Doon Valley History - Donald Reid

Our next meeting will be held on Thursday, 25 October 2018 at 7.30, in room D133, McLean Building, UWS. Paisley Campus. This room is accessed via the main entrance in High Street and will be signposted.

The speaker will be Donald Reid on the subject of Doon Valley History.

Guests are welcome, and we ask that they make a donation, suggested amount £3.00.

The talk will focus on aspects of the industrial history of the Doon Valley area, a rural land of rolling hills and valleys which changed dramatically with the development of coal and ironstone mining which dominated the area particularly after the arrival of the Dalmellington Iron Company in the 1840s when they opened Dalmellington Iron Works at Waterside. This mini-industrial revolution meant that coal mining was the dominant industry until the end of deep mining with the closure of Pennyvenie Colliery in 1978. The talk will be illustrated with many slides and anecdotes.

Donald L Reid is a proud son of the Doon Valley; a Dalmellington man, currently living in Beith; a family man with a lovely wife, children, and grandchildren; a former policeman, retiring from Strathclyde Police in the rank of superintendent; and currently the very energetic councillor for North Ayrshire’s Kilbirnie and Beith constituency; and someone with meaningful connections, past and present, with numerous voluntary groups and organisations. His father was a coal miner for 42 years. 

Donald 's 21st book, More Doon Valley Tales - A Keek into our Past, (£13.99) from the author - Donald L Reid at 7 Manuel Avenue, Beith, KA15 1BJ Cheque or PO only) has already sold over 200 of a 1,000 print run before receipt of the book.  Royalties arising will be donated to voluntary organisations in the Doon and Garnock Valleys as with all his other publications.