John (Ian) Kay’s father, Richard (Dick), and mother Maggie, hailed from Glasgow and Bute respectively. They started married life in Govan, Glasgow and moved to Cornton for work.
They lived at 9 Montgomery Way. Dick was a master baker, his last job was with McGrouther’s.
This is how the place would have been back then. McGrouther’s Factory is still where Bracken Lane is today and the flats were still across the road.
Dick with daughter Elizabeth and Maggie while on holiday in Amsterdam 1970
James McInall McLuckie and Elizabeth Kay Baptist Church 5th July 1972
John met Hazel when they were both in the RAF. Hazel, originally from Norfolk, after a time of correspondence and hurried distant visits between their relative postings in Germany, agreed to the marriage on the understanding that they would live somewhere other than Norfolk.
Initially they stayed with John’s parents but as was the way with so many at the time they moved out to their own place at Goosecroft. The next move from that room and kitchen with shared toilet facilities to their flat at 26E Lomond Crescent was a leap forward in their life style. Their own bathroom, no longer any need to check availability. Heating and a view from the top floor flat made it the place of their dreams. It was here that Richard, their firstborn son, was added to the family in 1969. Richard, an Engineer, followed a career with public transport and now works teaching youngsters in the trade, at First Glasgow.
Alison, their daughter was just about to start school when they got a move to 158 Strathmore Drive in 1976-7. She was an avid Brownie and subsequent Guide.
At that time Brownies were for girls aged 7-10 and Guides for girls aged 10-14. The Brownies met in the Primary School but the Guides met in the Community Centre. Mrs Robb was in charge.
But her enthusiasm didn’t stop there! Alison became very successful in Highland dancing gaining her first Gold Bar in 1985 at the age of 13.
Alison is here, second from the left in the middle row at a function in the new Community Centre.
Later, Alison was to continue her education at Wallace High School and from there, after a short time in Falkirk graduated HND in “Hospitality Management” from Queen Margaret’s College Edinburgh.
Immediately after graduating she was successful in gaining third place in a field of 94 entrants in the design of a large commercial kitchen for the British Gas Scotland “Caterbility Championships”.
She went on to obtain a place at the prestigious Auchrannie Hotel in Brodick Isle of Arran as a trainee manager. Alison left hospitality when she got married and spent the rest of her working life in Specsavers until her death in 2024. She was well thought of by staff and customers alike, always gave her all, and even achieved a Spec Savers degree, doing most of the work at home. Alison latterly lived at Chattan Avenue in Causewayhead.
Cornton - Our Story 