The Church you can see is the Paterson United Free Church and is a very fine building.
Trongate seen in 1919
Jock the Jingler, a well known character in Stonehouse lived in a house through the Pend Close of the Bank Building, behind the horse and cart on the above photograph. Jock's real name was John Sorbie and he lived 1882 to 1941, the youngest son of James Sorbie and Helen Hamilton of 35, King Street. He was a real character, still remembered to this day. His actual trade as a young man was as a carter.
Jock must have been some man as it was a common saying to warned children if they did wrong by saying "If you don't behave I will get Jock the Jingler to you." His arms and hands constantly shook, no doubt giving him the nickname Jingler Sorbie, he also had difficult speech.
What a lot of the villagers didn't know that Jock had served his country and came back from WW1 in 1917 with Shell Shock. His discharge papers from December that year show that he was "of good character during his service".
In tribute I have written this short poem :
Jock the Jingler.
Jock the Jingler,standing at the Bank close.
Waiting and blethering in his normal pose.
His poor arms and hands continually shaking
Jock’s voice was slow and for ever breaking
Jock ‘s appearance and general condition
Gave the locals a totally wrong impression
To small children his name would strike fear
Which was unfounded, as you will now hear.
Going over to France to help out the Frenchies.
Jock was injured in the WW1 Trenches
The damage to his mind is called "shell shock".
This small poem is for honour to our “ Jock".
I now add a poem that has recently been discovered in an old copy of the "Hamilton Adverstiser" from 1928. No info other than the poem itself. - Tom Sorbie, January 2008.
When mornin’ breaks, baith cauld and clear
Abune the sleepy toon
An’ no’ a body’s in the streets
An blinds are still pu’d doon
Yet at the Cross ye may be shair
Ye’ll find “The Jingler” staunin’ there
When mornin’ breaks, baith murk and chill
Abune the sleepy toon
An’ sodden mists creep ower the hill
That lies ayont Westown
Yet at the Cross ye may be shair
Ye’ll find “The Jingler” staunin’ there
When mornin’ breaks, wi’ balefu’ blast
Abune the sleepy toon
An’ winter snaws are fa’in fast
An’ drifts hae formed a’roon
Yet at the Cross ye may be shair
Ye’ll find “The Jingler” staunin’ there
When e’en has cast her sombre cloak
Abune the sleepy toon,
An’ midnight’s struck on the auld toon clock
An’ folks are sleepin’ soon
Yet at the Cross ye may be shair
Ye’ll find “The Jingler” staunin’ there
H. C.
Argyle Street. This is where the Rex Cinema is located (now closed) it is the white building in the background of the more up to date photograph below. The interior of the cinema was furnished with wall linings and fittings removed from a German Transatlantic Liner and is sumptuous.
