Catherine (Kirkland) Runciman (1923 - 2012)

Born 4 Dec 1923 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Wife of Arthur Alan Runciman Sr — married 27 Sep 1945 in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Died 18 Jan 2012 at age 88 in Neilston, East Renfrewshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Alan Runciman [send private message]

This profile is part of the Kirkland Name Study.

Biography

This biography is partly auto-generated from a family Gedcom and partly written by Arthur Alan Runciman, Jr, one of Catherine’s sons.

Immediate family

Catherine has immediate living family all of whom are omitted from Wiki profiles in the interest of their personal security in line with WikiTree protocol. Any who wish to create their own profiles are welcome to do so, following the same WT conventions.

Birth

Date: 4 DEC 1923

Place: Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, United Kingdom

Catherine, the elder child of the family, was born at 50 Broughton Street, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland. When Catherine was 4 years old the family moved from Edinburgh to Glasgow.

Catherine's birthplace. No 50 is the entrance to what is now the newsagent's shop.

Baptism

Date: 22 JAN 1924

Place: Lothian Road United Free Church, Edinburgh, Midlothian by the Rev Robert J Drummond DD, Minister of the Church.

Note: #N2084

Dr Drummond & his wife

Pre-war

Spectacles with Case sold by Bairds. (Zoom into photo for history.)

Catherine worked as an office assistant in Thomas Baird’s, a Glasgow opticians. Here she met a colleague who was to become a life-long friend, Flora McDonald (later Somerville on marriage) who she asked to be her best maid at her wedding a few years later. Baird’s was also how she met her husband-to-be, Alan, whose firm was the appointed auditor. Alan carried out the audit (or audits). I don't recall Catherine mentioning a previous employer so it is likely this was her first employer on leaving school.

Women’s Land Army

Catherine was not yet 16 when WW2 broke out. As more and more of Britain’s young men were called up to serve, the pressure to keep the wheels turning back home was increasing. The solution was to recruit young single women to fill the vacancies experienced in the essential armament factories and the forestry and agricultural sectors. In 1942 the Womens Land Army (WLA) was created asking for volunteers who were to become known as Land Girls. Catherine joined up and like most of her peers was sent off far from her Glasgow home.

Catherine, during her time as a Land Girl in the Timber Corps of the WLA

The Timber Corps badge as worn on Catherine's cap.

Her training was undertaken at Shandford Lodge at Brechin, Angus – coincidentally the area where her Kirkland ancestors had lived a few generations previously, although this was a detail probably not known by Catherine at the time. Training typically lasted 4 weeks to prepare them and their hands for rough physical work. Catherine's own writing can be seen on the Shandford caption.

Shandford Lodge

A recollection of Shandford and the work of the Timber Corps in Scotland is linked here: http://www.womenstimbercorps.com/my_story.htm

After training Catherine was stationed for the rest of the war on forestry work around the town of Blairgowrie in Perthshire.

It became a matter of increasing public concern that the contribution made to the war effort by the women in the Timber Corps was not formally acknowledged at the same time as other contributions & sacrifices had been recognised. This was corrected by Prime Minister Gordon Brown during his premiership and certificates were finally issued in 2008.

Catherine's Certificate.

Marriage

Husband: Arthur Alan Runciman

Wife: Catherine Kirkland

Marriage:

Date: 27 SEP 1945

Place: The Georgic, Glasgow, LKS, SCT^[1]

Note: #N266

Shortly after peace was declared Catherine & Alan were married.

Alan & Catherine on their Wedding Day

Wedding Announcement

Personal Announcement published in the Glasgow Herald

Wedding Day 1945

Best Maid is Flora Sommerville (McDonald), whom Catherine first met as a senior work colleague in Bairds, the opticians in Glasgow. They remained firm lifelong friends. Best man is John Sommerville, Flora's husband.

Union Street in 1947, showing the Georgic Restaurant & Function Room just as tramcar passes it.

Later it was designated as a Building of Special Interest with the following note:

Statement of Special Interest

‘’ Built for Messrs R A Peacock & Son Ltd and known as the 'Georgic Restaurant', this building is a good, late example of Glasgow's tea room tradition. It forms a strong streetscape feature in Union Street. Dean of Guild Plans show the planned layout of the restaurant from the basement upwards as: Smoke Room, Shop, Tea Room, Restaurant, Reception Room, and a Kitchen on the 4th floor. ‘’

The Reception Room would have been where function bookings such as weddings would have been held.

