human embodiment of Aesop's fairy tale.  He ran the race of life and won at the steady reliable pace of the tortoise, following his own Christian values and eschewing the flashy footwork and amoral shortcuts of the hare.

Not that he was perfect!  He could be stubborn, as is the nature of his family.  And when it came to DIY he was a professor in the Faculty of the Six Inch Nail.  Despite being a wood machinist and a passable joiner, he preferred a six inch nail for repair work.  The advantage was that we could hang pictures in separate rooms with one nail!  And my mother said she even had to teach him how not to burn water.

I liken him to John Bunyan's pilgrims in his great book the Pilgrim's Progress. He was Mr Faithful, Mr Hopeful and Mr Charity all rolled into one.  But before I read you a passage from that book, and before those who did not know him too well think him Mr Dull, let me tell you what he said on the day of his 97th birthday some eight weeks ago in Hairmyres Hospital when I joked with him that Rangers would never sign him now he had a broken  hip.  That old twinkle came into eyes dulled with pain, and he smiled and said: "Well, Ah'm no signin' fur the Celtic!"

I trust those of his and our Roman Catholic friends in this congregation will share that joke, for my Dad was no sectarian bigot, just a man true to the religious persuasion of the Ulster Scots family into which he had been born.  As my friend in the Ukraine says: "There are many religions, but only one God."

And now the finale of John Bunyan's Christian as he enters Paradise, having fought the good fight for right over might.  I have slightly adapted it to suit my own very special and singular Pilgrim Father, as there were two pilgrims in the original.  But you might imagine the other to be my Mother, come out to greet him and show her "bouel (or bold) Sam," as she was wont to call him in jest, the road hame:

NOW while he was drawing near the gate, a company of the heavenly host came out to meet him, and two angels said to him: 

"This is the man who has loved our Lord when in the world, and left all for His holy name.  And it is the Lord who hath sent us to fetch him and we have brought him this far on his desired journey that he may go in and look his Redeemer in the face with joy."

Then the heavenly host gave a great shout, saying: "Blessed be he who is called into the marriage supper of the Lamb."

There came out also at this time to meet him several of the King's trumpeters clothed in white and shining raiment, who, with noises melodious and loud made even the heavens to echo with their sound.

These trumpeters saluted Christian from the world with ten thousand welcomes - and that they did with shouting and sound of trumpet!

I am sure the trumpets have already sounded for Dad on the other side - and no doubt quite a few flutes and drums as well.  "After all," as he would have said with his own quiet chuckle:  "The Orange Walk's oan Setterday, and it's aemaist the 12th ae July!"

MAY GOD BLESS HIM AND RECEIVE HIM TO HIMSELF

IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST.
.
George Waddell Downie.

BRO SAMUEL DOWNIE OBITUARY ARTICLE FOR THE TORCH


One of Scotland's oldest and longest-serving Orangemen, Bro Samuel Downie of Larkhall, Lanarkshire, has died aged 97 just a few days before the annual Battle of the Boyne anniversary celebrations.

Bro Downie had been a faithful member for almost 90 years, first as a boy of seven when a founder member of  Larkhall LOL  No. 44 in 1912, then as an adult with LOL Purple Defenders No. 193, of which he was Worthy Master in 1952-53 and secretary for many years.  He was also secretary of Larkhall District Lodge No. 41 for many years.

He followed a long tradition of the Downie family in Orangeism.  His great grandfather, William, whose ancestors originally came from Linlithgow, came to Scotland from Dunloy, near Ballymena, Co. Antrim, Ulster, in the 1840s and settled in the Airdrie area to lodge with another Ulster family, the Winnings, whose daughter Jessie he was to marry. 

William was a member of Drumgelloch Bible and Crown LOL No. 6 (District No. 1), as was his son Samuel and his grandson William, father of Bro Samuel Downie and a founder member of Larkhall District No. 41.  Bro Downie's son, the Rev William Downie, is a former Worthy Master of LOL No. 193, past District Master of No 41, past County Grand Master of Lanarkshire and the East, and Grand Chaplain of the Grand Lodge of Scotland.

Bro Samuel Downie was a stalwart servant of his own lodge and district. He was chairman of the committee which negotiated the purchase of Larkhall District's Orange Hall from the local Baptist Church.  And he faithfully attended LOL No.193 meetings until the age of 95, walked in the full Scottish Boyne anniversary parade until 93, part-walked until 95, and last year at 96 sat outside his home and greeted the procession of Larkhall District which acknowledged his presence as it passed.

