East Kilbride celebrates 70 years

Built to help ease overcrowding in the city’s east end, East Kilbride quickly grew into one of Scotland’s biggest and most successful towns.

From an ancient, peaceful village of around 2500 people, it was transformed into one of the UK’s leading business and commercial centres.

The first meeting of the East Kilbride Development Corporation was held on Friday, August 8, 1947 and until it was finally wound down 50 years later, the organisation was faced with the challenge of managing this brand new town, its businesses and shops, its green spaces and housing, its schools and its people.

VIEW HUNDREDS OF OLD EAST KILBRIDE PHOTOGRAPHS IN OUR MEMORIES CHANNEL HERE

From a central shopping and office hub, a collection of residential neighbourhoods was formed, each with its own local shops, play areas and schools. On the outskirts were the industrial estates and business parks, home to sector leaders like Motorola and Rolls Royce.

As the town grew, more private housing estates, social and leisure facilities and shopping malls sprang up and soon East Kilbride was a vibrant, bustling Scottish town.

Now, an important history project plans to celebrate the town as it prepares to mark the 70th anniversary of its New Town designation.

East Kilbride Heritage Group is working with South Lanarkshire Council to celebrate the milestone birthday and hope the initiative will capture the hearts and minds of residents past and present.

Ken Lawton, spokesperson for the Heritage Group, explains: “We held a series of Nostalgia Days last year which were very successful and since then we have quietly gone on collecting stories from people in East Kilbride about their experiences living in the town.

“We’re delighted to support SLC in their 70th anniversary project, 70 Voices, which will be a series of recorded interviews – 35 children and 35 older residents – documenting memories and experiences of life in the town.”

The group is working with EK Central Library on staging various exhibitions later in the spring and summer.

Ken adds: “With the 70 Voices project, we are hoping to find out how life has changed over the decades – and what has stayed the same.

“And the council wants to tell the story in the words of the people who know it best – the people of East Kilbride, past and present.”

The first exhibition, following the official launch later in the year, will take place from Saturday, May 6, with a gallery of photographs and the 70 Voices oral history recordings.

South Lanarkshire Provost Eileen Logan said: “I am delighted to be able to wish East Kilbride and its residents a very happy 70th birthday.

“As the first New Town in Scotland, East Kilbride has always been a pioneer in showing what can be done by town planners when you have a blank canvas to work from.

“And over the years, the town has not rested on its laurels – it has continually pushed the boundaries in urban development to not only enhance the physical aspects of the town, but also the business and social. It really is a place where everyone wants to live, work and play.

“As Provost I have been invited to many events and have been treated always with kindness and respect. The variety of clubs and activities is immense and I wish them all continued success.

“Many young couples starting off in life made East Kilbride their home and it has been an absolute joy to visit many of them who are now celebrating their Platinum and Diamond weddings.”

To participate in 70 Voices, contact EK Central Library on 01355 220046.

EK Heritage Group will be holding another Nostalgia Day in EK Central Library on May 17, from 11.30am until 2pm.

Ken explains: “The theme is Celebrations and we want to hear from other organisations, clubs or societies who have marked an important ‘big birthday’, or people who remember East Kilbride’s previous anniversary celebrations.

“We’d be delighted if people would share their photographs and memorabilia.”

If you can help, call Ken on 01355 227 018.