Residences

50 Broughton Street, Edinburgh (birthplace)

127 Haywood Street, Lambhill, Glasgow (parents' home)

7 Leefield Drive, Netherlee, Glasgow (immediately post war, Alan’s aunt Mary’s home)

99 Lomondside Avenue, Clarkston, Glasgow (first marital home)

37 Beech Avenue, Newton Mearns, Glasgow (progressing to larger home)

45 Lothian Drive, Clarkston, Glasgow (downsizing on widowhood)

27 Dundonald Drive, Newton Mearns, Glasgow (downsizing after last of family left home)

Westlea Care Home, Barrhead, Glasgow (in residential care)

In due course, perhaps other photographs of these will be added.

'Firlee' 37 Beech Avenue, Newton Mearns.

Home Life

Like many of her generation Catherine was a very accomplished 'household manager'. Everything ran 'tickety boo'. Everyone in the family, including herself, were dressed well, fed well and organised well. That's not to say she was authoritarian; it was all accomplished quietly, without fuss. Items were sewn, knitted, washed, ironed, renewed, shopped, baked, cooked, tidied yet she never seemed to be a slave to any of it. There was time for herself too - to read a book, a magazine, potter in the garden, French evening classes, advanced cookery classes, driving lessons, visit friends, Church activities.

It would be an omission not to make particular mention of how accomplished a baker she was. The pinnacle of the week in this regard was Saturday family lunch. Perhaps it was chosen because this was the first meal of the weekend which was to be sat down to in relaxed fashion, the weekend ahead of us all; whereas Friday nights would have had the hassle and stresses of the working day to be thrown off. Who knows, but it worked well. A full meal - 3 courses - with a dessert baked to perfection. Everyone in the family had their favourites; and then as her children grew up and departed the scene grandchildren were to come later in eager anticipation to delve into their own baked favourites.

In 1958 Catherine's parents-in-law came to live as they were by then in their mid-to-late 70s. For a period of 10 years before her husband died there was for the most part a meal to make and a table to set for 7.

Church Life

Catherine was a church regular. On setting up their first home together (Lomondside Avenue) Alan & Catherine attended Williamwood Church on Series Road, Clarkston. Catherine was active in The Townswomens’ Guild. The couple changed to Mearns Kirk on their move to Newton Mearns.

Mearns Kirk, a religious site since the 800s

Catherine was active in many of the church activities throughout the rest of her life, holding most of the office-bearer positions at various points of her life in the Townswomens Guild, The Friendship Club, Young Mothers’ Group etc. For several years she was responsible for arranging the church social occasions such as annual coach outings and the annual dances. In 1971 she was appointed one of two lady elders, the first in that church and one of the earliest throughout the Church of Scotland, where it was not yet common practice.

Widowed at the tragically young age of 44, Catherine was a woman of great inner strength. The church provided her not only with a belief & support system but a means safe and interesting activity and social contact. She gave back to the church her full-hearted commitment.

Friendships & Relationships

Both Alan & Catherine were good with keeping in touch with relatives and friends. A friend of Catherine’s remained a friend for life. In addition to her friendship with Flora McDonald from her first job there were a number of friends from her Lomondside Avenue days who she’d met in the 1940s when she was in her twenties and retained until death parted them – Jenny Crawford & Jean Little in particular. There were also many ‘new’ friendships from her Newton Mearns days, stretching back to the 1950s, such as the Adamsons.

She & her brother – she always called him Richard, although he was Dick to almost everyone else – were close all their lives and visits were frequent until the latter years; made slightly more difficult when, in her late 70s, she made the tough decision to dispose of her car. They were the only Kirkland family each had since the death of their parents in the 1950s, so they were on their own for a near 60 years. There were slightly more on the Runciman side, although again, many died in the 1960s and 1970s, leaving widows with whom she kept in touch – Nancy, Mhairi & Annie – and lots of the Canadian Kerr family, descended from Alan’s aunt Annie Runciman who’d married John Kerr & emigrated in 1903.

For her grandchildren a trip to Gran’s was always special, particularly if it could include an overnight stay or two. Often a visit to Rouken Glen Park could be made or a rare treat to say, Pollok House. Pick-up-sticks, card games and Monopoly were the favourite demands readily acceded to by Gran.

Social Life

As was the way of their generation, and those which had preceded, Alan & Catherine didn't go out frequently. Mostly, socialising comprised close friends and neighbours meeting at the hosts' house for drinks and chat, but not large parties. However as a young lad I do remember occasions when my parents would leave the house all dressed up for formal social occasions. Shown here is one that my father Alan has clearly written 'Birthday Party' in the family album. It's dated December 1953 which would make it a special birthday (Catherine's 30th). However it does seem a remarkable splurge for the era but if in fact it’s a public dinner dance, why the formality? And they are clearly singing in Catherine's honour. My guess is my father had a quiet word with the bandleader that it was his wife’s birthday and the band did the rest! The formality could be explained if it was Alan’s firm’s Annual Christmas Dance. Formal wear was usual at functions held by professional firms. Yet another question unasked at the right time-it would be nice to be sure.