He was there again, in spirit if not in body, as this year's parade passed the same spot, where his family had placed his original and new sashes, a Bible, and photographs of him leading the parade when in his eighties, and of him with the Bible presented to him by the Orange Order to mark his 90th birthday.  Flags and banners dipped as they passed and the band with LOL No.193 played "Abide with Me."

Bro Downie was a devout Christian and a regular worshipper at St Machan's Church, Larkhall, where his funeral service was held before a congregation of over 400, including members of District No. 41 and LOL No. 193.  The photograph of him with his Orange Bible was placed on the Communion table behind the coffin, draped in the Union Flag and topped by his sash and a floral arrangement of orange lilies and purple sea holly.

After a moving but joyful service celebrating his life, conducted by his son William, brethren carried the coffin from the Church past crowd-lined streets at the town's Charing Cross.  They carried it again to the graveside at Larkhall Cemetery, where Orange ritual was performed and Bro Magnus Bain, a former Grand Master of Scotland and a former Imperial Grand Master, paid tribute to Bro Downie for upholding the highest Orange principles and being an outstanding example of what a true Orange brother should be, concluding: "There is an Orangeman. I can say no more."
As well as being an Orange stalwart, Bro Downie was an enthusiastic Covenanter.  With his brother John, also an Orangeman, he helped found the Avondale, Clydesdale and Douglasdale Covenanters' Association.  He was its secretary and helped restore many monuments to covenanters who had died for "the true faith" in Lanarkshire and further afield in Ayrshire, Dumfriesshire, Renfrewshire and Stirlingshire...

He was also a skilful flute player, being a founder member of Larkhall Rising Star Flute Band who marched with them in the Belfast Walk to Finaghy on several occasions as well as in the Scottish walks. He played in their glory days when they won Scottish Flute Band Association championships.

He is survived by his family of two sons and one daughter, 9 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren, having been predeceased in 1988 by his wife Hannah, who was a member of Larkhall Daughters of Israel LLOL No. 25.

Wife:   Hannah Cairns Davidson Waddell

Born: 24-Oct-1905
Died: 11-Aug-1988
Father: George Waddell
Mother: Sarah Cairns Davidson


Hannah Cairns Davidson Waddell was the eldest daughter,  born at 42 Muir Street, Larkhall, next to the corner of High Pleasance, to the right going downhill on Muir Street, on 23rd October 1905. She died in Monklands Hospital, Airdrie on the 11th August 1988.

SAMUEL AND HANNAH DOWNIE. Samuel Downie and Hannah Cairns Waddell married on December 28th 1928, in Larkhall, they were married by the St. Machan's Church of Scotland minister, Rev. Dr. MacCallum in his manse, which was the fashion, as church weddings meant unaffordable expenditure.

Hannah Waddell was hardly at school from the age of ten to thirteen. Being the oldest daughter, she had to care for her mother who was an invalid for fourteen years, suffering from heart valve trouble. Her father was also very ill, and before and after leaving school my mother cared for the household, including her sister and unmarried miner brothers. She also augmented the family income by doing farm work at High Merryton Farm, whose tenant farmer was named John Brown. This is a large farm.
She was a very caring person, with a great love for her children and grandchildren. She was a good writer and could count well, despite having left school at an early age. Her grandmother, Hannah Cairns, from Ireland was unable to read or write, but self-taught, she ran her little shop, selling home-cooked wares from her home in Claremont Place. Customers used to help her work out the change when buying goods.

Samuel and Hannah Downie had two sons who died after birth and three surviving children: William: Sarah Cairns Davidson Waddell Downie (Sadie) and George Waddell Downie.

Male  Child 1:   William Downie

Born: 12-Sep-1932
Spouse: Sarah Judge Nutt
Children: Samuel Downie, Robert Marshall Nutt Downie, William Fraser Downie, Craig Waddell Downie


WILLIAM DOWNIE was born in Bellshill Hospital, prematurely, on 12th September1932. His parents lived at 1 Merryton Street, Larkhall at this time. He first worked as a motor mechanic, then as an office worker, but eventually got an opening to serve my time as an electrician. One had to serve a five-year apprenticeship, and on finishing it, He was conscripted to serve with the Royal Air Force in the post-war period (World War II 1939-1945). As an electrician, He worked on house building, factory maintenance and domestic maintenance.

