Bellevue Road in the town of KILMARNOCK

The earliest mention I can find of Bellevue Road is in the Dundee Courier dated Friday 19 June 1936. This must be about the time they were built.



I found a new years message from your Grandfather in the Kilmarnock Herald and North Ayrshire Gazette - dated Friday 31 December 1948



"Mr Editor,— Thanks so much for the invitation to send a New Year message to the readers of the "Kilmarnock Herald" and to the public in general. One naturally at this time of the year (especially) becomes Retrospective, Introspective and Prospective. Might I be permitted to say—

Let us be mindful of the glorious past,

Be thankful in the brightened present, and

Be hopeful for the unknown future.

Let us praise God for all that is past and trust God for all that is to come.

Mrs Cairns and myself wish everyone a Bright, Beautiful, and Bountiful 1949. DANIEL CAIRNS, Provost. 7 Bellevue Road, Kilmarnock. "



I found a lot of articles mentioning your Grandfather. He seems to have done a lot of good work for Kilmarnock.



This is what he wrote about the visit from the American Mayor of Kilmarnock (US)



"I want to thank the people of Kilmarnock and the south-west for something they have done for the good of all Scotland.



A few weeks ago two friends of mine came to stay with us at Bellevue Road, Kilmarnock. They were Mayor Walter Harvey, of Kilmarnock, Virginia, U.S.A., and Mrs Harvey. It was their first visit to Scotland. Homely but far from home, they were a little strange and anxious when they reached Kilmarnock Station.



From that moment their doubts vanished. Thousands of cheering people lined the streets as Mr and Mrs Harvey drove from the station to my house. When they arrived at Bellevue Road they found it ablaze with Union Jacks, Stars and Stripes, and flags of Scotland.



Nearly 2000 people gathered outside this place of ours—a semi-detached Council cottage in scheme of 30. The pipe band struck up. The people sang, song after song. When they sang " Crimond," Mr Harvey stood bareheaded on the steps, and tears ran down his cheeks. He told me he'd never experienced anything so moving. From then on, wherever the Harveys went during their stay Ayrshire, Wigtownshire, Kirkcudbright, and Galloway —they were received like old friends.



The Harveys left last week-end. From up and down Bellevue Road the neighbours came to the door with parting gifts —Celtic brooch, little tartan purse, tartan tea-cosy, tartan travelling-rug, crystal dish in the shape of a thistle, table-cover, volume of Burns. Then the same good folk gathered round the door and sang my guests away with—" Will ye no' come back again?" and " Auld Lang Syne."



There were cheers again all the way to the station. When the final handshake came, Mr Harvey said You can tell your people there no one like them in all the world." I've felt prouder than I did just then.



Provost Cairns, Kilmarnock. "

To David Caldwell, thank you so much for such a wonderful reply to my comment about Bellevue Rd. I’m almost certain my mum (daughter of Dan Cairns) said they moved in 1935 from Stevenson St to Bellevue Rd so we appear to be in agreement. I am so very very thankful for the copy of newspaper report on the visit of Mayor & Mrs Harvey. I was quite young then but remember very clearly the visitors staying with my grandparents. I remember presenting Gertrude Harvey with a huge bouquet of flowers during a function in Bonnyton community centre and many more memories of that visit. I will take a screen shot of that report if that is ok with you. Thank you again. X