Comments: 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.
Spouse: Sarah Judge Nutt married
Children: Samuel Downie, Robert Marshall Nutt Downie, William Fraser Downie, Craig Waddell Downie
William's Heritage
Parents: Samuel Downie, Hannah Cairns Davidson Waddell
Siblings: George Waddell Downie, Sarah Cairns Davidson Waddell Downie