Margaret Gertrude Binnie (Nee Bytheway)
Catherine Haworth’s Grandmother (Niece to Nellie Bytheway)
My maternal grandmother was always known as Daisy, and she was born in Glasgow to Percy and Louise Bytheway. She was their first child of four. Ernie who was born next and was her adored little brother, sadly died in infancy. She was their only daughter and the apple of her daddy’s eye.
Daisy was a very confident, energetic, sociable person and a dedicated Christian. She loved to be on committees, organised many events and did charitable deeds for the less well off as well as heading up the YMCA for very many years in Kilmarnock.
Her mother Louise had been a small time actress and Daisy inherited her love of drama, poetry and performance from her.
They settled into their family home in Kilmarnock and had three children; my late Mother, Margaret Jane Louise; my late Uncle, James Percy Kennedy and my Aunt Eleanor who lives in Canada.
Grandma was always highly entertaining and loved being surrounded by children and in fact any group of people she could organise and create some activity for, be it playing cards, hiking up and down the nearest glen, or going for a freezing dip in the sea!
Her stories of her days ‘berry-picking’ were legend and this war work was clearly a highlight in her young life. She loved the fun and companionship of the other girls and being occupied outdoors in such a healthy pursuit at the same time as making a valuable contribution to the war effort. See The Women’s Land Army.
It is clear from some of the photos I have come across, that this highly spirited group and the freedom they enjoyed, clearly made for a very happy time. She also talked about the thrill of learning how to drive Tramcars and drove them on the Ettrick Bay route at Rothsey.
| The original exhibition display: Margaret Gertrude Binnie |