The conscription age was eighteen, but He was allowed to finish training before being conscripted to the Royal Air Force, and also serving with the Royal Air Force Regiment as a Leading Aircraftman, in Signals and involving radio Morse code and map-reading codes. Each member of the Regiment was also extensively trained in the use of small arms, anti-aircraft weapons and anti-tank weapons and was expected to be able to cover for differing tasks. On completion of my military service, He returned to work as a charge-hand electrician.
He then studied at Hamilton Academy evening classes, having earlier studied at Union Street School and Larkhall Academy. He achieved matriculation to Glasgow University as a mature student and to prepare for Theology, after studying English, History, Biology and Greek. This matriculation was gained in 1962. He studied Moral Philosophy, English Literature, Political Economy, Scottish History and Greek New Testament Language at Glasgow University. On completion of this Arts course, He went to study Theology at the Scottish Congregational College, Edinburgh. Later, from 1972 to 1975 He studied Social Science, principally Psychology, Economics and Business Administration with the Open University.
These three places provided graduate level studies. June 2nd 1967 is the date of his ordination to the Christian Ministry and of his induction to the E.U. Congregational Church, Meeks Road, Falkirk, Stirlingshire. This church was linked to Avonbridge Congregational Church, Stirlingshire with him as joint minister, from 1970 to 1972.
An interdenominational union took place in Falkirk in 1972, between Meeks Road Church, Grahams Road Church of Scotland, Grahamston Church of Scotland and Falkirk Methodist Church. He was the original instigator of this project, called Grahamston United Church. I served in Grahamston United Church from 1972 until 1975, along with the Rev. Maxwell Craig (Church of Scotland) and the Rev. Thomas Foinette (Methodist). This was the first ecumenical union between old established churches in Scotland. He served in Falkirk for eight years (1967-1975).
This period was active in other ways, as He served as a Stirling University Chaplain, founder of and worker in the Falkirk Citizens' Advice Bureau and as Chairman and worker of the Central Falkirk Samaritans. He also served as Scottish 'representative' on the U.K. Samaritans' Council.
In 1975 He took up the additional post of Social Questions Secretary of the Scottish Congregational Churches, a national appointment and continued such until 1993 along with my own local pastorates. Illness brought on by fatigue and a virus caused me to retire from some of this activity in 1982.
He became minister of the Dumbarton Church in May 1975 and continued until September 1983. During this time, He served as Vice-Chairman with the Argyll and Clyde Health Council. The Dumbarton Congregational Church is situated in Glasgow Road, Dumbarton.
His final full-time charge was Carluke E.U. Congregational Church, to which He moved in 1983. In addition to this work, He also served as National Social Questions Secretary, as a part-time appointed chaplain to the Law General Hospital (1983-1997), as chaplain to Road Meetings Hospital (1995-1997), as a school chaplain to High Mill Primary School, Carluke, Victoria Park School for the Mentally Handicapped, Carluke, Carluke High School and as chaplain to Woodhurst Nursing Home, Carluke.
Nationally, He served as Chairman of the Scottish Pensioners Forum, Chairman of Age Concern (Scotland) Spiritual Care Committee, and as Chairman of the R.A.F. Regiment Association. He also served in the Rotary Clubs of Falkirk, Dumbarton and Carluke, having been a President of the Dumbarton Rotary club. He also took time to be in the boxing and judo teams in the Air Force, to play football, and much later to play the game of Curling at Lanarkshire Ice Rink, Hamilton, as a member of the Blantyre and Bellshill Clubs. He represented Scotland Rotary on a tour of Canada in 2001. He was District Master in Larkhall District, Lodge Master for Lodge 193 and a Grand Chaplain and Depute Grandmaster of Scotland, but retired in 1972 because of my ministerial work and obligations.

Male  Child 2:   George Waddell Downie

Born: 12-Nov-1939
Spouse: Helen Lees McGilvery
Children: Lyn Martha Downie, Paul Samuel Downie, Andrew Charles Downie


George married Helen McGilvery of Larkhall.  George became a newspaper editor, a managing director and a newspaper consultant. He lives in Hatch Beauchamp, Taunton, Somerset, in a house named 'The Gables', Close farm, Hatch Beauchamp.

Female  Child 3:   Sarah Cairns Davidson Waddell Downie

Spouse: John McKnight
Children: Steven McKnight, Carol McKnight


Sarah was a furniture saleslady and then a clerkess. She married John McKnight of Ladywell Road, Motherwell. They owned their own vehicle body repair business in Blantyre before moving to live in Hamilton and then back to Larkhall. They have a son Steven and a daughter Carol (Mrs Steven Ingles). There are three grandchildren. Steven's Lindsay, and Carol's Laura and Sarah. Sadie and Jack presently live in 19a London Street, Larkhall.


Sarah (Sadie) wed John (Jack) Sadie was also prominent in Church circles and became one of the first women elders of the Church of Scotland in St Machan's Church, Larkhall. Earlier, she had worshipped in Larkhall Baptist Church, then was Sunday School Superintendent of Blantyre Congregational Church - illustrating the family's latter-day ecumenism and a far cry from its proud but sectarian past!