The Story of Stepps

Stepps Folk

A remarkable number of successful people, who made a name for themselves in varied walks of life, spent their formative years in Stepps. Some of the most significant are as follows:

Sir Alexander Fleck, KBE, FRS (1889-1968) spent part of his youth in the "Wee Houses" to the west of where Edward Place now stands. While studying in Glasgow he was in the habit of travelling into town on the early morning milk cart, along the Cumbernauld Road. During his life he held a wide range of scientific posts, culminating in the Chairmanship of ICI, from 1953 until 1960. He was created Lord Fleck of Saltcoats in 1961.

Alexander Rennie Stenhouse (1876-1952) lived during his childhood in the Stenhouse family home at "South View", West Avenue. When he was 21 years of age he went to Connecticut, USA, to learn the fire insurance business. Returning to Glasgow in 1904 he established his own firm in an office in St Vincent Street, and thereafter went from strength to strength, until the "Stenhouse" name was a household one in Scotland, associated with high finance as well as insurance. A.R.Stenhouse purchased the local Estate of Garnkirk in 1932 and rebuilt the old mansion house there.

Dr Andrew Macdonald, CBE (1891-1970) was a world authority on the disease of leprosy. He was the son of A.B.Macdonald, one of the stalwarts of the formative years of the community of Stepps. He spent his early years in the family home at "Glencoe", Lenzie Road, before graduating from the University of Glasgow. He left Scotland for Nigeria in 1921, and there in 1928 established the Leper Colony of Itu, to which he gave committed service for many years thereafter. In later life he was the subject of a TV This is your Life programme, presented by Eamonn Andrews.

Dame Louise McIlroy was the first woman to graduate in medicine from the University of Glasgow. Although a native of County Antrim, Northern Ireland, she lived for a time at "Beechwood", Stepps Hill. She was the first woman to be appointed as a resident doctor at the Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, about 1906. She soon became established as an outstanding practitioner in the fields of obstetrics and gynaecology, with international recognition. The author of numerous publications and articles, she was created DBE in 1929. She died in February 1968.

Dr John MacCormick (1904-1961), of Whitehill Avenue, was a lawyer who became Rector of the University of Glasgow, from 1950 until 1953. Active in the Movement for Scottish Home Rule from the 1920s onwards, he became the first Chairman of the Scottish National Party in 1928. He contested various parliamentary seats, at different times, and during the 1940s founded the Scottish Covenant Association.

The Rev. Professor John M.Graham, CBE (1908-1982?) was the son of a stationmaster at Stepps Station. He was Professor of Theology at the University of Aberdeen from 1937 until 1971, and a Member of Aberdeen Town Council from 1947 until 1964. He was twice Lord Provost of that city, from 1952 until 1955, and from 1961 until 1964.

Other outstanding "Sons of Stepps" have included Sir Douglas Harkness, who became head of the Civil Service in Northern Ireland; Harry Melville, who became President of one of New York's biggest contracting firms, responsible for the Singer Building, one of the highest in the world at the time of its construction; Jack Watson, who led one of New York's largest accounting firms; and Dr John Young, who established a hospital in Aden. Most of the high achievers from Stepps gained their fame in far flung places, but the outstanding musician Ella Russell (nee Bulloch) remained at home (at least until a very late move to Lenzie), providing the communty with the benefits of her talent. As well as numerous local recitals, and piano lessons for Stepps youngsters, her activities included duty as accompanist to the Glasgow Youth Choir for over 20 years (to 1985), during which period she performed in many different parts of the world.

On the political front, J. Raeside Auld, of Garfield House, was the local member on Lanark County Council for much of the early part of the twentieth century. As early as February 1914, at an elaborate function in the Union Hall, he was presented with a gold watch "as a token of esteem, and in appreciation for services rendered to the electors of of the Millerston division of the County of Lanark for six years, 1907-1913". Mrs Auld was at the same time presented with "a silver fruit and bon-bon dish". From 1935 the local county councillor was David Pollock Smith, also of Garfield House. During his years as councillor he occupied many senior positions of responsibility, at different times, including Vice-Convenership of the County Council and the Chair of five different committees. He was also appointed Deputy Lieutenant of the County. On 24th October 1961 many local people assembled at the Crow Wood Inn, Muirhead, to pay tribute to him for his 26 years of service, and to present him with "a fine table desk and chair". During much of the Strathkelvin era, lain Nicolson served as the District Councillor for Stepps, respected equally for his political conviction and his conscientious attention to the problems of his constituents. His name is perpetuated in Nicolson Court at Stepps, in the lain Nicolson Recreation Centre at Chryston and in the Nicolson Bridge (over the Forth & Clyde Canal) at Kirkintilloch. Successor to lain Nicolson on the Strathkelvin Council and the first member for Stepps (Ward 66) on the new North Lanarkshire Council is Councillor Brian Wallace, of Campsie View, Cardowan.

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