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Don, Alexander

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President of the Scottish Wine & Spirit Merchants Benevolent Institution.

Alexander Don and William Lundie 1971

Alexander Don, the new president is congratulated by William G Lundie. 1971.

Alexander M Don (Dunn and Moore) was the new president of the Scottish Wine & Spirit Merchants Benevolent Institution in April 1971.

His appointment was unanimously confirmed at the annual general meeting of the Institution in Glasgow on the motion of Mr William G Lundie, the retiring president.

Mr Don’s association with the Trade began when he was 15, when he found a job with McEwans, the brewers. During the war years he was an instructor at Sandhurst, and he subsequently became associated with Moores, who later merged with Dunns. Mr Don was sales director of the Dunn and Moore complex in 1971.

As Mr Don assumed office, the Institution’s secretary for 20 years, Mr William Hume, handed over the reins to Gavin Mason, a younger partner in Kennedy, Cameron, and Allan, the Glasgow firm of solicitors, who have provided the secretary of the Institution since 1885.

Mr Hume’s waygoing did not go unrecognised. At lunch after the annual meeting he was presented with a Longines watch and a cassette recorder on which he will be able to play his favourite music.

A generous tribute to his “quiet and efficient guidance” of the Institution over the years was paid by Mr Lundie, who also acknowledged with gratitude the services of J Wilson Hunter, the treasurer.

John E Milne 1971

In the centre is John E Milne, with J M Martin and J R B Kean. 1971.

The new vice-president of the Institution was Mr John E Milne, Eadie (Cairns) Ltd., and the new directors were Mr J R B Kean (Scottish and Newcastle) and Mr J M Martin (White Horse).

Treasurer Hunter, presenting the accounts, praised Mr Lundie for his efforts in soliciting donations, which during his year of office amounted to more than £4,000.

During the year ending March 1, 1971, the Institution distributed £10,357 in pensions, donations and grants.

Alexander Don1

Alexander Don 2

Alexander Don 3

Alexander Don 4

Alexander Don young

A youger Mr Alexander Don.

Cartoon by Coia

Alexander Don, Cartoon by Coia.

Doherty, William

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The Railway Luncheon Bar, Hamilton.

Mr William Doherty

Mr William Doherty. 1887.

Mr William Doherty was born and bred in Strathaven where he acquired a good education and first learned the trade of hand-loom weaving with Mr William Brown of Ballgreen. On finishing his apprenticeship he began as a traveller and shortly afterwards commenced business as a Draper in Kilmarnock and Muirkirk in partnership with his brother John. On the decease of his mother he returned to Strathaven and started a new business in the Grocery business in 1852.

On the Forbes MacKenzie’s bill becoming law he dropped the grocery department. Ten years later he built the Victoria Hotel and Victoria Hall and conducted both most successfully for years. In 1882 he opened a public house at 8-10 Campbell Street, Hamilton. At the same time he purchased a business at 308 Argyle Street, Glasgow, from his old and trusted friend John Mcleod, Auctioneer, this business sat at the corner of Wellington Street where the Waterloo Bar now stands. Three years later he sold the business to wine and spirit Merchant Duncan Cameron.

He then sold his Hamilton business to tenant, his son-in-law John Warren. After selling the Victoria Hotel and Hall to his nephew John who along with Mr Doherty’s sister Mrs Thompson he took over the lease of John Miller’s property in Cadzow Street, Hamilton and after much delay and refurbishment sold the business. In 1877 Mr Doherty erected Letterleague House, Almada Street, Hamilton at a cost of £3,500 and opened a bar and restaurant there.

William Doherty was very successful here for years, conducting the Railway Luncheon Bar and Restaurant which stood opposite the Central Station, Hamilton.