30th Birthday Girl!

Celebrating the night away.

The location was the Brabloch Hotel in Paisley. Pictures of the Brabloch have been difficult to trace. This one captures the era and surroundings well although only the hotel is entrance is featured:

A tram stops on Renfrew Road outside the Brabloch Hotel.

Holidays

Catherine & Alan enjoyed many family holidays together, sadly not enough, often 'across the border' ranging from Lancashire to as far as one can go within the UK, Cornwall. More comment on these is made on Alan's profile. For a number of years they also made a point of taking a 'Spring' or 'Autumn' week away for themselves, without family. Alan's parents lived in the family home so 'Grandma & Grandpa' gave them the freedom to be able to do so. Their two favourite places for this break were Pitlochry (Perthshire) and Banchory (Royal Deeside).

After her husband’s death Catherine had many holidays in Wigtonshire where there was a family caravan at Wig Bay, Stranraer. As a child, youngest son Colin accompanied her each summer. It was an area they got to know well & loved. After a while Catherine was ready for something different. Her good friend Jenny Crawford had moved back to her childhood location of the Isle of Islay. Like many a Highlands & islands girl before her, Jenny had left her family home to come down to Glasgow to become a nurse, met her husband-to-be and lived her married years in Glasgow. Catherine would stay on Islay with Jenny in the summer months for a number of years. Sometimes Catherine would fly by small plane Glasgow/Islay operated by Loganair. She told many a story of her landing on a beach airport - which I believe was her Islay trips - and on one occasion sharing the cockpit with the pilot as the plane was full.

Employment

In the 1970s Catherine decided to respond to an advert placed for an assistant to a self-employed retailers’ gift supplier named Mrs Spence and was recruited on the spot. The range comprised items, such as brooches, necklaces, clasps, scarves etc. Catherine helped organise & price list stock and as Mrs Spence didn’t drive Catherine undertook the driving from customer to customer. She remained with her for a number of years, including a spell in which Mrs Spence also opened a retail outlet at Giffnock (Glasgow), until Mrs Spence eventually retired. Let’s say it was a claustrophobic relationship which apparently was a good test of Catherine’s patience.

Death

Date: 18 JAN 2012

Place: Westlea Care Home, Neilston, Renfrewshire, Scotland, where she had lived since 2007 following a fall on the communal internal stairs of the building in which her flat was, in Newton Mearns, Glasgow.

Age: 88

Cause: Parkinson's Disease

Catherine had an accident from which she never fully recovered. Previously, she’d had a fall from which she had recovered but left her anxious and wary of the internal communal stairs which led from her 1st floor flat down to ground level. But in 2007, as she left her flat to take a taxi, she tumbled down the stairs – there were about 25 – to the bottom. This caused head injuries from which took some time to recover, firstly in recuperation in the Bon Secours Unit of the Victoria Infirmary eventually leading to permanent care in Westlea Care Home. She was affected by memory loss, initially as a result of the fall, to an increasing degree. Since the age of 44 she had been robbed by her husband’s early passing and for her final year or so, perhaps longer, she was even robbed of her memory of him, and, to all intents and purposes, of all her family. She was in Westlea for nearly 5 years.

Latterly Catherine was bed ridden by a combination of the Parkinson’s disease and memory loss. She was visited virtually every week by two sons, Alan & Norman. Third son Colin was not often home due to the constraints of his driving job. She never complained and she passed peacefully. [Insert Westlea photo?]

Burial

Place: Mearns Cemetery, Mearnskirk, Glasgow, , Scotland^[2] This is the cemetery of Mearns Kirk, a place of worship since the 800s. Catherine was one of the first two lady elders jointly appointed in c1971, a post she held for approximately 30 years. Source: personal knowledge of Alan Runciman, eldest son.

Runciman Gravestone

Sources

Notes

Note N2084by the Rev Robert J Drummond DD, Minister of the Church.

1. ↑ Source: #S87 Record ID Number: MH:SC847 Page: Glasgow Herald Data: Date: 28 SEP 1945
2. ↑ Source: #S3222

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Alan Runciman for creating WikiTree profile Kirkland-670 through the import of Alan & Catherine Runciman couple.GED on Aug 30, 2013. Click to the Changes page for the details of edits by Alan and others.

This profile is part of the Kirkland Name Study.