Glasgow YMCA - Easterhouse
An old article in the Scotsman newspaper from February 1966 noted that, “The only youth centre is a YMCA hut where a frantic game of five-a-side football will be in progress on a Thursday evening.” It is said that Easterhouse was 'wild' during the mid 1960s and that the army was borought in to control the gangs. However, it really was the local YMCA that was, in any way, effectively working with the young people of Easterhouse at that time and the staff there never saw any army personel.
There is much comment about Frankie Vaughan, when he visited Easterhouse in 1968 to try and persuade the local young people to end gang violence; but no mention of the YMCA. Following his intervention the Easterhouse Project was set up in 1969 and ran until the early 1970s.
Do you remember the YMCA at Easterhouse or the other YMCAs around the City of Glagow during the 1960s? If so, your comments would be welcome to revive the memory.
Even the respected local MP Hugh Brown, in a speech to Parliament in May 1965, didn’t mention the YMCA, only saying, ” . . . there was need for a youth centre in Easterhouse.” Dr Dickson Mabon, the Under Secretary of State for Scotland replied, “A youth centre and games hall have been under discussion with the (Local) Authority and Government for some time. I am told there is a little delay in the building work. The Government are not aware of any present plans by the Authority to build a community centre at Easterhouse.”
It did exist and not just for football on a Thursday evening.The building sat on an open site at Trondra Path near the top of Wellhouse Road.
New information sourced from guestbook comments:
During 1954 Glasgow YMCA was considering plans to build two new centres in the developing housing schemes - Mr David McCallum was Glasgow Y..M.C.A. General Secretary at that time, Glasgow Herald 1954
At the opening of the newly renovated Glasgow YMCA headquarters in Bothwell Street, following the sale of the Lyric Theatre in Sauchiehall Street, it was announced by the Honorary President Sir John Craik Henderson, that five new centres were to be built at Easterhouse, Springboig, Drumchapel and two in Castlemilk, east and west. The plans were ready and each new centre would cost £65,000 with an additional £5,000 each for equipment. Glasgow Herald 1960
During 1975 the General Secretary of Glasgow YMCA George Smith, said “Our original premises at Wellhouse Road, built by us at our own expense without grant aid, were taken over by the former Glasgow Corporation to make way for a section of the Monklands motorway. Glasgow Herald 1975
Construction of the M8 Monkland Motorway began in 1972.
Howard Cross was the YMCA Secretary who ran the club and the part-time leader running the Thursday five-a-side football may have been Hugh McKerlie or Pat McConville. There was much more than football on the programme. There was a Boys Club, Judo Club, Boxing, Drama night, Arts and Crafts, Girls Club, Hobbies night, Community Service group, Folks Song Club and a Dance Night with a live band on Sunday evening; the Tardy Host played on 18th September, 1966. Added to those activities for young people there was a Womens Group and a Lunch Club for older residents.
The nearby Springboig YMCA ran very popular Saturday night dances with bands like Dean Ford and the Gaylords (later Marmalade).
There is also little known of the work done by Lochwood East Church working with the young people of the area.
Easterhouse Adventure Playground started in mid 1966 with Dave Wilson as one of the Leaders.
During February 1967 a crowd from the YMCA headed north to Glen Shee in a Bedford OB bus to the ski slopes; see below
North of the Spittal of Glenshee
If you are able to add to the lost history, please comment in the Guestbook.
