Lanarkshire Philatelic Society

"Mrs. Sheila Sinclair"

"The Stevensons"

Our Honorary Vice President, Mr. Sheila Sinclair, gave us a wonderful display on "The Stevensons" recently.

Jean Stevenson was a widow, originally from Glasgow, but who moved with her family to Edinburgh where she married Thomas Smith who just happened to be developing the gas lighting system for the city. It was her son, Robert, who really shone....in more ways than one....as it was he who developed many of the lighthouses still currently seen around Scotland's coast...including Bell Rock & Cloch lighthouses.....and we mustn't forget the Muckle Flugga lighthouse with construction completed in 28 days; a period which included the "carving" of the steps into the rock to gain access to the location from the sea.

The first 4 developed were Fraserburgh, North Ronaldsay, Mull of Kintyre & Scalpay lighthouses but as time wore on many others were added to the list, including those on the Isle of Man. The family were also involved in the development of heating in churches & of the railways & were renowned for their care for their workforce.

Other achievements of their family dynasty were the dredging of the River Clyde; to allow the original "Queen Mary" steamer to pass from Clydebank to the coast and the author Robert Louis Stevenson. Another descendant of the family, Alan, became a well know expert on the "Cape Triangle" postage stamps.

Amongst Sheila's many postcards, photos & stamps depicting their work she showed a particular favourite....a personal message from the keeper of the Fair Isle lighthouse sent just before his departure & the light being automated.

Occasionally lighthouse become decommissioned with one now being used as a hotel.

Maureen Mathieson in giving the vote of thanks remarked on the amount of research & knowledge on show.

Our next meeting in the Caledonian Bowling Club, Motherwell Road, Hamilton, is next Friday, 4th March, 2022, at 7:30pm when Mr. Gordon Shepherd will present "Northern Rhodesia" 

Anyone with an interest in stamps, postal history, postcards etc is very welcome to attend.