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Douglas Arms, Milngavie
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It is not a far cry to "Mulguy," a rising burgh in our northern
suburbs, and there are few nicer drives than to that same place from
Glasgow. To those who cannot afford a conveyance of their own, the
Glasgow Tramway Co. runs buses every half hour in summer time, and these
buses stop at the well-known "Douglas Arms," the proprietor of which was
Ex-Bailie Bissland. The home comforts of the old hostelry and the
civility, attention and gentlemanly bearing of the proprietor made this
a very popular hostelry in its day.
Charles Bissland was a
gentleman who reflected honour on the trade and would do the same to any
other branch of business to which he might apply himself. He had a
capital and varied commercial training, after leaving school he was for
six years in the counting-house of Messrs. John Black & Co., calico
printers, Milngavie. He was then two years in the office of the general
goods manager of the North British Railway. Then he sent several years
with Messrs. A. G. Kidston & Co., iron merchants, as traveller. At this
time he was proprietor of a licensed house in Glasgow.
Milngavie,
however, had attractions for him which were irresistible, and so in 1887
he took over the wine and spirit business so long and so successfully
carried on by the late Mr Matthew Weir, sen., a gentleman well-known to
many of the older school as a man of the strictest integrity and honour,
combined with the best of social characteristics.
The traditions
of the old business are faithfully carried out by Mr Bissland and his
worthy helpmate, a daughter of Mr Weir. To show the esteem in which
Bailie Bissland is held by his townsmen, we may be permitted to state
that only a week or two age he was elected to the School Board of the
Parish of New Kilpatrick, and was at the head of the poll with 1294
votes, being more than 300 above the next successful candidate. In
Municipal elections, too, he has several times been at the top of the
poll. He was a man who spared not himself in the public services. In the
Commission Board he had been for ten years convener of the finance
committee, and for five years treasurer of the burgh. He has been
secretary to the Mechanics Institute for twenty-five years. As secretary
and president he has been connected with the Horticultural Society for
twenty years. In the infancy of the Co-operative Society he acted as
secretary. In Masonic lore, Mr Bissland was a past master and the
establishment of Lodge "Ellangowan" is largely due to his fostering
care. For seven years he had been honorary president of the Burns Club
and he has always shown the warmest love and enthusiasm in the Burns
Cult.
Charles Bissland was a staunch conservative, being a
vice-president of the association. He has all along taken a leading part
in the burgh, being one of its most prominent townsmen. Through his long
connection with the trade Mr Bissland's services were much in demand in
the matters of stock-taking and valuations and also in connection with
trust estates. Anyone requiring such services could not do better than
place their case in Mr Bissland's hands, and they can rest secure that
they will receive all the benefits of a large experience, combined with
strict integrity and justice.
See also:
•
Milngavie and the Douglas connection |
Sources
Sources for this article include:
• Old Glasgow Pubs
Any contributions will be
gratefully accepted
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